Eric Boggs
When Ohio State takes the field against UCLA on Saturday, there will be a sense of déjà vu. Across the line of scrimmage will stand a quarterback Buckeye fans know well — Nico Iamaleava, now wearing Bruin blue instead of Tennessee orange. The last time Ohio State saw him, the Buckeyes’ defense turned his College Football Playoff debut into a nightmare, routing Tennessee 42-17 and limiting Iamaleava to just 104 passing yards on 14 completions. Eleven months later, he’s back at Ohio Stadium, hoping for redemption but facing a far more daunting reality.
Iamaleava’s journey since that playoff loss has been anything but smooth. Once the crown jewel of Tennessee’s recruiting class and the face of a groundbreaking NIL deal reportedly worth more than $8 million, his career in Knoxville unraveled after a public dispute over contract terms in April 2025. His camp sought a renegotiation that Tennessee refused, and within weeks, Iamaleava entered the transfer portal and landed at UCLA to be closer to home.
The move hasn’t delivered the turnaround many expected. UCLA sits at 3-6, and while Iamaleava has flashed his five-star potential — notably in a five-touchdown performance against Penn State — consistency has been elusive. His numbers reflect the volatility: around 1,600 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a completion rate hovering near 63%. He’s also contributed on the ground with nearly 500 rushing yards and four scores, showing growth as a dual-threat playmaker.
Still, against elite defenses, the same struggles that plagued him at Tennessee persist. Facing No. 2 Indiana, he completed fewer than half his passes, tossed two interceptions including a pick-six, and was battered by a relentless pass rush. That’s not a promising sign heading into a matchup with an Ohio State front seven that feasted on him last winter — sacking him four times and forcing multiple hurried throws.
Ohio State’s defense, anchored by the speed and discipline of linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, has made a living this season shutting down mobile quarterbacks. Styles, now wearing the same No. 0 that Cody Simon wore when he delivered a crushing hit on Iamaleava in last year’s playoff, has made no secret that he’s eager for another shot at the quarterback. “We remember that game,” Styles stated according to Eleven Warriors. “We plan to make sure he remembers this one too.”
For Iamaleava, the challenge is monumental. His passing efficiency has dipped slightly from a year ago, with yards per attempt dropping from 7.8 to 6.3, largely due to a struggling offensive line that’s failed to give him time to operate. Ohio State’s front, led by an aggressive rotation of linemen who specialize in collapsing pockets, will look to exploit that weakness from the opening snap.
Meanwhile, Ryan Day’s Buckeyes enter the matchup as heavy favorites and in peak form, dissecting opponents week after week with the precision of a surgeon. While Iamaleava’s athleticism and flashes of brilliance make him a dangerous opponent if given space, Ohio State’s defense has made it clear they don’t plan on offering any.
Saturday in Columbus won’t just be another game — it will be a reminder. For Ohio State, of the dominance that defines this era of Buckeye football. And for Nico Iamaleava, of what happens when talent alone meets the nation’s most complete team.
