UCLA Quarterback Nico Iamaleava Out Indefinitely, Likely to Miss Rest of Season

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season, according to reports from CBS Sports. ESPN’s Pete Thamel noted that the quarterback is expected to be sidelined “indefinitely” while the team awaits a final medical evaluation.

Iamaleava sustained a knee injury just before halftime during the Bruins’ matchup against Oregon last weekend. Although he appeared to be in considerable pain, he briefly left the field for one play before returning.

The signal-caller ended the first half on a sour note with an interception in the end zone. Heading into halftime, head coach Bob Chesney stated that Iamaleava was fine and had merely been hit in the thigh.

However, Iamaleava did not return to the sideline after halftime until late in the third quarter, at which point he was officially ruled out for the remainder of the game. He is now expected to miss a significant portion, if not the entirety, of the rest of the season.

In Iamaleava’s absence, UCLA turned to backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach. Backed by a defense that forced seven total turnovers, the Bruins managed to secure a narrow 17-15 victory over Oregon.

Prior to his departure, Iamaleava completed 10 of his 17 pass attempts for 162 yards and two interceptions, one of which occurred on a Hail Mary attempt just before halftime.

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