UCLA’s perfect start has taken a major hit.
Just two days after the Bruins beat Oregon 17-15 in a result that changed the mood around the program, multiple reports said quarterback Nico Iamaleava is expected to miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury. Head coach Bob Chesney is scheduled to speak about Iamaleava’s status during his weekly Monday press conference at 12:45 p.m. PT.
Iamaleava was hurt late in the first half Saturday when he tried to scramble for a first down and was caught between two defenders, twisting his lower body. He did not return after halftime, and Ty Dieffenbach stepped in to help close out the win.
Dieffenbach wasn’t locked in as the backup heading into the game. Chesney said after the victory that the decision to use him came after a strong week of practice, when he showed his legs could matter in that matchup with Oregon.
Now UCLA may be heading into a real quarterback competition as it gets ready for Wisconsin on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PT. The Bruins have handled backup quarterback duty on a week-to-week basis, and that approach could lead to a battle between Dieffenbach and Madden Iamaleava for the starting job.
Dieffenbach, a Cal Poly transfer and Agoura High alum, threw for 43 yards and a touchdown in the second half against Oregon. Madden Iamaleava has already seen a few snaps in relief of his older brother against Cal and Purdue. Neither quarterback has started an FBS game; Dieffenbach’s seven starts at Cal Poly came at the FCS level.
Losing Iamaleava takes some of the shine off UCLA’s College Football Playoff hopes, but the Bruins have already shown they can win without eye-popping quarterback numbers. They have leaned on a run game that’s averaging 253.2 yards per game, fourth-best in FBS, and a defense that leads the Big Ten in turnovers forced.
Iamaleava did flash what he can bring in the Purdue win, when he threw for a season-high 276 yards and three touchdowns. For the season, he has completed 62.1% of his passes for 982 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.
His injury removes both his passing production and the added threat he brought on the ground. It also takes away a quarterback who had grown into more of a leader in his second season at UCLA after transferring from Tennessee. Still, the Bruins’ running game and turnover-hunting defense give them a path to keep chasing everything in front of them.
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 🡒]
UCLAs Oregon Win May Have Created A Massive QB Problem
UCLAs win over Oregon came with a painful price, and it may change the shape of the season at the most important position on the field. Nico Iamaleava, who has been the Bruins starting quarterback, is expected to miss the rest of the year after suffering a knee injury in the game, leaving the staff to sort through a suddenly thin depth chart at quarterback.
Madden Iamaleava and Ty Dieffenbach are the names to watch as UCLA looks for its next starter, and the Bruins are also waiting on injury updates for Roderick Pleasant and Tao Johnson. Dieffenbach already saw action in the second half against Oregon, which at least gives UCLA a live in-game reference as it tries to figure out what comes next for an offense that just lost its centerpiece. [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 🡒]