UCLA loses Nico Iamaleava for season, knee surgery scheduled

Backup threw for 264 yards in 17-7 Wisconsin win

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 4h1 min read

What happened: UCLA coach Bob Chesney said Nico Iamaleava will miss the rest of the 2026 season with a severe left knee injury and is scheduled for surgery. Iamaleava was hurt late in the second quarter of the Oct. 10 win over Oregon when his leg was hit and twisted on a scramble.

Why it matters: UCLA was 5-0 with a College Football Playoff path when it lost its starting quarterback. Ty Dieffenbach steadied the offense in relief against Oregon and started the 17-7 win over Wisconsin to keep the Bruins unbeaten without Iamaleava.

By the numbers: Iamaleava: 982 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 4 interceptions; 144 rushing yards, 1 touchdown. Dieffenbach: 3-of-6 for 43 yards, 1 touchdown vs Oregon; 22-of-33 for 264 yards vs Wisconsin. UCLA wins: 17-15 over Oregon, 17-7 over Wisconsin.

What to watch: Dieffenbach is set to lead UCLA the rest of the way as Iamaleava undergoes surgery. Playoff positioning and quarterback depth shape the closing stretch.

Sources

Yahoo CFB 2026-10-19T20:50:04.455589+00:00

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