UCLA football news: Nico Iamaleava drops defiant truth bomb on messy Tennessee exit
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UCLA football quarterback Nico Iamaleava has garnered new trust in Westwood. He rose to captain for the Bruins ahead of the 2026 season. But his messy Tennessee departure surfaces to this day.
So Iamaleava isn’t hesitant about dropping his truth bomb on that whole ordeal. He addressed his controversial College Football Transfer Portal entrance via the USA Today on Wednesday.
“At that point, the narrative was out there, whatever narratives they made. So I didn’t really feel the need to talk, let them run with their stories, and the truth will come out eventually,” Iamaleava told USA TODAY Sports.
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He denies having any regrets for his exit.
“I think no, I wouldn’t have anything different,” Iamaleava said.
His focus isn’t on the widely-scrutinized divorce from the SEC power. But more on elevating UCLA with Bob Chesney now as the head coach.
“I want to win games, and everything else will come with that,” Iamaleava said.
He encountered rough waters in his move back to California. The Long Beach native endured an 0-4 start under then-head coach DeShaun Foster. Iamaleava looked hindered in the offense during that period. Foster ultimately got fired and replaced by interim head coach Tim Skipper.
Iamaleava flourished from there, though, starting with the top 10 upset of Penn State. He produced 1,928 yards through the air with 13 touchdowns and got picked off seven times.
Now he’ll collaborate with a 2025 College Football Playoff coach. Chesney took James Madison University to its first-ever appearance in the 12-team postseason, plus became the first-ever Sun Belt Conference school to accomplish that feat. Now Chesney will trust a rejuvenated Iamaleava moving forward.
Related: Todd McShay drops Nico Iamaleava breakout prediction
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