USC rival UCLA loses starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava for season
The Trojans’ rivalry matchup with the school across town next month suddenly looks a bit different
As the 2026 college football season progresses, one unexpected development has been the strong performance of UCLA under coach Bob Cheney. However, the Bruins have recently faced a significant setback with the likely season-ending knee injury to their starting quarterback, Nico Iamaleava. Injured during a game against Oregon on Saturday, Iamaleava's performance this season has been underwhelming, with an equal number of interceptions and touchdown passes through five games.
Losing their star quarterback comes as no surprise given the critical role of the position, yet it remains an unusual occurrence for a team to lose their starter without consequences. The upcoming game between the Trojans and Bruins at the Rose Bowl on November 28 will provide an opportunity to gauge how Iamaleava's injury impacts UCLA, and whether they can maintain their winning record without him. For the latest updates on USC Trojans news, follow @TrojansWire on X and like our Facebook page.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
