Sources: UCLA QB Iamaleava out indefinitely with knee injury

• ESPN

Oct 12, 2026, 02:46 PM ET

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava is out indefinitely with a knee injury, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Monday. There is no timetable on his return, sources said, as any final timeline is pending an upcoming medical evaluation.

Iamaleava did not start the second half of Saturday's 17-15 win at Oregon. Backup Ty Dieffenbach came on in place of Iamaleava and helped orchestrate the victory for the Bruins, who improved to 5-0 and shot up to No. 12 in this week's AP poll.

Dieffenbach completed 3 of 6 passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.

Iamaleava landed awkwardly on his leg on a second-quarter scramble while being tackled and stayed down. After being looked at by trainers, he was able to jog off the field.

As Iamaleava was tackled, the replay on the TV broadcast showed Oregon defensive lineman Bear Alexander twisting Iamaleava's helmet while going down. Once Iamaleava was down, Alexander appeared to punch him and struck his helmet. The play was not called for a penalty.

After Iamaleava jogged off, Dieffenbach threw an incompletion. Iamaleava was then able to return to the game. On the ensuing play, however, he threw an interception, his third turnover of the first half.

When the Bruins emerged for the second half, Dieffenbach, a senior from Cal Poly who had not seen any action all season, took over.

Iamaleava, who has started every game since arriving at UCLA from Tennessee in spring 2025, has thrown for 982 yards and four touchdowns this season.