By midweek, as a handful of reporters watched his each transfer, Nico Iamaleava regarded like somebody on the verge of the offseason, not a rivalry recreation.
Within the early levels of follow Wednesday, the UCLA quarterback threw one go softly earlier than shifting into observer mode for the remainder of the open viewing interval.
Three days later, as hundreds of probing eyes watched his each transfer, Iamaleava was slinging passes with significantly extra zip.
His effectivity in finishing one go after one other towards No. 17 USC on Saturday helped the Bruins take a halftime lead, silencing a Coliseum crowd and triggering a brouhaha between the groups on one nook of the sector as they headed for the tunnel.
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) scampers for a primary down towards USC on the Coliseum on Saturday.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Occasions)
It was the type of second Iamaleava had dreamed of rising in Lengthy Seashore and attending the cross-town rivalry as a child.
“Meant a lot, man,” Iamaleava mentioned of with the ability to compete towards the Trojans.
However in step with the trajectory of a down-and-up-and-down-again season, the dream ended amid a flurry of sacks and failed third- and fourth-down conversions. There was no means Iamaleava might grit his solution to victory, the Bruins ultimately succumbing throughout a 29-10 loss to the Trojans through which their quarterback was sacked 4 occasions — all within the second half.
And so a season that began with Iamaleava being the discuss of the faculty soccer world after his contentious departure from Tennessee ended with him taking a solitary stroll up the Coliseum tunnel towards an unsure future.
“It was a great learning year for me,” Iamaleava mentioned after finishing 27 of 38 passes for 200 yards with one landing and no interceptions towards the Trojans. “You know, a lot of firsts for me throughout the season. Just the way we started off, and then dealing with little, minor injuries, there’s a lot. And I think, man, it just showed that I’m willing to go out there and put my life on the line for my teammates, man, whatever is needed.”
Iamaleava confirmed many sides in combating to the tip of a 3-9 season. There was accountability, Iamaleava dealing with reporters after each loss. There was management, Iamaleava telling teammates that in the event that they needed to go away amid the dismissal of their head coach and the departure of their offensive coordinator, go forward. No person did.
Over the previous couple of weeks, there was resolve, Iamaleava getting back from one damage after one other. He missed just one recreation after sustaining a concussion towards Nebraska and sat out only some practices after taking a crunching hit towards Washington final weekend that led to neck spasms.
“Every day he got better and better,” UCLA interim coach Tim Skipper mentioned, “and then today he went out there and gave it his all, so I love that kid, he’s a battler. He fought and he kept leading us all the way to the end. … He’s a tough dude, man, and he’s a competitor. That’s what I’ll say about him.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 29, 2025: Southern California Trojans linebacker Eric Gentry (18) tackles UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) for a loss within the second half on the Coliseum on November 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Occasions)
For greater than a half, it appeared that Iamaleava would possibly go down in rivalry lore.
Orchestrating a brief, environment friendly passing assault, Iamaleava pulled UCLA right into a 7-7 tie early within the second quarter when he discovered vast receiver Kwazi Gilmer for a two-yard landing on a crossing route.
Then got here a rarity from somebody often completely satisfied to soak up contact because the Bruins drove for a go-ahead rating. On third-and-seven on the Trojans’ 26-yard line, Iamaleava scrambled earlier than sliding right into a ferocious hit from cornerback Alex Graham.
Developing a yard wanting the primary down, Iamaleava tried to attract USC offsides with a tough depend on fourth down earlier than kicker Mateen Bhaghani trotted onto the sector for a 38-yard discipline purpose.
Little went Iamaleava’s means throughout the second half. One third down resulted in an eight-yard sack. One other fell quick on a go that was damaged up.
Issues one way or the other deteriorated additional. With UCLA having fallen behind 21-10 and clinging to faint hopes halfway by way of the fourth quarter, the Bruins confronted a fourth-and-15 at USC’s 45-yard line. A brief go to Gilmer went for under 10 yards.
Drive over. Sport over.
That left Iamaleava to ponder his future. Again in late July, he acknowledged eager to go to the NFL if he put collectively a profitable season. It was exhausting to say if this certified after he completed the season finishing 64.4% of his passes for 1,928 yards with 13 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
What’s subsequent?
“I haven’t really even thought about that, man,” Iamaleava mentioned. “I’m right here where my feet are, man. You know, we just lost a tough game and my mind is still on that one — what we could have done better to go out there and win that game.”
After answering a closing query, Iamaleava glanced at a bottle of orange sports activities drink in entrance of him on a desk.
“Can I have this?” he requested.
Granted permission to take the bottle, he grabbed it, rose from his seat and walked out the again of the interview tent, the offseason lastly having arrived.
