The 2026 season starts on Saturday for the UCLA Bruins and on Tuesday the team announced their two permanent captains for the 2026 season.
Both quarterback Nico Iamaleava and linebacker Sammy Omosigho were named the permanent captains, with Iamaleava and Omosigho set to be joined by two more captains each week.
A quarterback being named a captain isn’t earth-shattering news, but leadership has been a main talking point for Iamaleava this offseason as he now finds himself a pillar for a program that has lost their athletic director and head coach over the past 12 months.
Not only is Iamaleava a leader for UCLA, he’s an inspiration on the field. Even if Iamaleava had struggles in his first year with the Bruins, he battled on gamedays to try to uplift
a flailing UCLA offense. When the Bruins’ offensive line fell apart last year, Iamaleava used his legs to create chances for the team, even if it ended with a 3-9 season for UCLA.
Omosigho hasn’t even begun his UCLA career, with the Oklahoma transfer making an immediate impact this offseason. Omosigho has plenty of experience, playing in 37 career games for the Sooners before transferring to UCLA this past offseason.
Iamaleava, who was one of the last Bruins added to the 2025 roster, is now the more tenured of the two permanent captains. The freshness is fitting for a UCLA program that’s gone through a major makeover since last season.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Sammy Omosigho and Nico Iamaleava named as UCLA's permanent captains
