UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava drops self-deprecating notion to massive funk

Nico Iamaleava did not run from his issues throwing the ball.The UCLA quarterback lingered to answer every question about what might have been the worst two-game stretch of his career.His timing is off, his throws aren’t accurate and he’s often making the wrong reads.“Obviously, game play from me,” Iamaleava said Saturday after the Bruins finally pulled away for a 28-10 victory over San Diego State, “I think if we want to be able to win these big games, I think I have to play way better.”The redshirt junior hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in back-to-back games for the first time since October 2024 – when he played for Penn State.Even more worrisome, he has logged two interceptions in the red zone.His latest came against the Aztecs on Saturday when he threw back across his body trying to connect with tight end Harry Lodge in the end zone but did not put nearly enough zip on the ball.“Obviously,” Iamaleava said, “I can’t turn the ball over down there on the 2-yard line.”The numbers tell the troubling story: Iamaleava has completed 28 of 44 passes (63.6%) for 335 yards.

His quarterback rating of 118.5 ranks No.17 among starters in the Big Ten, ahead of only Michigan counterpart Bryce Underwood’s 117.7.So what’s going on?Among other things, Iamaleava pinpointed his “comfortability” with new offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy.“Him learning me,” Iamaleava said of his fourth offensive coordinator in the last three years, “me learning him.” That’s something new UCLA head coach Bob Chesney suggested would come with more repetitions.“I think for us right now, making sure that we all see it the same way and we believe in it the same way and we know that we can execute it the same way,” Chesney said Monday, “and that’s just practice throughout the week of making sure we’re seeing those completions made.”Chesney said he thought Iamaleava showed up when the team needed him the most, extending drives with his legs in the fou...