UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava gets bad news before Bruins’ game against the Ohio State Buckeyes
The former Tennessee Vols quarterback received some bad news before UCLA’s game against Ohio State.
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava won’t get a chance to exact revenge on the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Iamaleava, who transferred from Tennessee to UCLA in April, will miss the Bruins’ game against the Buckeyes on Saturday.
On3’s Brett McMurphy reported that Iamaleava will miss the game due to a concussion.
Iamaleava started at quarterback for the Vols against the Buckeyes last December in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Tennessee lost 42-17 to Ohio State. Iamaleava accounted for the Vols’ only two touchdowns in the loss.
“I’m excited to catch those boys again,” said Iamaleava this past summer when asked about playing Ohio State in 2025. “It’ll be a big test for me. I know they want to beat me pretty bad again, like they did the first time. So, I’m gonna try and hold my own.
“They said it was like 11 degrees. It felt like four (degrees). It was pretty cold, I’m not gonna lie. I didn’t feel my hands in pregame warm-up. It was hard to warm up. But once I got the adrenaline flowing, I thought I did a good job at just getting acclimated with the game…I took some shots. I cracked two helmets in the game, two of my Vicis helmets. And I had to switch to my third one. It was a hard, tough game. I think the weather played a lot of effect in that — just it being so cold. It was a fun game, though.”
“I knew we were going against a tough opponent and we didn’t show up how we should have,” added Iamaleava of the Vols’ loss to the Buckeyes. “I took the L to the chin.”
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day praised Nico Iamaleava earlier this week
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was quick to praise Iamaleava this week after facing the former Tennessee quarterback last year in the playoff.
“I can tell you that he’s a tough player,” said Day. “He played tough in the playoff game here, and I’m watching him the last few weeks — man, he’s physical. He runs hard, he takes some shots, and he keeps coming back. He’s a competitor, man. I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a player. He’s got a strong arm and he’s been doing a lot for his team.”
Sophomore quarterback Luke Duncan is expected to start for UCLA on Saturday against Ohio State.
Tennessee Volunteers News
‘That’s my feeling as of today’ – Vols insider gives his thoughts on Josh Heupel’s name popping up in LSU coaching rumors
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel’s name has popped up in some coaching rumors this month.
