In a game where the UCLA Bruins needed an all-hands-on-deck attitude heading into Saturday, the team got some bad news late Friday night.
According to reports, UCLA starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava will not be able to play against the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.
What Happened To UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava?
A report from On3 Sports indicates that Iamaleava has been ruled out due to a concussion.
NEW: UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava has been ruled out against Ohio State, @Brett_McMurphy reports.
Iamaleava suffered a concussion in last week’s loss against Nebraska.https://t.co/S3Zg6y4C1m pic.twitter.com/7Idcmg7HeB
— On3 (@On3sports) November 15, 2025
Iamaleava suffered a concussion last week in UCLA’s game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. It’s a serious blow to the Bruins’ hopes of even putting up a challenge against the Buckeyes’ staunch defense.
According to the PFSN CFB QB Impact metrics, Iamaleava has an 80.2 QB Impact Score and grades out with a B-. Iamaleava has started all nine of the Bruins’ games this season and no one else on the team has attempted a pass during games, according to On3’s Brett McMurphy.
For the season so far, Iamaleava has attempted 259 passes, completing 165 of them, for 1,659 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s averaging 184.3 passing yards per game for UCLA.
So, who gets the start for the Bruins on Saturday? It looks like sophomore backup quarterback Luke Duncan will take snaps. Duncan has only seen action this season against Michigan State back on Oct. 11. To say that Duncan faces an uphill battle against Ohio State would be an understatement.
It’s been a dismal season for the Bruins overall. The Bruins started 0-3 and saw head coach DeShaun Foster get fired. With Tim Skipper taking over as interim head coach and Jerry Neuheisel, son of former college football coach Rick Neuheisel, taking over as offensive coordinator, though, the Bruins have been a bit better.
Still, the fact that UCLA has to square off against the No. 1 team in the nation and the top team in the College Football Playoff Rankings without Iamaleava will be an uphill battle. Ohio State enters the game with a 9-0 overall record, 6-0 in Big Ten Conference play. This all sets up to give the Buckeyes a solid advantage over a UCLA team looking for an upset win.
The Bruins now have to adjust their offensive game plan just hours before facing Ohio State. It will take a heroic effort from Duncan and his Bruins teammates to come away with a Big Ten Conference victory and a major upset.
