As UCLA football enters its first year under coach Bob Chesney and third season in the Big Ten, Daily Bruin Sports will preview the personnel of each of the Bruins’ position groups and predict their 2026 outlook prior to the season’s official start Sept. 5 against California. Sports editor Jacob Nguyen concludes the series by breaking down UCLA’s quarterback play.
Personnel
All eyes are on Nico Iamaleava.
The senior quarterback had a down year in 2025, especially when considering his five-star status out of high school and his experience leading Tennessee to a College Football Playoff berth in 2024.
But for a player who was heavily scrutinized by fans and the media for allegedly prioritizing NIL money over winning, there is much optimism for Iamaleava’s second season in Westwood.
Arguably his biggest area of growth hasn’t even been with his game.
The Long Beach local’s strides as a leader have been apparent all offseason. Teammates and coaches have consistently lauded him as a vocal character who is motivated to win and able to get others to rally for the cause.
Put simply, Iamaleava has fully bought into coach Bob Chesney’s new culture and vision for UCLA.
Iamaleava has long possessed the physical tools to dominate. His 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame gives him the height and arm strength to get passes over defenders, especially when going deep. Additionally, his vision and ball placement skills have historically been noteworthy traits.
While he threw for just 1,928 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025, Iamaleava’s production was in part undermined by a weak receiver room that saw just one 500-plus-yard catcher and two three-plus-touchdown scorers.
But the signal caller’s best trait may be his ability to run the ball.
Iamaleava led the squad in rushing yards with 505 – second among the Big Ten’s quarterbacks. He was particularly effective in motion and run-pass options across his first two seasons as a starter, where his ball security while carrying kept him as a viable ground option.
Last year, many of Iamaleava’s runs came after designed pass plays failed to come to fruition – a further indication of his receiving core last season often failing to create separation and secure catches. The signal caller was often forced to make plays on his own when things fell apart, showcasing an ability to extend possessions and find openings when targets were covered.
While Iamaleava has a firm hold on the team’s starting role, other names may be able to step in, barring injury.
UCLA’s backup quarterback will once again be Iamaleava’s younger brother – sophomore Madden Iamaleava – who beat the older of the two during the Bruins’ Spring Game.
Transferring to UCLA from Cal Poly is senior Ty Dieffenbach, who played 11 games last season and recorded 1,305 passing yards and nine touchdowns.
Rounding out the quarterback room are freshman DJ Bordeaux – a three-star recruit out of Colorado – and sophomore Colton Gumino – who competed on the scout team last year.
All things held equal, the Bruins enter 2026 with a returning quarterback under center.
Predictions
Despite all that went wrong for Nico Iamaleava and the Bruins last year, offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy should still lean into the few bright spots in an otherwise underwhelming offense from last year, particularly Iamaleava’s dual-threat capabilities.
The talent has always been there, but instability among coaches gave Iamaleava the short end of the stick when it came to consistent play-calling.
It shouldn’t be a surprise if Iamaleava thrives in Kennedy’s run-heavy offense that was one of the best in the entire country.
While fifth-year running back Wayne Knight – the No. 10 rusher in the nation in 2025 – accounted for the majority of those numbers, Kennedy also helped produce the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year in Alonza Barnett III. JMU’s starting quarterback last season was second on the team in rushing yards, while leading the squad with 15 touchdowns – six more than Knight.
[Related: 2026 UCLA football position preview: Running backs]
Kennedy’s familiarity and success with two-way play-callers bodes well for the likes of Iamaleava, who should thrive in a new system while also having the creative freedom to deviate from the scheme when plays falter.
With the surrounding assets that should help him meet – and potentially exceed – expectations, the question now becomes: Can Iamaleava truly showcase his potential as a pocket passer?
A revamped wide receiver room with prominent transfers who project to be large, deep-threat options – like fifth-year Leland Smith and senior Landon Ellis – as well as shifty route runners – like sophomore Brian Rowe Jr. and senior Semaj Morgan – gives Iamaleava plenty of new options that should be able to capitalize on his throws at a better rate than last season’s group.
[Related: 2026 UCLA football position preview: Wide receivers, tight ends]
And protecting Iamaleava is a strengthened offensive line headlined by JMU transfers Riley Robell and Carter Sweazie – both of whom were staples to a Kennedy offense last year at the guard positions. Behind a strong wall in the trenches, the Dukes sported the sixth-best rushing offense in the nation last season.
With more weapons and security around Iamaleava, the Westwood faithful should be excited to see a more dynamic, creative and free-flowing offense – one that is not shy to run quick motions and RPOs in an otherwise bold spread.
At the end of the day, UCLA’s success in Chesney’s first year at the helm largely hinges on how well Iamaleava bounces back from his underwhelming 2025 campaign.
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