HONOLULU – Senior quarterback Nico Iamaleava of the UCLA football team was named to the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List, it was announced by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Thursday morning.

Iamaleava was one of 69 players and seven quarterbacks named to the watch list. The Long Beach, California, native is of Samoan descent and was a finalist for the 2024 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award. As a high school senior, Iamaleava competed in the 2023 Polynesian Bowl, where he was named Offensive MVP.

Presented annually since 2014, the award honors the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who exemplifies exceptional ability and integrity both on and off the field. This year's list features 81 players from 40 different NCAA Division I programs. Former Bruin defensive end Laiatu Latu was named the 2023 Polynesian College Football Defensive Player of the Year his senior season in 2023. Latu, who was also the winner of the Lombardi Award and Ted Hendricks Award that season, led the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and ranked fourth in sacks per game (1.08).

Iamaleava enters his second campaign at UCLA in 2026. Through 29 career games and 26 starts, he has completed 449 of 702 pass attempts (64.0%) for 4,858 yards and 34 touchdowns while adding 934 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

Iamaleava helped 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 2010 with a 42-37 win over No. 7 Penn State. Iamaleava accounted for a career-high-tying five touchdowns in the victory while throwing for 166 yards and rushing for 128, earning several national weekly honors.

The 2026 Watch List was compiled based on past performance and potential for the upcoming season. Additional players will be added to the Watch List as the year unfolds. The finalists and winner will be selected by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, comprised of Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee), Coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee Olin Kreutz, Inaugural Inductee and past NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, sportscaster Neil Everett, NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche, and former NFL Player and Class of 2023 Inductee Manti Te`o. 

Finalists for the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be unveiled on Dec. 8, 2026 and the winner will be announced on Dec. 15, 2026. The presentation of the Award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (Jan. 16, 2027), and they will also be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 15, 2027).

UCLA’s Ticket Information
Season ticket packages and single-game tickets for UCLA's upcoming football season are available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information.