The UCLA Bruins are seeking yet another win to begin Bob Chesney’s first season with the program. Chesney has the Bruins 5-0 on the season and No. 12 in the AP poll but things just got a bit tougher on Saturday against the 4-1 Wisconsin Badgers.
Chesney will no longer be able to rely upon starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, with the Long Beach native set to miss the rest of the regular season after suffering a leg injury in the win over Oregon last week.
Iamaleava isn’t the only Bruin that Chesney will be without. In the final Availability Report for Week 7, UCLA has five players ruled out including Iamaleava. The full list is DB Tao Johnson, WR Mikey Matthews, WR Jonah Smith, OL Sam Yoon and Iamaleava.
UCLA also has CB Rodrick Pleasant and OL
Jordan Davis as doubtful, with DB CJ Lavender with a questionable designation. The Bruins will be without a lot of talent, down a pair of wideouts, two capable linemen and two important pieces in their secondary as well as their starting quarterback.
Wisconsin, who’s coming off of a bye week, has a much shorter injury report. The Badgers will be without CB Cai Bates with RB Nate Palmer listed as doubtful. Backup QB Danny O’Neil and OL Austin Kawecki are questionable while RB Abu Sama III and WR Jaylon Domingeaux being ruled probable for Saturday.
The game will be a battle of UCLA’s new depth. Chesney brought in a ton of fresh faces for the 2026 season and he’ll be forced to rely on many of them on Saturday against a Wisconsin team that has won four in a row.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Final injury report for Wisconsin and UCLA's Week 7 Big Ten clash
