In 2026, UCLA football has a new head coach in Bob Chesney as it looks to climb its way out from the bottom of the Big Ten. In that effort, the Bruins return quarterback Nico Iamaleava after he dramatically transferred in last spring from Tennessee.
For Chesney’s first year and Iamaleava’s second in the program, expectations vary. In the Big Ten Preseason Media Poll revealed by Cleveland.com, UCLA is placed at No. 13 of 18 teams in the conference.
This places the Bruins behind Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, USC, Michigan, Penn State, Washington, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. UCLA is ahead of Northwestern, Maryland, Michigan State, Rutgers and Purdue.
NEW: Big Ten Preseason Media Poll via @clevelanddotcom👀
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— On3 (@On3) July 27, 2026
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In his first season with UCLA, Iamaleava threw for 1,928 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also ran it 112 times for 505 yards and four touchdowns. The team finished 3-9 (3-6 Big Ten) with wins over Penn State, Michigan State and Maryland after firing head coach DeShaun Foster.
Iamaleava spent two seasons at Tennessee and was the starter in 2024. He finished that year with a line of 2,616 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. He ran for 358 yards and three scores on 109 totes. The team finished 10-2 in the regular season before earning a spot in the College Football Playoffs. Ultimately, a loss at Ohio State ended the season in the CFP.
Iamaleava finished as the No. 2 overall recruit in the class of 2023. The five-star was only behind Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who enters his redshirt junior season with the Longhorns as a favorite to win the SEC. Iamaleava is also a redshirt junior after sitting behind Joe Milton III at Tennessee in 2023 before taking over in the Citrus Bowl win over Iowa.
