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Mario Cristobal Had No-Nonsense Line on Nico Iamaleava’s Holdout at Tennessee

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Mario Cristobal Had No-Nonsense Line on Nico Iamaleava’s Holdout at Tennessee


At least one person in college football strongly disapproves of the way Nico Iamaleava left Tennessee.

Iamaleava is reportedly set to enter the transfer portal this spring after a contentious holdout with the Volunteers over the financial terms of his NIL contract. The former five-star recruit will leave behind a fractured relationship with Tennessee and has started a fiery debate in sports media over whether his actions are justified.

Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal was the latest to weigh in on the topic, and his answer left no room for interpretation.

“We’re not gonna do that at Miami,” Cristobal said. “And I say that without any hesitation. If anyone’s thinking that—and they could be the best player in the world—if they wanna play holdout, they might as well play get out. We don’t wanna do that. We don’t want Miami to become that.

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“Too many guys have sweat, bled, and have laid on the line in that field to ever become that kind of a program.”

Iamaleava, who joined Tennessee in 2022 on a deal that paid him roughly $2 million a year, was reportedly seeking a deal worth $4 million. In his first year as starter in 2024, the Vols quarterback helped lead Tennessee to its first College Football Playoff berth in program history, where they got knocked out in the first round by Ohio State.

In the wake of Iamaleava’s drama-filled exit, Tennessee is apparently already trying to bury the past. Vols coach Josh Heupel made a noble stand by refusing to cave into Iamaleava’s NIL demands, and in doing so he set a key precedent following college football’s first-ever holdout.

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Heupel opened up about his decision to part ways with Iamaleava in Saturday’s presser:

“I said it to the guys today, there’s no one that’s bigger than the Power T,” Heupel said. “And that includes me.”

Cristobal appears to say the same about his Canes program.





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Nonprofit rescues 11 ‘emaciated and suffering’ animals from Tennessee property ahead of dangerous cold snap

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Nonprofit rescues 11 ‘emaciated and suffering’ animals from Tennessee property ahead of dangerous cold snap


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) is asking for donations after rescuing 11 animals Friday.

ARC said it was contacted by law enforcement in an unidentified rural Tennessee area to rescue five dogs and six cats in what the nonprofit is calling “Operation Cold Snap.”

In the rescue, the nonprofit took in two emaciated Great Danes, three Pit Bulls and six cats. ARC said some of the animals are emaciated and suffering from untreated bite wounds and infections.

The nonprofit said the animals were kept without heat or regular care.

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ARC shared a video of the rescue. In it, you can see the property s in disarray with trash littering the floor and overturned furniture.

This rescue comes just days before Middle Tennessee is expected to see its coldest temperatures of the season.

Now, ARC is asking for donations to help the 11 animals rescued Operation Cold Snap. Those interested in donating can do so on the nonprofit’s website.



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Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator

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Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator


Alex Golesh was introduced as Auburn’s head coach on Dec. 1. He served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.

Golesh announced the hiring of Jacob Bronowski as Auburn’s special teams coordinator. He served as the Vols’ special teams analyst in 2021 under head coach Josh Heupel. Bronowski was also under Heupel at UCF in 2020 as special teams quality control.

“His track record is outstanding,” Golesh said of Bronowski. “He developed multiple national award contenders, including a Lou Groza Award winner, and has led some of the top special teams units in the country.

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“I saw up close when we worked together before that coach Bronowski understands that special teams can be a championship difference-maker, and he’s proven he can develop elite specialists. He brings exactly the attention to detail and relentless work ethic we need in our program.”

Auburn will play at Tennessee on Oct. 3, 2026.

Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

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Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates

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Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates


Tennessee football will host Lane Kiffin, Alex Golesh and possibly Arch Manning at Neyland Stadium in the 2026 season.

UT’s opponents for the next four seasons were previously announced. On Dec. 11, the SEC released the dates of every conference game, providing the full picture of the 2026 schedule.

Game times and television designations will be announced later.

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Texas will make its first trip ever to Tennessee on Sept. 26. Manning, the Longhorns quarterback, is expected to return for the 2026 season rather than enter the NFL draft. If so, he’ll face the Vols on the home turf of his uncle, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.

Golesh, the former UT offensive coordinator, is Auburn’s new coach. He will return to Knoxville for an Oct. 3 game.

Alabama will play at Tennessee on Oct. 17, continuing their Third Saturday in October rivalry game.

Kiffin, the polarizing former UT coach, is now coaching LSU after bolting Ole Miss after the regular season ended. He will return to Knoxville for a Nov. 21 game. Three of the five SEC teams visiting Neyland Stadium will have a first-year coach, including Kentucky’s Will Stein on Nov. 7.

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Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as annual SEC opponents in the league’s new nine-game conference schedule. Its other six opponents will rotate each season. That means each school will play every SEC opponent home and away every four years.

Tennessee will have one open week on Oct. 31 and thus won’t play on Halloween.

Here is Tennessee’s week-to-week schedule for the 2026 season.

Tennessee football 2026 schedule

  • Sept. 5: Furman
  • Sept. 12: At Georgia Tech
  • Sept. 19: Kennesaw State
  • Sept. 26: Texas*
  • Oct. 3: Auburn*
  • Oct. 10: At Arkansas*
  • Oct. 17: Alabama*
  • Oct. 24: At South Carolina*
  • Oct. 31: Open
  • Nov. 7: Kentucky*
  • Nov. 14: At Texas A&M*
  • Nov. 21: LSU*
  • Nov. 28: At Vanderbilt*

*SEC game

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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