UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava opens up for first time after season-ending injury

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UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava finally broke his silence after suffering a season-ending injury. He posted on Instagram on Thursday.

Iamaleava was injured on October 10 against Oregon late in the second quarter after he scrambled and got rolled up on a tackle by Ducks' defenders Bear Alexander and Jerry Mixon. He left the game for a play and returned before sitting out the remainder of the second half.

"Well, I'm heartbroken the way my season ended. I’ve finally accepted that this year is really over for me," he wrote. "This wasn’t a part of the plan, but I believe everything happens for a reason. I gave this game and my brothers everything I had and I’ll continue to lean on God and trust His plan. I’ll be back."

UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava statement on Instagram re his season-ending injury: “I’m heartbroken the way my season ended. I’ve finally accepted that this year is really over for me. This wasn’t part of the plan, but I believe everythinghappens for a reason. I gave this game and my brothers everything I had and I’ll continue to lean on God and trust His plan. I’ll be back🙏🏽”

— Ira Gorawara (@IraGorawara) October 29, 2026

Head coach Bob Chesney confirmed on Monday, October 19, that Iamaleava would be out for the remainder of the season and expected to have surgery.

Ty Dieffenbach has succeeded Iamaleava, and the seventh-ranked Bruins are still scorching hot. He's thrown for 505 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while completing 61.4% of his passes.

The fourth-year quarterback was on pace to surpass his abysmal 2025 season. The injury will set him back another year. Iamaleava threw for 982 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions and completed 62.1% of his passes in five games. He added another 144 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The Bruins face Nevada at home on Saturday, October 31 (3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network).