NIL holdout turning into QB trade, plus what’s ‘GameDay’ without Corso? (2025)

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Today in college football news, this past weekend’s WrestleMania gets a C+.

Exchange Students: Iamaleava fallout includes likely QB swap

Remember a couple weeks ago, when it looked like this April portal window would be a chill one? Anyway, a couple Big Ten and SEC teams are in the process of trading quarterbacks. Unofficially trading, but still.

Days after Tennessee’s one-time College Football Playoff starter Nico Iamaleavaleft for UCLAvia an NIL caper gone awry, former potential UCLA starter Joey Aguilar islikely headed to the Vols. It gets even more involved:

• Why is there a photo of an Appalachian State player above? That’s Aguilar, whoarrived in Los Angeles just five months ago,having previously been App State’s starter for the past two seasons. Just like that, the Sun Belt veteran seems to be in line for a portion of Iamaleava’s former $2.2 million, plus a chance to compete for the job of leading a CFP contender. Hey, the newly vacated spot in Knoxville was the best one on the transfer market.
• Iamaleava’s younger brother, former four-star QB Madden, is leaving Arkansas andexpected to also arrive at UCLA. But wait, there’s somehow even more: Madden had long been committed to the Bruins until an early signing day flip. From one Iamaleava to zero to two.

I guess this is our makeshift version of the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Ramsswapping quarterbacksa few years ago. That worked out for everybody.

Two other consequential pieces of QB news from this transfer window, which closes later this week:Bill Belichick’s North Carolina added South Alabama’s Gio Lopez,whohas a shot to win the job, andNotre Dame’s Steve Angeli is transferring out,meaning the Irishwill have a first-time starter this season.

🌀 More portal:

• Transferring once or twice? That’s nothing. Let Antonio Morales tell you about the running back currentlylooking for hisfifth FBS school. College is about gaining life experiences.
• Wait,how can UCLA affordanywhere near Nico’s asking price? We have no idea how close the deal is to $4 million — probably not very close! — but the Bruinsmight be more well-off than it’s appeared.
• “Why arenearly 40 percent of the top 100 high school recruits looking for new homeswithin two years of signing? Money matters, but there aretypically other factors.”

Quick Snaps

📋 Whenever someone asks you what this wholecollege sports general managerthing is all about, just send themthis decades-encompassing historyby Sam Khan Jr.

• Most interesting quote to me: “Cooper Petagna, a former director of player personnel at Washington and Oregon who now works for 247Sports, said the balance of power (between coaches and GMs) is shifting more to the middle. If a coaching change happens, it doesn’t necessarily mean the personnel apparatus will change.”
• On that note: Andrew Luck’s unique (well, unique for a while, at least) role at Stanford made him the country’s most powerful college GM. At archrival Cal, new GM Ron Rivera appears to have a version of that model, asthe former NFL coach explained.

😬Lane Kiffinon former Georgia QB Carson Beckreportedly making $4 million at Miami: “Did they watch his game against us?” (Kiffin’s Rebels beat Georgia 28-10, but again fell short of the CFP.)

🍀 UNC and TCU willopen the2026 seasonin Ireland. Will Belichick be there?

💰 Yesterday, the Division I Board of Directors cleared the way for schools to begindirectlypaying players, pending House settlement approval. One step closer.

🏆 The current state of theCFP’s evolution, withmore haggling going on this week.

🦬 This week inColoradodrama: Deion Sandersaddressed the debateover the Buffs having already retired Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders’ jersey numbers. “The only reason we are having this discussion is because his last name is Sanders,” said the coach in defense of the decision. Technically true, one way or the other. To be fair, the QB seta ton of school records.

• Up next, CU isplanning a statueof its 1990 national co-champion head coach, the late Bill McCartney. “Sanders said he plans to don a tribute to McCartney’s signature jacket and hat for Colorado’s season opener at home against Georgia Tech.” (The Jackets were 1990’s other co-champ.)

⏰ It’sNFL Draftweek. If you want tocatch up on the whole thing with one click, Nick Baumgardner’s got you. More on this Thursday. We’ll find college angles.

Not So Fast: Heading out

These days, I’m not sure how much “College GameDay” you actively watch. For the past few years, I haven’t paid as much attention to it as I used to, though it’s always on in the background each football Saturday morning. Mostly, my ears clock in whenever Nick Saban says, “A’ight,” which means he’s fully activated his explanation mode.

Last week’s news thatthe upcoming season-debut edition of the Saturday institution will be Lee Corso’s swan songmade me realize a few things.

• Obviously, first, it made me appreciate how muchchaosandlovethe former Indiana head coach brought to college football over his last 38 years on “GameDay.” Every Saturday, he got the last word before kickoff arrived, and by “word,” I mean eitherclowning aroundin mascot gear orjust cussing. (Might link to that video once a week all offseason.) His TV exit has loomed for a while now, but he is irreplaceable and will instantly be missed. His headgear tradition will leave with him,per Rece Davis.
• Stepping in as the show’s emotional heart will quite possibly be … Pat McAfee, though this season’s lineup of panelists isn’t official yet. The most positive thing I can say about McAfee is that a little bit of his personality goes a very long way. The honking and flailing isn’t my thing, but whatever. Much more unpleasant is what it’d feel like to watch him lead college students in celebration each week despitebeing a guy who does stuff like this.

On Aug. 30, I’m probably gonna wipe a tear or two while watching a 90-year-old man adorn himself with a gigantic animal hat. And then a week later, there’s a chance I just tune out for good. “GameDay” would be fine without me, but I’m guessing I wouldn’t be the only one parting ways.

For The Athletic, senior newsletters editor Jason Kirk is the author of Until Saturday. He's also a co-host of the Shutdown Fullcast and Vacation Bible School Podcast, plus the author of the USA Today Best-Selling novel "Hell Is a World Without You." Follow Jason on Twitter @thejasonkirk