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UCLA's football team will aim to keep its perfect 2026 season intact when it takes on Wisconsin in Week 7, but the Bruins will do so with a new quarterback under center. Starter Nico Iamaleava has been ruled out for the rest of the year due to a knee injury sustained in the victory over Oregon.
With Iamaleava sidelined, the Bruins will rely on a backup to command an offense that ranks seventh nationally with an average of 44.8 points per game. However, the backup situation has been a week-to-week carousel for UCLA and first-year head coach Bob Chesney.
Now, without Iamaleava, the Bruins are expected to turn to Ty Dieffenbach, who will make his first start for the program.
Who is Ty Dieffenbach?
Dieffenbach is a senior from Calabasas, California, who wears No. 14 for the Bruins. He began his college career at Pittsburgh in 2023, spending two seasons with the Panthers without appearing in any games. In 2025, he transferred to FCS Cal Poly, where he started 11 games for the Mustangs, completing 92 of 162 passes for 1,305 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also added 321 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Dieffenbach transferred to UCLA for the 2026 season and made his first appearance for the Bruins against Oregon.
What to know about Ty Dieffenbach
Chesney and teammates describe Dieffenbach as a confident quarterback. Tight end Josh Phifer said his poise is "really inspiring." "He's just a composed kid that sees the field well and has had experience and has done well with it," Chesney said. Receiver Landon Ellis noted that Dieffenbach put in extra work during the offseason, asking teammates to get extra reps in or watch more film. That preparation helped him feel comfortable to where "there was no flinch in him" when he entered the game against the Ducks. "He's fearless. He's not scared to throw the ball out there," Ellis said. "He's been preparing since we got here, since I've known him. He's just an overall good guy, cool guy. I think he has leadership qualities."
Ty Dieffenbach stats
In one game this season, Dieffenbach went 3-for-6 with 43 yards and a touchdown, including the game-winning score to running back Wayne Knight to defeat Oregon 17-15.
Will Madden Iamaleava get reps?
Madden Iamaleava, Nico's younger brother, had been the backup through the first four games for UCLA, but Chesney opted to go with Dieffenbach against Oregon following "a really good week of practice." His ability to help close out the win put him in strong position to start, but Chesney left the door open to Madden getting in the game and possibly starting in the future. "Ty's certainly earned the right to be out there to put us in a position to do what he did, and I think Madden has as well," Chesney said. "It'll be one of those things that we'll just be able to get started with Ty here and see how the rest of this plays out." Regardless, the Bruins are confident in whoever is behind center. "Whether it's Ty or Madden, I think both of them are incredible competitors," Phifer said. "I just feel like both quarterbacks are going to compete and do everything they can to make this a good football team."
Originally reported by yahoo.