Nico Iamaleava was injured late in the fourth quarter of UCLA’s win against Maryland on Oct. 18.
The former Tennessee football quarterback went down with 2:09 to play and had to be helped off the field with an apparent lower-body injury.
Iamaleava threw a go-ahead touchdown with 3:33 to play to put the Bruins ahead of the Terrapins 14-10. He had thrown two interceptions prior, including a pick-six that gave Maryland a brief lead.
Nico Iamaleava UCLA stats in 2025
Iamaleava completed 66.3% of his passes for 1,134 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions in UCLA’s first five games. He also has rushed 60 times for 332 yards and four touchdowns.
He tore up UCLA with a five-touchdown game in an upset against then-No. 6 Penn State on Oct. 4. He was 17-for-24 passing for 166 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed 16 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns, including the eventual game-winning score in the fourth quarter.
Iamaleava was 16-for-24 passing for 180 yards and three three touchdowns in a blowout win at Michigan State on Oct. 11.
Iamaleava completed 65.3% of his passes for 788 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions in UCLA’s first four games as it started 0-4. He threw an interception in each of the first three games, including a fourth-quarter interception to end a comeback shot at UNLV on Sept. 6.
Nico Iamaleava spent two seasons with Tennessee football before exit
Iamaleava played 18 games with 14 starts in two seasons at Tennessee, including starting all 13 games during UT’s College Football Playoff run in 2024.
The QB threw for 2,616 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2024, but was less efficient in SEC play. He threw nine touchdowns in eight SEC games but four of those were against Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale.
In his UT career, Iamaleava completed 241 of 379 passes for 2,930 yards with 21 touchdowns and five interceptions. He redshirted in 2023 behind starter Joe Milton.
Why did Nico Iamaleava and Tennessee football split?
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the Vols that Iamaleava was no longer a member of the team prior to the April 12 spring game, ending the relationship between UT and the QB amid an apparent NIL dispute.
Iamaleava skipped Tennessee’s final spring practice on April 11, the morning after On3’s Pete Nakos reported ongoing negotiations between Iamaleava and UT. His NIL deal reportedly paid him more than $2 million per year. ESPN’s Chris Low, citing sources, reported that Iamaleava’s representatives wanted his NIL pay increased to $4 million per year. The family used the possibility of him entering the portal as leverage.
The former five-star prospect entered the portal on April 16 then transferred to UCLA.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
