No. 8 UCLA turns to backup QB Ty Dieffenbach with Nico Iamaleava out
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The gist
UCLA starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava is expected to miss the rest of the 2026 season with a knee injury.
Backup Ty Dieffenbach now leads 8-0 UCLA into Minnesota, with a 9-0 start at stake.
Background
Nico Iamaleava is UCLA's starting quarterback, and Ty Dieffenbach is the 6-foot-6 senior and Cal Poly transfer who replaced him. Iamaleava hurt his knee in UCLA's Oct. 10 win over then-No. 13 Oregon, and Dieffenbach came on in relief as the Bruins' defense forced seven turnovers in the upset. Dieffenbach has since started three games and guided UCLA to 8-0, putting the Bruins in position to go 9-0 for the first time since 1998. Head coach Bob Chesney, in his first year, has said the passing game is still not fully in sync.
How it unfolded
- Oct 10, 2026Iamaleava suffers a knee injury in UCLA's win over then-No. 13 Oregon; backup Ty Dieffenbach comes on in relief and helps UCLA pull the upset.
- Oct 12, 2026Iamaleava is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season; ESPN's Pete Thamel says he is expected to be sidelined indefinitely while UCLA awaits a final medical evaluation.
- Oct 31, 2026Dieffenbach celebrates a touchdown run in the first half against Nevada at the Rose Bowl.
- Nov 5, 2026UCLA's Week 10 availability report lists Iamaleava out against Minnesota, while wide receiver Brian Rowe is listed probable.
- Nov 6, 2026No. 8 UCLA (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) prepares to face Minnesota (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) in Minneapolis; Dieffenbach was held under 200 passing yards and a 60% completion rate in each of his last two games.
- Nov 7, 2026UCLA faces Minnesota at Huntington Bank Stadium, with kickoff at 12 p.m. ET on FOX; the point spread is UCLA -4.5.
Key terms
- point spread
- To win a spread bet by beating the point spread set for the game.
- coverages
- Defensive pass-coverage schemes in which defenders guard assigned areas of the field rather than individual receivers.
- Big Ten
- A major U.S. collegiate athletic conference, the oldest in NCAA Division I, originally named for its ten member universities.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Coach
- Bob Chesney said it is a giant week for Dieffenbach and the receivers to get on the same page, adding the pass game has been "a little off."
- Analysts
- Offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy said defenses now have plenty of tape on Dieffenbach and the challenge is identifying and attacking the many coverages he will see.
- Public
- Daily Bruin sports editor Jacob Nguyen predicts UCLA 20, Minnesota 10, and reporter Zach King predicts 31-10, while assistant sports editor Willa Campion predicts Minnesota 17, UCLA 14.
Still unverified
ESPN's Pete Thamel said Iamaleava is currently expected to be sidelined "indefinitely" as UCLA awaits a final medical evaluation.