On3 ranks Nico Iamaleava as the No. 10 QB in college football in 2025
Nico Iamaleava is the 10th best quarterback in college football entering the 2025 season, according to recent rankings from On3. Tennessee’s rising redshirt sophomore is coming off a 10-3 season as the starting QB for the Vols, leading his team to the College Football Playoff after passing for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns.
The On3 QB ranking for 2025 was topped by Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, ahed of Penn State’s Drew Allar, Florida’s DJ Lagway, Texas’s Arch Manning, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Miami’s Carson Beck, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and Oklahoma’s John Mateer, the Washington State transfer.
Iamaleava is tied with four other players for the second-lowest odds to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy, according to odds released recently by FanDuel.
Iamaleava has +1200 odds to win the Heisman, given annually to the top player college football, alongside Klubnik, Allar and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
Nico Iamaleava this season: 213-314, 2,616 yards, 19 TDs, 5 INT
During Tennessee’s 10-win season, Iamaleava completed 213 of 314 passes (63.7%) for his 2,616 yards passing. His 19 touchdown passes came against five interceptions. He had a passer rating of 145.34 after averaged 201.2 yards per game.
Tennessee was one-and-done in the new 12-team College Football Playoff after losing 42-17 at Ohio State in the first round at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on December 21. Iamaleava completed 14 of 31 passes for 104 yards in the loss and ran for 47 yards with a season-high two rushing touchdowns.
Iamaleava led the Vols to home wins over Florida and Alabama and a road win at Oklahoma on the way to an 8-1 start to the season.
Top 10
- 1
Zakai Zeigler update
Latest on injury to Tennessee guard
- 2New
Michigan fighting allegations
NCAA, UM to battle over Connor Stalions
- 3
Prime expenses
Colorado set revenue, spending record
- 4
'A big blow to the ego'
Paul Finebaum: SEC is reeling
- 5Hot
Predicting the 2025 CFP
ESPN projects 12-team field, champs
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Nico Iamaleava rushed 109 times for 364 yards and had three rushing touchdowns
He ran 109 times for 364 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per rush and 28.0 yards per game, and had three rushing touchdowns. He ran for a season-high 65 yards against and had one rushing touchdown against N.C. State. He ran for 44 yards in the win over Alabama and 42 at Vanderbilt.
Iamaleava passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of the season-opening win over Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium on August 31, but it would be his only game with 300 or more yards passing.
He had five games with 200 or more yards passing. He threw for 292 against Kentucky, 257 against Vanderbilt, 211 against North Carolina State and 209 against UTEP.
Iamaleava had three or more passing touchdowns in three games, with a season-high four both at Vanderbilt and at home against UTEP and three in the first half against Chattanooga.
