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Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava injured, out for second half against Mississippi State

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey11/10/24GrantRamey
Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee Football Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) during a college football game between Tennessee and Mississippi State at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.

Nico Iamaleava is out for Tennessee against Mississippi State, according to the ESPN broadcast of the game. ESPN reported it was an upper-body injury for Iamaleava, who was replaced to the start the second half by backup Gaston Moore.

ESPN reported Iamaleava’s injury was suffered when he ran left for seven yards on second-and-11 at the Mississippi State 13-yard line, just before a 24-yard Max Gilbert field goal. Iamaleava took another shot on the final drive of the first half, after rolling right and getting hit passing.

Iamaleava stayed in the game for the next drive, which ended with a 38-yard Gilbert field goal on the final play of the half, putting Tennessee up 20-7 at halftime.

Dylan Sampson returned in second half after suffering apparent leg injury

Dylan Sampson was questionable to return with a left leg injury, according to ESPN, but was back in the game for the second drive of the second half.

Iamaleava completed 8 of 13 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He ran four times for 22 yards.

Sampson had 19 carries for 76 yards in the first half, appearing to injure his lower left leg late in the second quarter. Sampson left the field under his own power, went to the injury tent on the Tennessee sideline, then went to the locker room with trainers in the final minute of the first half.

Dont’e Thornton caught a 73-yard touchdown pass from Iamaleava to give Tennessee a 14-0 lead with 13:35 left in the second quarter. Iamaleava threw a 34-yard touchdown to Squirrel White caught on Tennessee’s opening drive of the game, giving the Vols a 7-0 lead on fourth-and-3. It was the first points on an opening drive for the Vols since the 71-0 win over Kent State on September 14.

No. 7 Tennessee at No. 2 Georgia, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

After hosting Mississippi State Saturday night, Tennessee goes back on the road next week facing No. 2 Georgia at Sanford Stadium in Athens, a 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time start on ABC. The game should have major College Football Playoff implications after Georgia lost 28-10 at Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon.

Iamaleava entered Saturday night’s game with 1,705 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions through eight games. He had completed 136 of 208 passes on the season. 

He had 292 yards and a touchdown in the 28-18 win over Kentucky last week at Neyland Stadium and 194 and a touchdown against Alabama in the 24-17 win on October 19. Iamaleava briefly left the Alabama game with an injury but returned after missing just one play.

Iamaleava set a new Tennessee program record with 314 yards in the first half against Chattanooga on August 31, throwing three touchdowns in his first home start with the Vols on the way to a 69-3 win.

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