UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava out for the season after severe knee injury

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava will miss the rest of the season after suffering a severe knee injury, first-year Bruins head coach Bob Chesney confirmed on Monday.

“It’s severe,” Chesney said, adding that the surgery was scheduled for later on Monday or Tuesday. The ninth-ranked Bruins (6-0, 4-0 Big Ten) have been without their star passer since he went down late in the first half of their 17-15 win against then-No. 13 Oregon on 10 October, when a scramble ended with two Ducks defenders twisting his left leg.

Iamaleava sat out one series, briefly returned and threw an interception just before half-time, and never came back onto the field. The injury brings his second season in Westwood to an early end: he finished with 982 passing yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions, plus 144 rushing yards and one touchdown. He transferred from Tennessee last year.

Backup Ty Dieffenbach stepped in to finish the Oregon game and then made his first career FBS start in Saturday’s 17-7 win over Wisconsin, completing 22 of 33 passes for 264 yards. UCLA host Michigan State this weekend.