CHICAGO – The 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days presented by Discover are set for July 28-30 at the Hilton Chicago. The Angelo Mazzone III UCLA Head Football Coach Bob Chesney will be joined by quarterback Nico Iamaleava, defensive back Cole Martin and linebacker Sammy Omosigho.
The Big Ten Conference announced the full three-day schedule on Thursday, June 24, with all 18 programs represented by their head coach and three student-athletes. Big Ten Network will provide live coverage throughout the event.
UCLA will appear on Day 2 – Wednesday, July 29 – alongside Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Oregon and Purdue. Additional details regarding media schedules and student-athlete availability will be announced by the conference at a later date.
Nico Iamaleava
QB // 6-5 // 215 // R-Jr. // Long Beach, Calif.
Iamaleava enters his fourth collegiate season, and second at UCLA, in 2026. Through 29 games and 26 starts, he has completed 449-of-702 pass attempts (64.0%) for 4,858 yards and 34 touchdowns and added 934 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
Iamaleava steered UCLA to a three-game winning streak in the middle of the 2025 season, highlighted by the Bruins’ first victory over an AP top-10 opponent since 20-10 in a 42-37 win over No. 7 Penn State. In that contest, Iamaleava accounted for a career-high-tying five touchdowns, 166 passing yards and 128 rushing yards. His three rushing touchdowns died a UCLA quarterback single-game record. Iamaleava’s performance earned him national weekly honors from the Associated Press, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Davey O’Brien Award and Manning Award as well as Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
The following week, Iamaleava completed 16-of-24 passes for 180 yards and a season-high three passing touchdowns in a 38-13 win at Michigan State. In UCLA’s third win against Maryland, Iamaleava steered two scoring drives and completed 9-of-15 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter to lead UCLA to a 20-17 win over Maryland on Homecoming.
Cole Martin
DB // 5-8 // 185 // R-Jr. // Pasadena, Calif.
Martin was one of three UCLA defensive players to start all 12 games last season. He ranked fourth on the team with 65 total tackles (31-34-65) in addition to posting 3.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and one interception. Martin also served on UCLA’s kickoff return team, totaling seven returns for 164 yards.
Martin played a key role in helping UCLA’s secondary unit allow the 34th fewest passing yards per game in the county with 196.6, marking a 73-spot improvement from a season ago after UCLA gave up an average of 244.7. The Bruin secondary was especially effective in consecutive wins over Michigan State and Maryland, holding the opposing quarterback under a 50-percent completion percentage in both contests. It marked the first time UCLA accomplished that feat since 2016.
Sammy Omosigho
LB // 6-2 // 239 // Sr. // Heartland, Texas
Omosigho was a regular contributor on Oklahoma’s defense over the last three seasons, appearing in 36 career games before transferring to UCLA. In a reserve linebacker role in 2025, he ranked fifth on the team with 50 total tackles (28 solo, 22 assists), adding 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery.
In 2024, Omosigho played in all 13 games and made three starts, finishing fifth on the Sooners with 39 tackles. A consensus four-star recruit out of Crandall High School, he was rated among the top 20 players at his position nationally and among the top prospects in the state of Texas.
Big Ten Football Media Days Schedule
Day 1, July 28: Illinois, Iowa, Penn State, Rutgers, USC, Wisconsin
Day 2, July 29: Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue, UCLA
Day 3, July 30: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, Washington
UCLA begins its first season under Chesney on Saturday, Sept. 5 versus California at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley at 7:30 p.m. (PT). The Bruins’ home opener against San Diego State on Saturday, Sept. 12 at The Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets HERE.