The UCLA Bruins had hopes going into the season. Four straight losses, and everything went to dust. The head coach was let go. The coaching staff followed. The program stared at an uncertain future, but their big transfer, Nico Iamaleava, was still around. Interim HC Tim Skipper took over, and he had Jerry Neuheisel calling the plays as his OC. But Penn State was coming to town. Expectations? Nil. Just being competitive would have given fans some joy. But they went way beyond their imagination. The Lions came and were conquered 42-37. The hero? Their 5-star QB, Nico, and the OC is more than pleased.

When the 6-foot-7 QB transferred from Tennessee to UCLA, most predicted it as a “career suicide.” Not because of what UCLA was as a program, but how it transpired. Josh Heupel called Nico’s bl

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