When UCLA fired DeShaun Foster, many national media giants and college football pundits said the Bruins were doomed. Some folks even said there’s a pretty good chance that UCLA might even go 0-12, winless this season. Truth be told, it didn’t feel like exaggerating at all, and for a very good reason. Before this game, Nico Iamaleava was widely certified as the worst transfer QB of the year nationwide. UCLA was 0-4, ranked 134th in the nation, averaging just 14.3 points per game. Their defense was also among the worst in the country, allowing roughly 445 yards per game. Then came Penn State to the Rose Bowl. Nico Iamaleava and UCLA clutched up and pulled the upset of the year, leaving former Super Bowl-winning head coaches in awe.

On October 8, former Super Bowl-winning HC Jon Gruden hopped onto his X with his weekly QB appreciation helmet sticker, captioned “Got me feeling nicey” and guess who topped the list? Nico Iamaleava. He said, “It’s time to hand out some quarterback stickers—quarterbacks that had me feeling nicey. We got a little sticker for their helmet, and what a performance at UCLA. Nico Iamaleava, I love this guy. They were 25-point underdogs, interim head coach, he throws two touchdown passes, runs for three more, and UCLA beats seventh-ranked Penn State, 42-37. I think it’s the win of the year in college football. Way to go, Nico.” Very well deserved props, indeed.

Heading into this week’s 6 against the former No. 7-ranked Penn State, UCLA was a massive underdog. The Bruins had scored a total of only 57 points in their first four games. With new interim coach Tim Skipper and new play-caller Jerry Neuheisel, nobody in their right mind would have picked UCLA over the national-title-contending Penn State, and that too 42-37.

In a very surprising turn, UCLA pulled off the biggest win of the 2025 season. Nico and his friends beat the Natty dream out of Penn State. Nico played the best football of his life, throwing for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns. Plus, he was running circles around Penn State’s so-called best defense in the country. Nico ran for 128 yards and 3 touchdowns, tying for school record for most rushing touchdowns in a single game. The Bruins converted 10 of 16 third-down conversions, and even the UCLA defense came through, especially in the fourth quarter, stopping a crucial fourth-down conversion. This dub brought life back to the Rose Bowl and a seed of faith to Bruin Nation.

Despite the dub, UCLA and Nico Iamaleava have a long way to go. In his first five starts, Nico Iamaleava registered 954 yards, with 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. His QBR is 70.8, ranking him 41st nationally. He also has 332 rushing yards on 60 carries and 4 rushing touchdowns. And their schedule down the line? Insane.

UCLA schedule down the line

Nico Iamaleava and UCLA are staring down a super tough schedule for the rest of the season. According to Sports Illustrated, UCLA’s schedule is actually considered the 6th hardest in college football from here on out. That means they’ll be playing against a bunch of really good teams in the Big Ten conference, both at home in the Rose Bowl and on the road in some tough environments.

First up, they’re heading to Michigan State this Saturday, October 11, which will be a hard football game for UCLA. The Spartans look their best since the Kenneth Walker era. They are 3-2 and put up a tough fight in both of their losses. Next, they’ll face Maryland at home before traveling for back-to-back road games against No. 7-ranked Indiana and the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes.

Then later in November, they’ll get Washington at home, but then they have to wrap up the regular season playing their big rival, USC, on the road at the Coliseum.