After a disastrous start to the season a week ago, Nico Iamaleava performed better in UCLA’s second game of the 2025 season. But Iamaleava made critical mistakes at inopportune times as UNLV withheld a fourth quarter comeback to upset UCLA 30-23.
With UCLA driving in the game’s final minutes, Iamaleava didn’t see UNLV linebacker Marsell McDuffie and fired a bullet right above his head. McDuffie was unable to intercept the pass but he did knock it in straight in the air where Aamrius Brown was there to make the game-sealing interception.
But even besides the costly late game turnover, Iamaleava had costly second quarter fumble which set UNLV on UCLA’s side of the field. That drive ended in a touchdown which gave UNLV a 17-0 first half lead that the Bruins were never able to overcome.
While UCLA is a much more traditional college football power than UNLV, the game was not some massive upset. The Bruins were only 2.5-point favorites in the road matchup against Dan Mullen’s first Runnin’ Rebels squad.
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While Iamaleava made some costly mistakes in a disappointing loss, it was not a terrible performance from the redshirt sophomore quarterback. Iamaleava completed 29-of-41 passes for 255 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He also added a 59 rushing yards with 30 yards coming on a touchdown run.
UCLA trailed by 20 points at halftime and had a strong comeback effort due in large part to Iamaleava performing well in the game’s final 30 minutes.
Now through two games at UCLA, Iamaleava has completed 40-of-63 passes for 391 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s added 106 rushing yards with a touchdown and fumble. The Bruins are 0-2 in those games, falling at home versus Utah and Saturday night at UNLV.
In Joey Aguilar’s first two games at Tennessee, the super senior quarterback has completed 39-of-59 passes for 535 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. He has fumbled once while rushing for 34 yards. Tennessee is 2-0 with wins over Syracuse and ETSU.
UCLA faces its easiest test of the 2025 season next Saturday, hosting New Mexico before before opening up Big 10 play a week later at Northwestern. Those are perhaps the two easiest games on UCLA’s schedule. Tennessee faces perhaps its greatest challenge next week, opening up SEC play against rival Georgia at Neyland Stadium.
