UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) warms up before a NCAAF game against the USC Trojans on November 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.Jack HaslettSun, November 30, 2025 at 5:45 AM UTC·6 min readLOS ANGELES - Saturday's game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum went the way that most of the games this season have gone for UCLA: carried on the legs of quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
The six-foot-six quarterback made a splash in the college football world when he chose UCLA as his transfer destination after departing from Tennessee following a standout 2024 season. His inaugural season certainly didn't start the way he wanted, nor could anyone have expected, when the Bruins started the season 0-4 and all hope seemed lost. Head coach Deshaun Foster was fired and UCLA's offensive and defensive coordinators soon left the team as well, leaving the fate of the program in the hands of interim coaches, and Iamaleava.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Nico brought those guys together. His understanding, his willingness to do the extra work, to learn the game plan. And then go coach the other guys when he was not in the practice the other day. He is special special," Jerry Neuheisel, who was promoted to acting play-caller for UCLA, said of Iamaleava while the team was experiencing their coaching shakeups.
UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) runs the ball during the game against Nebraska Cornhuskers at Rose Bowl Stadium on November 8, 2025 in Pasadena, California.Jordan Carroll - The Sporting Tribune
UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) runs the ball during the game against Nebraska Cornhuskers at Rose Bowl Stadium on November 8, 2025 in Pasadena, California.
Then as quickly as things fell apart, light shined down on the blue and gold. They pulled off the upset of the season against Penn State, kicking off a three-game win streak that made the Bruins the talk of college football. Iamaleava won Big Ten Player of the Week for his efforts against Penn State, and things were looking up for the Bruins as a sneaky chance at a bowl game was knocking on their door.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe magic didn't last forever, though. A 50-point thumping by Indiana brought UCLA back to earth, and three more losses followed them into the Coliseum against their arch rival USC Trojans Saturday night.
"It was a great learning year for me. a lot of firsts for me throughout the season," Iamaleava said after the game. "The way we started off and dealing with little minor injuries... it just showed that I'm willing to go out there and put my life on the line for my teammates whenever it's needed."
UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) throws the ball during the game against Nebraska Cornhuskers at Rose Bowl Stadium on November 8, 2025 in Pasadena, California.Jordan Carroll - The Sporting Tribune
UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) throws the ball during the game against Nebraska Cornhuskers at Rose Bowl Stadium on November 8, 2025 in Pasadena, California.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementInjuries pile up
The latter half of the season became difficult for Iamaleava on an individual level too. Injuries began to follow him as his rush-heavy tendencies and his general refusal to take a slide early in the season began to catch up with him. He suffered a brief knee injury against Maryland, but returned for the final drive regardless and helped the Bruins pull out a comeback 20-17 comeback win..
Later on against Ohio State, the toughest competition by far that UCLA had faced, Iamaleava was forced to miss his first game of the season after becoming a starter, out in concussion protocol. He made his return against Washington, before leaving in the fourth quarter of that game after suffering another blow to the head.
His status for Saturday's bout was in question because of neck spasms, but he rallied again to face the scarlet and gold in his first ever LA rivalry match, something extra special for a Long Beach local, who said he'd even been to the Coliseum before to watch the rivalry as a fan.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"He's a tough dude, man. And he's a competitor. That's what I'll say about him," UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper said of Iamaleava. "He knows on a Saturday he needs to do everything that he can to be ready to play. He was dealing with neck spasm stuff from the last game and throughout the week and as we got to the end of the week he started feeling good and every day he got better and better. He went out there and gave it his all. Love that kid, he's a battler, he fought and he kept leading us all the way to the end."
UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) runs the ball while getting pulled down during a NCAAF game against the Southern California Trojans on November 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.Jordan Carroll - The Sporting Tribune
UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) runs the ball while getting pulled down during a NCAAF game against the Southern California Trojans on November 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIamaleava's future following UCLA loss
Things didn't go the Bruins way in the Battle of LA, despite the efforts of Iamaleava and his team. The Bruins kept their rivals in check in the first half and even went into the locker room with a 10-7 lead. But, things quickly unraveled in the second half and the Trojans stacked up touchdown after touchdown until the bell rank and USC finished with a 29-10 lead.
With that final defeat, UCLA's season is over. What comes with that is a major decision for Iamleava. He finishes this season as a redshirt sophomore and still has two seasons of college eligibility to play with. He could finish out those years as UCLA's primary gunslinger, or he could enter the transfer portal yet again to look for a program with greener pastures. He may have been lambasted for his decision to leave Tennessee for UCLA in the first place, but his talent could still demand attention from other programs and with UCLA's coaching future rife with uncertainty, he could be compelled to play on stabler ground.
His other option, though, is to forgo his final years of college play and declare for the NFL Draft to try his hand at an early professional career.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere plenty of options in front of him. Though with the sting of defeat against the Trojans fresh in his mind, his focus wasn't yet toward his future.
"I haven't really thought about that. I'm right here with my feelings. You know, we just lost a tough game and my mind is still on what we could have done better."
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