No Penalty for Late Hit on UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava as Bruins Upset Oregon
Referees overlooked a forceful blow to the facemask of UCLA's quarterback during Saturday's game, but the Bruins secured a victory.
During the No. 21 UCLA Bruins' upset victory over the No. 13 Oregon Ducks on Saturday, a late hit on UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava went unpenalized, drawing attention from viewers and fans. The incident occurred as Iamaleava was being tackled by Oregon defenders Bear Alexander and Jerry Mixon.
Cameras captured Alexander delivering a blow to Iamaleava's face while the quarterback was already being brought down. The impact appeared to strike Iamaleava's facemask and jolt his helmet. Mixon also seemed to attempt a punch during the tackle, though it was unclear if he was targeting the ball or the player. No penalty flag was thrown for the play, and the broadcast commentators did not address the incident.
Iamaleava appeared to continue playing after the hit, but he exited the game with an apparent leg injury in the second quarter and did not return for the second half. Despite losing their starting quarterback, UCLA managed to secure a 17-15 victory over Oregon.
The win improved UCLA's record to 5-0, while Oregon fell to 3-2 following the home loss.