UCLA football has happy omission from latest availability report

· California Post

The biggest development on UCLA’s availability reports continues to be the player who’s absent.

Nico Iamaleava.

The quarterback who took hits to his hand, shoulder and legs last week was once again not listed on the availability report released Wednesday, meaning he’s good to go for the Bruins’ game against Maryland on Saturday at SECU Stadium.

UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) throws the ball in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The same could not be said for two starters who will continue to be sidelined.

Safety Tao Johnson will miss a third consecutive game after being listed as out, and wide receiver Mikey Matthews is out for the remainder of the season after undergoing foot surgery.

The others who were listed as out — wide receiver Jonah Smith, center Sam Yoon and defensive backs Jamier Johnson and Joshua Dixon — are backups.

There was some encouraging news regarding two players who didn’t play last week. Tight end Josh Phifer and offensive lineman Mack Indestad were both listed as questionable, meaning they might be able to make their return against the Terrapins.

Wide receiver Aidan Mizell, who hasn’t played since the Bruins defeated San Diego State two weeks ago, was also listed as questionable. Reserve defensive back Jhase McMillan was listed as probable.

UCLA Bruins wide receiver Mikey Matthews (7) plays during the second quarter against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California, Sept. 5, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The toughness of UCLA’s quarterback continues to be one of the season’s top story lines.

Iamaleava twice had to depart the game against Purdue because of various sore body parts, leading to his younger brother Madden briefly replacing him before his return. The same scenario happened near the end of UCLA’s season-opening victory over California.

But just like on that triumphant Saturday in the Bay Area, when Nico returned to take the final knee, he came back against the Boilermakers. 

“His toughness certainly stands out in there,” UCLA coach Bob Chesney said of his quarterback earlier this week. “And it’s not unnecessary hits, but he takes a lot of them, and he just keeps picking himself back up off the ground.

“When he runs, he’s not a guy that’s gonna slide or dive or do those things — like, he puts his pads down and runs behind him. And that’s kind of exciting — at moments, I’d like him to get out of bounds and maybe work on some of those other abilities to not get hit, but at the same point, that’s the game he plays and that’s a toughness he plays it with.”