Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava, one of the brightest stars of the 2024 college football season, faced a significant challenge in Week 4 during his first SEC road start. Iamaleava, a former five-star phenom and first-year starter, headed into the matchup against No. 15 Oklahoma with Heisman buzz but found himself struggling at times against a tough Sooners defense. In what many viewed as a difficult test for the young quarterback, Iamaleava completed 13-of-21 passes for 194 yards, threw one touchdown, lost two fumbles, and was sacked three times.
Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt wasn’t surprised by the tough outing, noting that facing Oklahoma’s defense in a hostile environment would be a real test. “I told you he was going to turn the ball over,” Klatt said. “That’s part of the growing pains, but I think that’s the worst game he’ll play all season.” Klatt emphasized that despite Iamaleava’s struggles, there is no cause for concern for Tennessee fans.
In a game where Iamaleava experienced the usual freshman difficulties, Tennessee’s defense stepped up in a big way, holding the Sooners to just 222 total yards and not allowing a touchdown until the fourth quarter. The Vols came away with an impressive 25-15 victory, improving their record and moving up to No. 5 in the AP Poll, jumping over undefeated Ole Miss.
Iamaleava and the Volunteers will look to build on this momentum as they prepare to face Arkansas on October 5, where fans hope to see the young quarterback bounce back stronger from his Week 4 performance.
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