UCLA finally lands its third winning streak against Maryland. But the gritty 20-17 win against the Terrapins felt like survival more than celebration. Bruin fans saw Nico Iamaleava limp off late after a knee scare. But the quarterback stormed back onto the field and engineered a wild final drive that ended with Mateen Bhaghani’s clutch 24-yard field goal. Other than Nico, injuries banged up Tim Skipper’s roster. The interim head coach didn’t take much time to shy away from giving his views on the broken roster.

“Today is a major day for us as far as treatment and rehabbing, and getting MRIs and all that type of stuff. That’s what we’re doing right now,” Skipper said during a post-game media conference. “Anthony and JB [Jalen Berger] on the radio broadcast said they were kind of out at the end of the game. Was that true, and what’s their status?” The reporter asked. “They got dinged up as the game went on. Both guys kind of got rolled up on. Kind of unfortunate,” Skipper added. “And they weren’t able to keep on going at the end of the game. So we’ll see. They’re in the same boat. I won’t know totally until tomorrow.”

Anthony Woods was already a big question mark before the Maryland game. The redshirt junior transfer had taken a beating during the Bruins’ statement win over Michigan State. Reporters noticed him doing only light, individual drills in practice. It was a clear sign that the training staff was trying to preserve him for game day. Skipper’s verdict? “He looked fine, he was walking fine.” Plus, Woods was the lead rusher for the Bruins during their comeback this season. He racked up 221 yards on 44 carries, averaging a solid 5.0 per tote.

His ability to complement Nico Iamaleava’s dual-threat dynamism had balanced Jerry Neuheisel’s simplified, high-tempo offense to perfection. Woods entered the Maryland game with a risk, no doubt. And now, another beating sidelined him temporarily. Even Anthony Frias II was laboring down the stretch after the Michigan State game. Skipper made his thoughts about the two Anthony’s clear. “They play a highly impactful, physical position,” Skipper said.

“And when you play a position everybody’s trying to take your legs out, knock your head off, you’re going to get sore and banged up a little bit. That’s just football. But I don’t anticipate us having anybody missing practice time right now.” Frias made some amends against Maryland by racking up 97 yards on 4 carries. Plus, he even broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown run, giving the Bruins an early lead in the second quarter. Jalen Berger saw an opportunity for himself during the Michigan State game. It’s a major thing because Berger was already carrying the load of a nagging ankle sprain issue during his time with the Spartans.

In that game, he racked up 89 yards on 12 carries. “It hindered me for the rest of the season,” Berger said. He racked up 65 yards on 19 carries before he got “dinged up” against the Terrapins.

The Nico Iamaleava update

The 21-year-old went down clutching his right knee. The Tennessee transfer had been the spark behind the Bruins’ mid-season turnaround. But when he limped off, the energy in the Rose Bowl seemed to vanish. Luckily, he didn’t stay out much longer. However, his status afterward remained clouded in uncertainty.​ Skipper didn’t sugarcoat anything during Monday’s presser.

The interim HC indicated the team was waiting for results before determining if Iamaleava could go against No. 2 Indiana. It was the kind of cautious tone that told you how seriously the staff was taking this. In the three-game win streak that saved their season, the QB has been lights out. He has completed 70.8% of his passes, throwing for 567 yards, six touchdowns, and just two picks. On the ground, he has rushed for 156 yards and scored three more times.

He has clearly established himself as the Bruins’ QB after their last win. Everyone had been waiting for his signature breakout since his rocky Tennessee exit, and he finally delivered in the Penn State game. But now, as UCLA turns its attention to a brutal Week 9 showdown with Indiana, the team focuses on recovery. One thing about Nico that came to light is that he doesn’t fold easily.