EA Sports unleashed many of their ratings for the upcoming CFB 26 video game that’s set to enter stores later this month. The game also announced their 20 highest ranked quarterbacks, with UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava cracking the list.
Iamaleava is ranked as the 15th highest rated quarterback, with an 88 overall that has him tied with Colorado’s Kaidon Salter, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, Iowa State’s Rocci Becht, Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson and Jake Retzlaff who played with BYU in 2024.
Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, Penn State’s Drew Allar and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier are the game’s highest rated quarterbacks, each owning a 92 overall. Regardless of the overall of his video game character, Iamaleava has much to prove with the Bruins in 2025 following his dramatic exit from Tennessee.
Only two other Big Ten quarterbacks made the list, Allar and Illinois quarterback Luke Altmeyer, who received an 89 overall.Last year with the Volunteers, Iamaleava posted 2,616 passing yards with 22 total touchdowns and five interceptions. Iamaleava had the tenth most passing yards in SEC action last year despite playing as a redshirt freshman.
As an offense, Tennessee saw plenty of success with Iamaleava in 2024 as the Vols had the No. 2 scoring offense in the conference, posting 35.7 points per game while Tennessee went 10-3 on the season.
UCLA figures to be an excellent chance for both Iamaleava and the Bruins to grow, with UCLA looking to climb up the Big Ten standings in year two in the conference and year two under head coach DeShaun Foster.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava ranked as top-20 quarterback in CFB 26 game
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
