UCLA’s magical season just lost its biggest star. Nico Iamaleava will miss the rest of the season for the ninth-ranked Bruins (6-0), with first-year coach Bob Chesney confirming on Monday that the quarterback needs knee surgery for an injury suffered in the 17-15 win over Oregon on October 10.
Nico Iamaleava (Credits: ESPN)
“It’s Severe” — Surgery Set for This Week
Chesney did not mince words about the injury at his Monday press conference. “It’s severe,” he said, adding that surgery would take place later Monday or Tuesday. Iamaleava injured his left knee when he was tackled late in the first half at Autzen Stadium. He briefly returned for one play but did not play in the second half.
Multiple reports have described the injury as a torn ACL, though Chesney did not confirm the specific diagnosis publicly. Iamaleava finishes the season with 982 passing yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions, plus 144 rushing yards. His best outing came against Purdue with 276 yards and three touchdowns, though he never quite lived up to his billing as a former five-star recruit.
Dieffenbach Named Starter as UCLA Keeps Rolling
Backup Ty Dieffenbach replaced Iamaleava to finish the Oregon game and then made his first career FBS start on October 17, completing 22 of 33 passes for 264 yards in a 17-7 win over Wisconsin that kept UCLA unbeaten. The 6-foot-6 native of Agoura Hills, who previously played at Pittsburgh and Cal Poly, also brings more than 300 rushing yards of mobility from his Cal Poly days — an asset in Dean Kennedy’s offense.
The question now is whether UCLA’s fairy-tale run under Chesney can survive the loss of its QB1. The Bruins remain 6-0 (4-0 Big Ten) and firmly in the Top 10, but they will need Dieffenbach, the Wayne Knight-led running game and their defense to carry the load. They host Michigan State on October 21 next.
Beyond this season, Iamaleava faces a lengthy rehab and a consequential decision about his future — with one year of eligibility left, whether to return to college or pursue the NFL while recovering could reshape both his draft standing and UCLA’s roster plans.
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Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
