On the heels of an upset win and a conference road trip, UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava makes a bold proclamation when discussing his brother, Madden.
The redshirt sophomore quarterback rejoined the national conversation after an upset victory against Penn State. The Bruins continue to cobble together a season after firing their head coach, Deshaun Foster. The Bruins won their first game of the year against a ranked Penn State team.
UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava Opens Up About Immediate Goals and His Younger Brother
Iamaleava, in his fifth game as a Bruin, enjoyed a career day. Not only did he account for five touchdowns (two passing and three rushing) in a 42-37 upset over Penn State, but he also looked comfortable, completing 70.8% of his passes and rushing for 128 yards.
Iamaleava sat down with FOX college football analyst Matt Leinart to discuss his hopes for the Bruins and how they involve his brother, Madden, a quarterback.
“We want to win out from now on, and we’re taking it game by game.” @MattLeinartQB caught up with @UCLAFootball QB @nico_iamaleava8 on leading the Bruins and playing with his brother Madden. pic.twitter.com/dbTUjnCzmr
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 10, 2025
“Just to go 1-0 every week. Not getting too high over this past win. We want to win out from now on.”
To achieve bowl eligibility, the Bruins need to win five more games. It could come down to the year’s final game, when the Bruins travel to face crosstown rival USC on November 29. Currently, Iamaleava ranks 21st on PFSN’s College Football Quarterback Impact metric, which grades FBS quarterbacks based on their passing and rushing.
The UCLA signal-caller discussed his brother Madden, who also plays quarterback at UCLA.
“It’s been great. He’s been taking care of the scout team. Having his presence here with me has just been great.”
Originally committed to Arkansas, Madden transferred to UCLA. As the scout team quarterback, he must provide the defense with a facsimile of their upcoming opposing passer. Whether it’s the scheme, cadence, or running the offense, a scout team leader is vital.
READ MORE: Decommitments Mount in as UCLA Reels From DeShaun Foster’s $7M Firing
Iamaleava found his way to UCLA after leaving the University of Tennessee, purportedly over NIL money. While the exact truth will probably never see the light of day, the clean break affected each team differently.
The Volunteers reside in the 23rd spot in the current Associated Press poll. Their quarterback, Joey Aguilar, transferred initially to UCLA after leaving Appalachian State. When Tennessee and Iamaleava parted and the latter moved to the Bruins, Aguilar left Westwood for Knoxville.
On Saturday, the Bruins will face the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, Mich. UCLA’s offense will face an MSU defense that allows 30.6 points per game (116th in FBS). For Iamaleava and the Bruins, the road to a possible bowl appearance goes through the Spartans.