Nico Iamaleava is staying put.
The quarterback announced on Monday, Dec. 22 he will be returning to UCLA, choosing to stay with the Bruins instead of transferring or turning pro in a major get for incoming coach Bob Chesney.
Iamaleava’s decision to return is somewhat surprising as there was uncertainty about what his next move would be. After UCLA ended the season with a loss to rival Southern California, Iamaleava said it was ‘a great learning year’ for him and he hadn’t thought about whether he would stay or transfer. He could have departed and if he had decided to leave, there were expected to be plenty of suitors who would want him for 2026.
However, Iamaleava put all of it to rest before the transfer portal even opened on Jan. 2.
Iamaleava is one of the most followed quarterbacks since his high school days in Southern California, as he’s been a model for how name, image and likeness has changed college football.
He had a highly followed departure from Tennessee after he had led the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff. Iamaleava opted to return back to his home state of California and play for UCLA. His choice was intriguing as he was a high-profile player joining a middling team that was coming off a 5-7 season, but hoped it would be a place where he could prove he could be an NFL quarterback.
It ended up not being the season UCLA had hoped. The Bruins started the campaign 0-4 and coach Deshaun Foster was fired after UCLA lost by 25 points to New Mexico in Week 3. UCLA finished the season 3-9, its worst since 2018, and lost its last five games.
Despite the tough season, Iamaleava provided some bright moments and showed why he was a five-star recruit and coveted transfer with his powerful arm, mobility and quick decision-making. He led UCLA to an upset of then-No. 6 Penn State, throwing for 166 yards and had a game-high 130 rushing yards with five total touchdowns to get the first win of the season.
It was the start of a three-game winning streak that brought some optimism back to UCLA before the rough finish. Even though the Bruins had five losses to end the season, Iamaleava showed grit and continued to play through some injuries he suffered during the skid, missing just one game.
In 11 games, Iamaleava had 1,928 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while also being the team’s leading rusher with 674 yards and four touchdown runs.
After UCLA ended the season with a loss to rival Southern California, Iamaleava said it was ‘a great learning year’ for him and he hadn’t thought about whether he would stay or transfer. It was widely believed he could depart and if he had decided to leave, there were expected to be plenty of suitors for his services.
Instead, Iamaleava stays home to play under Chesney, who arrives after guiding James Madison to the playoff. Iamaleava gives the new coach a starting point for building his first roster in Westwood as he doesn’t have to look for a new signal-caller, but can build an offense around the quarterback.
Just finishing his redshirt sophomore season, Iamaleava has two years of eligibility left in his college career.