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By Aman Sharma
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UCLA is chasing a first-ever playoff berth, and the quarterback who started the run won’t finish it.
Nico Iamaleava confirmed on Oct. 29 that a torn ACL has ended his season with the UCLA Bruins. The quarterback got hurt in the second quarter of a 17-15 win at then-No. 13 Oregon on Oct. 10.
He shared the news in an Instagram post.
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“Well, I’m heartbroken the way my season ended,” Iamaleava wrote. “I’ve finally accepted that this year is really over for me. This wasn’t a part of the plan, but I believe everything happens for a reason. I gave this game and my brothers everything I had and I’ll continue to lean on God and trust His plan. I’ll be back.”
The injury didn’t knock him out right away. Iamaleava jogged to the sideline, came back one snap later, and was intercepted on the final snap before halftime. He didn’t play again.
Before going down, he’d helped the Bruins to a 5-0 start and a No. 12 AP ranking, UCLA’s best since November 2022.
In five starts, Iamaleava completed 62.1% of his throws for 982 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions. He added 144 yards and a score on the ground.
Backup Ty Dieffenbach took over and kept the streak alive with wins against Wisconsin and Michigan State. Across three games, he’s thrown for 505 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Coach Bob Chesney said after the Oregon win that when a backup’s number comes up, “you’re either exposed or you’re revealed.” He put Dieffenbach in the second group.
Iamaleava started all 13 games for a Tennessee playoff team in 2024 before leaving amid an apparent NIL dispute. He returned for a second UCLA season after the Bruins went 3-9 in his first.
At 7-0 and 5-0 in the Big Ten, No. 7 UCLA has five games left, and none of its remaining opponents are ranked. The job is Dieffenbach’s the rest of the way.
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