Nico Iamaleava Returning to UCLA for 2026: A Crucial Building Block in the Bob Chesney Era
UCLA football just got a major boost heading into the Bob Chesney era, and it comes at the most important position on the field. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava is set to return for the 2026 season, giving the Bruins a proven, dynamic playmaker to lead the offense in Year One under their new head coach.
Iamaleava will be a redshirt junior next fall, and while all signs point to this being his final season at the college level, his return is a massive win for a program in transition.
The former five-star recruit started his college career at Tennessee before transferring to Westwood ahead of the 2025 campaign. And while UCLA’s season didn’t exactly go as planned, Iamaleava was a clear bright spot.
He started 11 games, completed a career-best 64% of his passes, and threw for 13 touchdowns against seven interceptions. Those numbers don’t jump off the page until you factor in the context: he was operating behind a struggling offensive line and often had to create plays on the fly.
Despite that, he still managed to lead the team in rushing with 505 yards on 112 carries - a testament to his athleticism and playmaking instincts.
But what really stood out this past season wasn’t just the stats. It was the grit.
Iamaleava played through injuries for much of the second half of the year. He took hit after hit behind a line that often left him exposed, yet he kept suiting up, kept battling, and kept giving UCLA a chance.
That kind of toughness doesn’t show up on a box score, but it resonates in a locker room. It’s the kind of leadership that can anchor a new era.
Retaining Iamaleava was a top priority for the Bruins even before Chesney was officially hired, and once he came on board, it became a central focus. Now, with their quarterback situation locked in, UCLA has a foundational piece in place as they begin reshaping the roster for 2026.
Of course, for Iamaleava to take the next step - and for the Bruins to take a leap forward - the offensive line has to be addressed. This past season, the unit struggled mightily, and it showed.
Whether it was protection breakdowns or missed assignments in the run game, the line simply didn’t hold up. That has to change.
Expect Chesney and his staff to be aggressive in the transfer portal, particularly when it comes to finding experienced, plug-and-play offensive linemen. Protecting Iamaleava and giving him time to operate should be priority No. 1 this offseason. He’s already shown he can make plays under pressure - now imagine what he could do with a clean pocket.
There’s still work to be done, but with Iamaleava returning, UCLA has its quarterback. And in college football, that’s everything.