Nico Iamaleava most likely took his last snap as a Bruin

Nico Iamaleava returned to start for the Bruins against Washington. Iamaleava missed the Ohio State game due to a concussion. He was able to make progress throughout the week and ultimately cleared the protocol. Although he returned, the results were not that great. As he finished the game 16-26 for only 69 yards for an average of 2.7 yards per attempt.

Iamaleava left the game in the fourth quarter after being sacked. There was no word post-game on what the injury was. But it could be the last time we see Iamaleava in a UCLA uniform. There are going to be options for Nico at the conclusion of the season. The two most likely options are NFL or transferring. With an underwhelming season, it is more likely that a transfer is coming to boost his stock. Although the QB class for 2026 isn’t as stacked as recent years.

This season was a complete bust. But you cannot put it all on Iamaleava. He fought hard through many offensive line changes and constant pressure. Using his legs to showcase that he is a dynamic runner. Able to extend plays and find open guys. The issue was there just wasn’t opportunities for separation, and the talent level was not compared to top teams. Some could say 1,728 yards on 63.5% completion percentage was decent for what was given.

He only had 12 touchdown passes on the season compared to seven interceptions. Often having drives stalled out. There were some very bad throws, but there were also plays that he made you go wow, that was electric. Due to the mixed bag of results, it’s hard to pinpoint what he could do. But the odds point towards it not being with UCLA as they are set to rebuild their football program. Which doesn’t suit what Nico needs for his career.