Make California Post a Preferred Source One thing UCLA football definitely did not want to happen Friday night at the Rose Bowl was to lose another quarterback.
But there was Ty Dieffenbach needing help to get off the field in the final minute of the first half after suffering an injury.
Dieffenbach initially clutched his left upper arm after that area of his body appeared to smash into the field while being tackled. Then he stayed down for a few minutes before going to the sideline.
Ty Dieffenbach #14 of the UCLA Bruins passes during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., Nov. 13, 2026. Getty Images The extent of the injury was not immediately known.
Madden Iamaleava, the younger brother of injured UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava, replaced Dieffenbach and threw two passes that fell incomplete before the No. 4 Bruins headed to the locker room with a 10-0 lead over Illinois.
Nico Iamaleava had been UCLA’s starter for the season’s first five games before going down with torn knee ligaments before halftime against Oregon last month.
Dieffenbach has played admirably in Iamaleava’s absence. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 168 yards with one touchdown and one interception against the Fighting Illini.
Dieffenbach’s touchdown came on a 54-yard pass to Aidan Mizell, who now has 307 receiving yards in his last two halves of football.
The Bruins dominated the first half, outgaining Illinois, 252-84, in total yardage but could not build a larger lead after Dieffenbach threw a pass that was intercepted in the end zone.
