Bill Belichick, UNC Reportedly Out of Mix for Tennessee Transfer QB Nico Iamaleava

The college football world is still waiting to see where quarterback Nico Iamaleava lands after leaving Tennessee, and it reportedly will not be North Carolina.

Pete Nakos of On3 reported Monday that Bill Belichick's program "is out of the mix" for Iamaleava and is instead targeting South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez.

There was some speculation Iamaleava might end up with the Tar Heels when he received a crystal ball prediction to join Belichick in Chapel Hill on 247Sports. However, it seems like such a pairing will not end up happening ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Iamaleava figures to be one of the biggest names in the spring transfer portal after his high-profile exit from the Volunteers program.

Nakos reported Thursday that the quarterback and Tennessee were undergoing "active negotiations" for a potential new NIL deal for the 2025 season after he helped lead the SEC team to the College Football Playoff in 2024.

Yet a new deal never materialized, and ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Saturday the program was "moving on" without him after he missed a practice.

"Man, listen, it's the state of college football," Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said on The Vol Network radio broadcast (h/t Grant Ramey of On3). "At the end of the day, no one is ever bigger than the program. That includes me, too. We've got an opportunity. We've got a bunch of guys that will give their all for Tennessee.

"We move forward. Got a great group. Let's go compete."

Iamaleava completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions while adding 358 yards and three scores as a runner last season. He led the Volunteers to wins over Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma and NC State, although he struggled in the team's CFP loss to the eventual national champions at Ohio State.

The 5-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings, still has plenty of potential and could be one of the best quarterbacks in the country depending on his landing spot next season.

But it won't be with the Tar Heels as they begin their own new era with Belichick running the show.