Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is expected to be available for the upcoming game against Georgia, despite leaving last week’s victory over Mississippi State with an upper body injury. Head coach Josh Heupel confirmed that the injury was not serious and described the decision to keep Iamaleava out of the second half as a “precautionary measure.” Heupel expressed confidence that the quarterback would be ready to play against Georgia, providing some relief to Vols fans who feared a more severe injury.
Iamaleava sustained the injury late in the first half after taking a hit from Mississippi State defender Isaac Smith. Though the exact nature of the injury was not disclosed, Iamaleava landed hard on his right side after the hit, causing him to exit the game. Prior to the injury, Iamaleava had been playing well, completing 8 of 13 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns, along with 22 rushing yards on four carries. He connected with wide receivers Squirrel White and Dont’e Thornton for touchdown passes of 34 and 73 yards, respectively, helping Tennessee establish an early lead.
With the Vols set to face Georgia in a crucial SEC matchup this Saturday, having Iamaleava back at full strength is important for their postseason hopes. Georgia is coming off a 28-10 loss to Ole Miss, which dropped the Bulldogs from No. 2 to No. 11 in the AP Top 25 rankings. The defeat put Georgia in a must-win position to remain in contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
For Tennessee, a win over Georgia would significantly boost their chances of making it to the SEC Championship Game and strengthen their case for playoff consideration. With only one loss in conference play, the Vols are well-positioned, but a victory over a top-tier team like Georgia would be a huge step forward. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Iamaleava can lead Tennessee to a crucial win on the road and continue their strong push towards postseason glory.
