UCLA quarterback Ty Dieffenbach returned at the 1:08 mark of the third quarter of Friday's game against Illinois after limping off the field in the first half with an upper-body injury.
Dieffenbach suffered the injury when Illinois defensive lineman Carter Janki brought him down with under a minute left in the half. The senior was visibly in discomfort and needed help getting off the field.
UCLA QB Ty Dieffenbach was injured on this play and has been replaced by 3rd string QB Madden Iamaleava Madden is the younger brother of Nico Iamaleava, who was also injured earlier in the season for the Bruins at quarterback https://t.co/m5ktdI1kkX
— Underdog CFB (@UnderdogCFB) November 14, 2026
The FOX broadcast crew reported that Dieffenbach suffered an upper-body injury. He initially didn't leave the locker room to start the second half.
Dieffenbach was replaced by Madden Iamaleava, whose older brother, Nico, was the Bruins' starting signal-caller before sustaining a season-ending ACL tear against Oregon on Oct. 11.
Dieffenbach went 8-of-13 for 168 yards, scoring one touchdown and throwing an interception before exiting the game. He connected with Aidan Mizell for a 54-yard score in the opening minutes, giving the hosts a 7-0 lead.
The 21-year-old is coming off a 303-yard, three-touchdown performance in a 34-20 win over Minnesota that moved the Bruins to 9-0 on the season.
