Everything We Know About UCLA Quarterback Competition So Far

It’s looking like there’s a quarterback battle heating up for the Bruins, but it does not involve Nico Iamaleava.

We’ve known, and it’s been known, that Nico Iamaleava would be the starter, and there’s never really been any question about that. He was the starter in June, and he’ll be the starter in August.

May 2, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) throws the ball during the spring game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

However, it does involve a member of the Iamaleava family, just not Nico. Madden Iamaleava is in the midst of a quarterback battle for that backup position behind his brother, and his opponent is Cal Poly junior transfer Ty Dieffenbach.

While I would assume the odds will favor Madden to assume the position of QB2, Dieffenbach is reportedly giving him great competition.

Dieffenbach Getting Second Team Reps

Sep 6, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Cal Poly Mustangs quarterback Ty Dieffenbach (7) avoids a tackle by Utah Utes defensive end John Henry Daley (90) during the first quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Per 247Sports, during team periods, Dieffenbach got some reps in with the second team, and it looks like Chesney is willing to give each guy an honest go at the position on the depth chart. Iamaleava and Dieffenbach have swapped places, with both guys throwing with both the second and third groups.

I feel confident this battle will continue through the rest of fall camp and potentially throughout the season, as long as Nico stays healthy and can consistently fill that QB1 role.

Chesney's Thoughts on QB Battle

When Bob Chesney was asked by reporters if there has been any clarity on this backup quarterback battle, his answer reflected the notion that no decision seems close for UCLA:

"No, not at all. Nope. We're just continuing to ride. We're not making any decisions like that just yet. We're just trying to get reps and get it all on film."

Sep 6, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Cal Poly Mustangs quarterback Ty Dieffenbach (7) is pressured by Utah Utes linebacker Johnathan Hall (7) and defensive end John Henry Daley (90) during the first quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Dieffenbach comes in as a potentially unknown player to many Bruins fans, as he transferred in after an interesting season with Cal Poly last year. He spent his first two seasons of college football at Pitt, where he unfortunately didn’t see the field, leading to his transfer to Cal Poly.

Last season, he started 11 games for the Mustangs and completed 92 of 162 passes for 1,305 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also scored four touchdowns on the ground and had 321 rushing yards.

Jul 29, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; UCLA Football head coach Bob Chesney speaks during Big Ten Media Days at Hilton Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Now, he’s a Bruin, and he’s in the midst of a quarterback battle that could give him an understudy role in the Big Ten Conference, which would be a major jump from any experience he’s had in college football this far.

Madden, on the other hand, essentially transferred immediately from Arkansas before the start of UCLA’s 2025 fall camp and has remained a Bruin since. Last season, he appeared in one game, although he has yet to actually complete a pass in a college football game.

It’s certainly an interesting battle in Westwood, and one that we should expect to see rage on for quite some time.

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