Postgame Quotes – Ohio State 48, UCLA 10
POSTGAME QUOTES
Ohio State 48, UCLA 10
Columbus, Ohio (Ohio Stadium)
November 15, 2025
UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper
on how the week progressed toward Nico Iamaleava not playing in the game
“In the beginning of the work week, he was not feeling well. He was out there and couldn’t stay out there, so he went in and we did all the tests and things like that and he came back diagnosed with a concussion. He went into concussion protocol and he just never cleared out of that. He wasn’t able to go today.”
on Nico Iamaleava’s status going forward
“He’s with the doctors, so they tell me what’s going on. He’ll just be day-to-day and those things are tricky. Until they clear him, he is out.”
on when Luke Duncan found out he was starting
“We practiced last night and going into it, Nico wasn’t cleared so then Luke knew he was ready to roll. So, when we did our mock game last night, he was the starting quarterback.”
on game plan for Duncan
“He had his little package of plays we had for him. We tried to get him going, get a little ease into the game. This is his first career start right here in the Horseshoe. As the game went, he got more and more comfortable. That’s what I was proud to see of him. That’s a tough deal and just proud of that kid for fighting. He never blinked an eye and just kept going moving forward. He’ll build off of that.”
on what advice he gave to Duncan
“I gave him the best advice ever. Just throw the ball at our color jersey. That’s all I told him.”
on his defense’s performance
“I like how we came out of halftime. I think the guys were fighting, we got some stops. We came out of the locker room, the energy levels were good in the locker room, all that good stuff. Playing the No. 1 team in the country, you’re fighting for everything. I thought the guys fought, they got the best of us and we just have to move on from here.”
on levels of straining and starting quickly in this game
“That’s the name of the game, right? I’ll say this, Ohio State was straining. They were doing a good job of that. But it was a battle for us. It is what it is. But there was no quit. That’s what I’m going to say. There was no quit. The guys fought until the end.”
on if Duncan’s performance provided confidence if he needs to start again
“He’s working like everybody else. He’s been working since I’ve been in this seat here. If he has to go, we’re ready to roll, he’ll go. But we’re going to get through today and we’ll get through the week and see where we’re at.”
on Ohio State’s kick return for touchdown
“So, we kind of kicked it in the corner, they returned it back to the field and our guys got pinned over there in the corner and it was just free racing. I think it was a no-DNA touchdown; I don’t think anyone touched him. We just had to get it corrected on the sideline. We have to recognize the blocks and counter them. We didn’t do a good job of that and it was 88 and out the gate.”
UCLA quarterback Luke Duncan
on when he found out he would be starting
“They told me yesterday. Team meeting on the field. We checked out the stadium, Coach (Skipper) brought us together and let us know.”
on the message given to him going into the game
“The coaching staff was just telling me to be me. Just play my game and we’ll have success. Be me and don’t try to force things. Just play the game I’ve been playing.”
on being able to settle in as the game went on
“I think we have a group that’s not going to give up. By the end of the game, no one was quitting. It was nice to get in that rhythm and just wish we could’ve started earlier.”
on what it meant to get his first start
“It was cool; I haven’t played football since high school, so I was just happy playing football again. It’s the game I love, so it was fun being back out there.”
on support of Nico Iamaleava throughout the game
“Nico’s a great teammate. We have a good relationship, so we were looking at the iPad together, going over it together. He did a good job helping me out.”
on if anyone else specifically provided support
“The whole team. I really love this team, we have a good group of guys. The whole o-line was cheering me on the whole time and nobody got negative. It’s just a great group. No one gave up, everyone was cheering me on, believing in me from the start. Thankful to my teammates."
UCLA defensive lineman Gary Smith III
on the defense buckling down in the second half
“We just stuck to the game plan and actually started making the plays we should’ve made more than anything.”
on if there was a specific message sent at halftime
“We definitely made some adjustments as far as just talking to the team and saying we’re in the right positions, we just need to make that play, make this play. And we began to make those plays a little bit. That’s a hell of a ball team we just played, so they make plays, we make plays.”
Ohio State 48, UCLA 10
Columbus, Ohio (Ohio Stadium)
November 15, 2025
UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper
on how the week progressed toward Nico Iamaleava not playing in the game
“In the beginning of the work week, he was not feeling well. He was out there and couldn’t stay out there, so he went in and we did all the tests and things like that and he came back diagnosed with a concussion. He went into concussion protocol and he just never cleared out of that. He wasn’t able to go today.”
on Nico Iamaleava’s status going forward
“He’s with the doctors, so they tell me what’s going on. He’ll just be day-to-day and those things are tricky. Until they clear him, he is out.”
on when Luke Duncan found out he was starting
“We practiced last night and going into it, Nico wasn’t cleared so then Luke knew he was ready to roll. So, when we did our mock game last night, he was the starting quarterback.”
on game plan for Duncan
“He had his little package of plays we had for him. We tried to get him going, get a little ease into the game. This is his first career start right here in the Horseshoe. As the game went, he got more and more comfortable. That’s what I was proud to see of him. That’s a tough deal and just proud of that kid for fighting. He never blinked an eye and just kept going moving forward. He’ll build off of that.”
on what advice he gave to Duncan
“I gave him the best advice ever. Just throw the ball at our color jersey. That’s all I told him.”
on his defense’s performance
“I like how we came out of halftime. I think the guys were fighting, we got some stops. We came out of the locker room, the energy levels were good in the locker room, all that good stuff. Playing the No. 1 team in the country, you’re fighting for everything. I thought the guys fought, they got the best of us and we just have to move on from here.”
on levels of straining and starting quickly in this game
“That’s the name of the game, right? I’ll say this, Ohio State was straining. They were doing a good job of that. But it was a battle for us. It is what it is. But there was no quit. That’s what I’m going to say. There was no quit. The guys fought until the end.”
on if Duncan’s performance provided confidence if he needs to start again
“He’s working like everybody else. He’s been working since I’ve been in this seat here. If he has to go, we’re ready to roll, he’ll go. But we’re going to get through today and we’ll get through the week and see where we’re at.”
on Ohio State’s kick return for touchdown
“So, we kind of kicked it in the corner, they returned it back to the field and our guys got pinned over there in the corner and it was just free racing. I think it was a no-DNA touchdown; I don’t think anyone touched him. We just had to get it corrected on the sideline. We have to recognize the blocks and counter them. We didn’t do a good job of that and it was 88 and out the gate.”
UCLA quarterback Luke Duncan
on when he found out he would be starting
“They told me yesterday. Team meeting on the field. We checked out the stadium, Coach (Skipper) brought us together and let us know.”
on the message given to him going into the game
“The coaching staff was just telling me to be me. Just play my game and we’ll have success. Be me and don’t try to force things. Just play the game I’ve been playing.”
on being able to settle in as the game went on
“I think we have a group that’s not going to give up. By the end of the game, no one was quitting. It was nice to get in that rhythm and just wish we could’ve started earlier.”
on what it meant to get his first start
“It was cool; I haven’t played football since high school, so I was just happy playing football again. It’s the game I love, so it was fun being back out there.”
on support of Nico Iamaleava throughout the game
“Nico’s a great teammate. We have a good relationship, so we were looking at the iPad together, going over it together. He did a good job helping me out.”
on if anyone else specifically provided support
“The whole team. I really love this team, we have a good group of guys. The whole o-line was cheering me on the whole time and nobody got negative. It’s just a great group. No one gave up, everyone was cheering me on, believing in me from the start. Thankful to my teammates."
UCLA defensive lineman Gary Smith III
on the defense buckling down in the second half
“We just stuck to the game plan and actually started making the plays we should’ve made more than anything.”
on if there was a specific message sent at halftime
“We definitely made some adjustments as far as just talking to the team and saying we’re in the right positions, we just need to make that play, make this play. And we began to make those plays a little bit. That’s a hell of a ball team we just played, so they make plays, we make plays.”