Nico Iamaleava is still searching for his first win in Westwood. Because the former Tennessee QB dropped to 0-3 as UCLA’s starter after a stunning 35-10 loss to New Mexico on Sept. 12. On the flip side, the Lobos, who hadn’t beaten a Power Five team since 2008, walked into the Rose Bowl and cashed a $1.2 M paycheck along with the upset. Here, Iamaleava went 22-of-34 for 217 yards with one TD. But he made a costly 4th-quarter pick, his second straight game with a late interception, while adding 33 yards on the ground. Given that, an ex-USC Heisman winner sounds an alarm on Nico Iamaleava.

Look, Nico Iamaleava’s UCLA run has been rocky. His debut against Utah was a dud: a 43-10 loss where he threw for 136 yards and a pick while scrambling for 47 yards. Then, a week later, he showed more spark in a 30-23 setback to UNLV, tossing for 255 yards, capped by a 30-yard burst to the end zone. Still, a late interception sealed the Bruins’ fate. And now, after the Rose Bowl loss, College Football Hall of Famer Matt Leinart didn’t stay quiet.

On September 13, after the stunning loss, Matt Leinart let his frustration fly on X. The College Football Hall of Famer didn’t mince words. “Build a stadium on campus. Make it 40k,” posted Leinart, pointing directly at UCLA’s long-standing Rose Bowl dilemma. He added, “Tough place to get to and not a great product on the field.” Leinart’s sharp take sounded less like a suggestion and more like a demand for immediate action. So, in his eyes, UCLA’s struggles under Nico Iamaleava aren’t just about the QB; they’re tied to the atmosphere, the venue, and the future of Bruin football itself. Now, while Iamaleava struggles to find his footing at UCLA, Joey Aguilar’s camp views the twists of the transfer market in a different light.

Aguilar’s father, Jose, spoke with On3 and delivered both thanks and a subtle jab. “We don’t have any problems with Nico; if anything, it’s thank you,” stated Jose, emphasizing that there’s no personal grudge. Then came the pointed remark: “Joey is in a great spot… Everything that happened, happened. I think it’s clear who won the trade. Look at the fans and the stats, everything happens for a reason.” So, with a careful blend of gratitude and shade, his words framed the situation as a big win for Joey and a contrasting storyline to Iamaleava’s tough start in Westwood. But how did this loss unfold?

Here’s the thing: The Lobos controlled the game from the jump, pounding UCLA’s thin defense with D.J. McKinney (89 yards, TD) and Scottre Humphrey (154 yards, TD). Surely, Nico Iamaleava once again struggled, but sealed the loss with a late interception. To top it off, costly mistakes piled up, too, as UCLA was flagged 12 times for 217 yards. Now, HC DeShaun Foster heads into a bye week with his Bruins 0-3, their season hanging by a thread after what many call one of the program’s most humiliating defeats. Following that, a Fox Sports analyst takes a jab at UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava, questioning his Vols money move as harsh reality sets in.

Nico Iamaleava faces major mockery

For Tennessee, life without Nico Iamaleava looks golden. The Vols are 2-0 and heading into a marquee clash with Georgia. Out west, things couldn’t be worse for Iamaleava and UCLA. Every week brings another beating, on the field and online, with the spotlight squarely on the Bruins’ struggling QB. Given that, Fox Sports’ Aaron Torres didn’t hold back.

“If Nico’s dad wasn’t happy with the o-line play and wide receivers at Tennessee—I CANNOT wait to hear what he’s gonna have to say about tonight,” he posted. Then Clay Travis piled on after the UNLV loss, calling it “an all-time disaster decision by Nico,” while pointing out how Joey Aguilar thrives in Knoxville. But the criticism digs deeper than losses.

According to ESPN’s Chris Low, Iamaleava’s camp pushed for a $4M NIL deal after already making $2M. Tennessee wouldn’t budge. UCLA offered less, and now the results sting even more. After Friday’s third straight defeat, Torres twisted the knife, stating, “The good news for Nico Iamaleava is that yeah, he may be losing a ton at UCLA, but at least he’s making way less money doing it.” Let’s see if the upcoming games allow Nico to silence the criticism or if the noise only gets louder.