Quarterback Nico Iamaleava says "false reports" mischaracterized his motivations for leaving Tennessee, adding that he chose UCLA to play closer to home.

On Thursday, new University of California, Los Angeles quarterback Nico Iamaleava took to the podium for the first time as a Bruin, marking a major shift in how NIL deals can quickly change team dynamics and narratives.

If quarterback Nico Iamaleava handles the rest of the season as well as he did with his half hour of Q&A at Big Ten media days, chances are, UCLA will be good — maybe even very good — in 2025.