UCLA gets bad news about QB Nico Iamaleava

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

UCLA gets bad news about QB Nico Iamaleava

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Oct 12, 2026 3:42 PM ET

The UCLA Bruins’ resurgent season is suddenly in crisis due to an injury to quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

Iamaleava is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury he suffered in UCLA’s win over Oregon on Saturday, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. The former five-star recruit left the game after getting tangled up with two Oregon defenders on a play.

UCLA standout QB Nico Iamaleava is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury he suffered during the Bruins’ win over Oregon on Saturday, sources tell @CBSSports. An unfortunate development for No. 12 UCLA and for Iamaleava, who had been brought up by multiple NFL front office staffers recently as an ascending top three round draft prospect.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) October 12, 2026

Senior backup Ty Dieffenbach will likely get the nod for the Bruins going forward. He threw for a touchdown in Saturday’s win after Iamaleava had left the game.

Iamaleava originally played for the Tennessee Volunteers, but controversially left the program to land with UCLA. His bet on himself looked to be paying off, as he was back on the NFL Draft radar after throwing for 982 yards over his first four games.

The Bruins have been one of the biggest surprises in college football after jumping out to a 5-0 start on the season. They are set to face Wisconsin at home in their next game on Saturday.

More must-reads: