It was part of a whirlwind 72 hours that ended with the Volunteers publicly parting ways with their returning starting quarterback after a contract dispute that could shift the power dynamics of college sports and impact programs far beyond Tennessee

In a whirlwind 72-hour period, Tennessee football’s relationship with star quarterback Nico Iamaleava unraveled, culminating in his transfer to UCLA and leaving the Volunteers to reassess their quarterback situation. The saga began with Iamaleava seeking a significant increase in his…