UCLA’s upset win over Oregon came with a cost that landed hard Monday morning: starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava is expected to miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury suffered in the game.
CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz was first to report the news, and for UCLA it means the offense now has to move forward without the player who has shaped much of what the Bruins have done this season.
Iamaleava’s year has been a grind. He had seemed to be dealing with the knee issue since the opener against UC Berkeley, when a dirty play by a Berkeley defender appeared to affect it, but he still managed to put up 982 passing yards on 116 attempts with four touchdowns and four interceptions.
On the ground, he added 144 yards on 42 carries and scored once. That running threat mattered just as much as the numbers.
Defenses had to respect his ability to take off, which kept them from loading up against UCLA’s three-headed hydra at running back.
The passing game, though, never fully settled in. Iamaleava had stretches where he flashed NFL-level throws, but consistency was harder to find. Even so, the hope inside UCLA was that he might catch fire down the stretch, especially with softer opponents ahead.
There’s also a bigger-picture angle here. Heading into the season, the expectation was that Iamaleava had a real chance to return for a fifth year next season unless he put together some kind of huge breakout.
That remains in play, and the injury news only strengthens that idea. He has already shown he can win at UCLA, and now he’ll have the chance to prove to NFL teams that his knee is back to normal.
For UCLA, the immediate loss is real, but it doesn’t necessarily erase what the Bruins have already been building. Iamaleava’s rushing ability will be missed, but a lot of the production on the ground has also come from the offensive line and the backs themselves. UCLA just survived one of the best defenses on its schedule in Eugene, and even with Wisconsin up next and a stout defense waiting there, the run game still looks capable of carrying the offense.
The biggest question now is who takes over under center. Madden Iamaleava, Nico’s younger brother, has been the backup for most of the season and saw spot duty in the first four games.
But UCLA also turned to Cal Poly transfer Ty Dieffenbach to start the second half against Oregon. Dieffenbach brings more experience - he started at Cal Poly last year after beginning his college career at Pitt - and he offers a running element that Madden does not.
Madden is more of a traditional pocket passer.
Dieffenbach seems like the likeliest choice to get the first crack at the job because of that mobility, though a rotation between the two quarterbacks would not be a surprise either.
UCLA is also still waiting on word about Roderick Pleasant and Tao Johnson, who both left the Oregon game with injuries of their own.
In Other News...
UCLA Suddenly Has A New Offensive Question After Stunning Oregon Win
UCLAs 17-15 upset of Oregon in Eugene gave the Bruins a long-awaited breakthrough, their first win there since 2004, and it came with the kind of defensive backbone that can change a seasons mood in a hurry. Cornerbacks Scooter Jackson and TaShawn James helped make life miserable for the Ducks, while receiver Morgan emerged as the most dependable option in a passing game that never really found its comfort zone.
The victory, though, left UCLA with a fresh offensive question to sort through in the days ahead after the quarterback situation shifted in the second half and the Bruins had to lean on Ty Dieffenbach in difficult circumstances. He settled in well enough to keep the game moving, but with the starters status now part of the conversation and the passing attack still searching for consistency, UCLAs next step may depend as much on how it handles that position as on the confidence this win should provide. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Just Exposed A Huge Oregon Problem Fans Will Love
UCLAs win over Oregon did more than hand the Ducks another ugly result, it pulled back the curtain on a program that arrived with preseason heavyweight expectations and is now trying to steady itself after tumbling out of the rankings. The offense was the main culprit in the loss, with turnovers and inconsistency overshadowing a defense that has at least gotten a better recent stretch from tackle AMauri Washington and a punting game that has been solid whenever Bailey Ettridge has been asked to work.
The bigger concern is the quarterback situation, because Oregons path forward is far less clear than it was a few weeks ago. Dante Moores status remains uncertain after the concussion issue, and Dylan Raiolas first start did not provide much relief against UCLA, leaving the Ducks searching for answers while running back Jordon Davison continues to score without yet breaking through for a 100-yard rushing game this season. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Left Too Many Points On The Field Against Oregon
UCLAs offense spent too much of its Week 6 matchup with Oregon leaving points behind, a familiar problem in a game where the Bruins had chances to build on momentum but could not cash in. A blocked field goal, along with a pair of turnovers and a missed opportunity near the goal line, kept the Bruins from turning possession into pressure and left them chasing the game instead of controlling it.
Nico Iamaleavas interceptions were part of the offensive stall, but UCLA also had a chance to keep a drive alive and chose aggression over the safer points, only to come up empty at the doorstep. Those moments added up quickly against a Ducks team that did not need many invitations, and the Bruins will be left replaying the same sequence of failed conversions that helped swing the outcome away from them. [Read more 🡒]