Paul Finebaum states Nico Iamaleavea 'no longer becomes the subplot' if Tennessee beats Georgia

Paul Finebaum believes a victory over Georgia would put Nico Iamaleava firmly in the rearview for Tennessee, with Joey Aguilar becoming undeniable if he leads the Volunteers past the Bulldogs.

Ahead of the massive SEC showdown, the SEC Network analyst joined Always College Football with Greg McElroy. Speaking with the former Alabama quarterback, Finebaum broke down the mindset of Tennessee fans and what’s at stake in Week 3.

“The Tennessee side views this as their best shot,” Finebaum said. “This is a big moment for Tennessee. I think they’re already feeling great. They’re looking at their record right now — 2-0 — compared to UCLA’s, which is 0-2. They feel great about that.

“Nico is no longer the subplot — that’s over. Joey Aguilar feels good about where he is. And for Josh Heupel, who’s done just about everything you could ask, beating Georgia would be that final check mark.”

Tennessee’s quarterback saga has been well documented. Their former starter in Iamaleava sought a bigger NIL deal this offseason, but the Volunteers weren’t willing to meet his demands. He transferred to UCLA, while Tennessee pivoted and landed Aguilar from the transfer portal. Since then, fans in Knoxville have been more than satisfied with Aguilar’s play.

Now, though, Aguilar faces his biggest test yet as Tennessee hosts Georgia. A win would be a program-defining moment — and people are taking notice. SEC legend Steve Spurrier, for one, believes the Volunteers are in a better spot with Aguilar.

“I think it’ll be a good game,” Spurrier said on the Another Dooley Noted Podcast. “I think Tennessee is much better off with this new quarterback than the one they had. It’s funny how that happens sometimes. You think this guy’s the best in the world. Then, all of a sudden, another guy jumps in there and plays better.”

The contrast between Aguilar and Iamaleava couldn’t be sharper. Iamaleava was a five-star recruit in the Class of 2023, a highly touted quarterback who secured major NIL deals. Aguilar, on the other hand, was a three-star prospect out of JUCO in the Class of 2019. At one point, he nearly walked away from football to become a firefighter before continuing his career at App State, then UCLA, and now Tennessee.

Through two weeks, Aguilar has been the better performer. He’s completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 535 yards and five touchdowns, while also adding 34 rushing yards in two comfortable wins. Iamaleava, meanwhile, has UCLA off to an 0-2 start, completing 63.5 percent of his throws for 391 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, while rushing for 106 yards and a score.

It’s easy to see why Finebaum and others believe that a win over Georgia would cement Tennessee as the clear winner in this de facto quarterback trade. Aguilar has the Volunteers rolling, and now he has a golden opportunity in Knoxville to make a statement that could define his season.

— On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this article.