UCLA football headlines were plentiful on Tuesday; the school and offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri have mutually agreed to part ways.
The announcement came in the evening, with Sunseri only in his first season as offensive coordinator after coming over from Indiana. This is the second fairly immediate change in coordinators for the Bruins since the team fired coach DeShaun Foster following a 0-3 start.
Sunseri oversaw a unit that was averaging just 14.3 points per game.
How Does a Change in OC Impact UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava?
The UCLA Bruins have an offense centered around star transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava. He has, quite simply, unfortunately underperformed in every game thus far.
Given the spike in conversation surrounding the Bruins, some fans are even going as far as to say the Iamaleava transfer may be one of the worst roster moves in college football history.
“Serious question- do they even win a game this year? If not this has gotta be the worst transfer move ever,” one fan said on X.
Serious question- do they even win a game this year? If not this has gotta be the worst transfer move ever
— clay (@cgkVol_) October 1, 2025
Iamaleava made the move from Tennessee to UCLA in April. ESPN previously reported that the quarterback’s NIL contract, which had previously paid him $2.4 million per year and was set to pay him more than $8 million over his time at Tennessee, was to increase to $4 million for 2025.
“Nico’s money grab looking worse by the day. If that is even possible,” said another fan.
Nico’s money grab looking worse by the day. If that is even possible!
— Donald Ritschard (@Steak91) October 1, 2025
The current sophomore signal caller threw for 21 touchdowns while with the Volunteers in addition to rushing for six before joining the UCLA roster for 2025.
While with UCLA so far, Iamaleava has thrown for 788 yards and four touchdowns; he’s also rushed for 204 yards and only run for one touchdown.
“Tennessee laughing so hard,” one fan said after learning of the UCLA change in OCs.
Tennessee laughing so hard
— P (@Htown_999) October 1, 2025
Wearing No. 9, Iamaleava is actually a California native himself and stands at 6’6″, weighing 215 pounds.
“Someday UCLA will wake up and realize who they really are,” one fan said.
“He tried to play Tennessee and he lost,” another said.
Someday UCLA will wake up and realize who they really are.
— Puffhawk (@Puffhawk1) October 1, 2025
He tried to play Tennessee and he lost.
— Vinny (@IamVinnyG) October 1, 2025
The Bruins currently have a C grade and a score of 75.9 on PFSN’s CFB Offense Impact metric. Iamaleava has a QB impact score of 77.8, also according to PFSN metrics.
Also, according to ESPN, UCLA tight ends coach Jerry Neuheisel, a former Bruins quarterback himself and son of former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, will now take over offensive playcalling duties for Sunseri ahead of the Bruins hosting No. 7 Penn State on Saturday.
