UCLA’s offense is going to look a lot different in 2026, and that starts with the pieces around Nico Iamaleava.
After a 3-9 season, the Bruins are turning the page under Bob Chesney and bringing in help through the transfer portal, but they’re not starting from scratch. A handful of returners still matter here, and the mix of new faces and familiar names should give UCLA a better shot at getting its offense moving.
At the top of that list is Iamaleava, because everything on this side of the ball runs through the quarterback. He had his ups and downs last season, but he also flashed the kind of talent that can change the shape of an offense.
Iamaleava threw for 1,928 yards and completed 64.4% of his passes, the best mark of his three-year college career. He also led UCLA with 505 rushing yards, which was another personal best.
The Bruins averaged just 319.9 total yards per game in 2025, and if Iamaleava can push that number closer to JMU’s 452.6, this group has a chance to look far more dangerous in 2026.
The run game could be the other big swing factor, and Wayne Knight is a huge part of that picture. If UCLA can bring over even a slice of what James Madison did on the ground last season, Knight should be right in the middle of it.
With many of the same players, coaches and offensive scheme in place, the Bruins are hoping for a real jump. JMU averaged 241.6 rushing yards per game, good for sixth nationally, and while that’s a tough target, Knight’s production gives UCLA something real to build on.
He ran for 1,373 yards last season, averaged 6.6 yards per carry and finished at 98.1 rushing yards per game.
Brian Rowe is another name that matters more now because of what UCLA lost. Three of the Bruins’ top four receivers are gone, and Rowe looked like one of the more reliable options during spring practice. He finished last season with 149 receiving yards and averaged 7.9 yards per catch, but the bigger takeaway is how steady he looked as one of the offense’s better playmakers in the passing game.
Anthony Woods should also have a meaningful role. UCLA had trouble generating consistent yards on the ground last season, but Woods gives the Bruins a versatile piece who already showed he can help in multiple ways.
In 2025, he averaged 4.7 yards per carry, ranked second among returning running backs with 298 rushing yards and led all UCLA backs with 211 receiving yards. There will be more than one option in the backfield, but Woods should still be a major part of the offense.
Up front, Eugene Brooks brings some needed stability. UCLA’s offensive line is in transition with several linemen moving on, and Brooks’ return gives the Bruins an experienced piece to lean on.
That matters even more with a new offensive coordinator in Kennedy, especially after the struggles last season. Brooks won’t be the flashiest name on the roster, but he could be one of the most important if UCLA is going to clean up the offense in 2026.
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What makes Omosigho especially relevant for UCLA is not just the rsum, but the role the Bruins need him to fill. This is a defense that has been looking for a true on-field voice at linebacker, someone who can help organize things in real time, and Omosighos progression in Norman hints at a player ready for that responsibility. Whether he can become the steadying force UCLA wants is the next question, but the fit is obvious enough to keep watching. [Read more 🡒]