After transferring out of Tennessee football in the spring, quarterback Nico Iamaleava found his way to UCLA. Things could not be off to a worse start for the Bruins, though. After an 0-3 start that features losses to Utah, UNLV and New Mexico, Pete Thamel reports that Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster has been fired.
This means that Iamaleava, after just three games at his new stop, will have to play under an interim head coach for the remaining nine games. There’s a real chance UCLA isn’t able to grab a single win in this span, as well. UCLA is staring down the barrel of its Big Ten slate, with likely the easiest game against Northwestern coming on the road in two weeks after a bye.
The interim head coach designation is going to Tim Skipper. He was Fresno State’s interim head coach a year ago. It will also open a 30-day transfer portal period for players on UCLA to enter if they choose to.
Sources: UCLA has fired coach DeShaun Foster. He started his second season there 0-3.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 14, 2025
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While things haven’t been great for Iamaleava, it’s tough to say that he’s been much of the reason for the team’s failure. While he certainly isn’t taking over games, he hasn’t been awful to this point. Through three games, he’s posted a total of 608 passing yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also ran for 139 yards and a touchdown.
Iamaleava spent two years at Tennessee and one as the starter. In 2024, he helped lead the Vols to a College Football Playoff appearance, though the team largely relied on its defense throughout the year. He posted a total of 2,616 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions.
He was considered a five-star recruit according to all recruiting services, and was the No. 2 recruit in the country on 247 behind Arch Manning. When he entered the transfer portal, 247 named him the top transfer in the cycle.
