Week 6 turned into a rough showcase for college football’s former five-star quarterbacks, and Saturday’s slate delivered the kind of afternoon these programs wanted to forget. Texas’ Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dylan Raiola, UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava and Vanderbilt’s Jared Curtis all came away with losses, and each quarterback had a hand in how those games slipped away.
Manning’s night in the Red River Rivalry unraveled late in Texas’ 27-24 loss to Oklahoma. He threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter, and the first one was taken back for a pick-six that tied the game at 24. His final interception also helped set up the Sooners’ winning sequence.
Raiola’s day at Oregon never found traction either. The Ducks dropped their second game of the season to UCLA, and head coach Dan Lanning even benched Raiola, who was starting for an injured Dante Moore. Raiola, who made 22 starts at Nebraska, finished with two interceptions and a lost fumble before Brock Thomas took over in the fourth quarter.
UCLA also had to make a quarterback switch of its own. Iamaleava threw two interceptions, both in the first half, and took a big hit just before halftime.
He missed a play, returned briefly, and then threw his second interception of the day right before the break. CBS’ Jenny Dell later reported that he was injured, and he did not come back with the team for the second half.
He eventually returned to the sideline without pads, while backup Ty Dieffenbach handled the rest of the game. Dieffenbach threw a touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter and also fumbled on his own goal line, a mistake that set up Oregon’s first touchdown when the ball slipped out of his hand.
At Vanderbilt, Curtis also endured a turnover-filled afternoon in a 52-17 home loss to Ole Miss. He finished with three turnovers - two interceptions and a fumble - but still managed one of the stronger stat lines among the struggling five-stars, throwing for 222 yards and a touchdown.
Here’s how the numbers stacked up for Saturday’s former five-star quarterbacks:
Arch Manning: 61.3 completion percentage, 260 passing yards, 3 TD, 2 INT, 20 rushing yards
Nico Iamaleava: 58.8 completion percentage, 162 passing yards, 0 TD, 2 INT, 1 rushing yard
Jared Curtis: 59.4 completion percentage, 222 passing yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, -2 rushing yards
Dylan Raiola: 31.6 completion percentage, 43 passing yards, 0 TD, 2 INT, -7 rushing yards
In Other News...
UCLA Is Building A Familiar Portal Formula Oklahoma Fans Know Well
UCLAs roster rebuild is starting to take on a very familiar look for anyone who has followed the more aggressive portal blueprints around college football. Under Bob Chesney, the Bruins have begun leaning into the kind of quick, deliberate roster construction that also helped define Curt Cignettis rise at Indiana, with key additions such as quarterback Nico Iamaleava and running back Wayne Knight giving the program a more defined foundation as it tries to move faster than a traditional rebuild usually allows.
What makes the comparison interesting is how much of this model depends on both talent acquisition and keeping the right pieces in place long enough for the system to take hold. UCLAs current roster composition suggests the Bruins are not just chasing names, but trying to build continuity and trust at the same time, and the next step is seeing whether that formula can translate into the kind of on-field traction that made the Indiana approach so notable in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA's Oregon Upset Chances Just Changed After New Ducks Report
The matchup in Eugene already had plenty of weight, with No. 21 UCLA heading into Autzen Stadium as an undefeated team under first-year coach Bob Chesney, and every win so far has come by double digits. Against No. 13 Oregon, the Bruins are walking into one of the seasons most difficult road environments with momentum, confidence and a chance to make a real statement in Week 6.
The Ducks, though, are going to look different at quarterback than expected, and that changes the tone of the game for UCLA. Oregons latest availability report also narrowed the picture on the defensive side, leaving a key piece listed as unavailable, so the Bruins suddenly have a little more reason to believe the road trip can tilt their way if they start fast and handle the crowd. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Win Now Comes With A Big Ten Question For Bear Alexander
A viral clip from UCLAs loss to Oregon has shifted attention away from the Ducks win and toward what the Big Ten may do next. In the video, Oregon defensive tackle Bear Alexander appears to strike UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava during a tackle, a moment that has drawn scrutiny because Iamaleava later left the game with a lower body injury.
The conference now has a potential sportsmanship issue to examine, and the situation is especially awkward given Oregon coach Dan Lannings public stance after a similar recent incident involving conduct he criticized. For now, the Big Tens response remains pending, leaving the Ducks with a win on the field and a looming question off it. [Read more 🡒]