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Ducks' Dan Lanning Announces Punishment Decision on Bear Alexander After Nico Iamaleava Punch
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- Ducks' Dan Lanning Announces Punishment Decision on Bear Alexander After Nico Iamaleava Punch
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning has made a disciplinary decision on defensive lineman Bear Alexander after video showed him striking UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava in the helmet during Saturday's 17-15 loss.
Lanning said Monday that Alexander was attempting to punch the football loose rather than deliberately strike Iamaleava, who suffered a knee injury on the same play, thus deciding against punishing the defender.
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"Based on how I saw it — and I feel horrible for their team, you never want to see a player get injured — I think Bear was trying to take a ball shot," Lanning said. "We were pretty aggressive about when the quarterback's running; there's opportunities if the ball's loose. Obviously it's late, right? And it's not the way it needs to be done; it wasn't executed the right way. Bear knows that, and I think he feels bad about that."
The Oregon coach also revealed Alexander's explanation, saying, "It's one of the first things he said to me. He goes, 'I wasn't trying to hurt the guy.'"
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Iamaleava scrambled late in the second quarter before Alexander and linebacker Jerry Mixon brought him down. Replays showed Alexander swing his right arm and hit Iamaleava's helmet while the quarterback was on the ground. No penalty was called on the field.
Speaking two days after the win over Oregon, UCLA coach Bob Chesney criticized the play Monday after reviewing the footage.
"When you see it, it's certainly egregious," Chesney said. "It shouldn't be a play that is allowed to occur in this sport."
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UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava.Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Lanning, however, made it clear he doesn't believe Alexander's punch caused Iamaleava's knee injury, saying, "I don't think that's how he got hurt. I think it was actually on a lower extremity."
Iamaleava returned briefly before halftime but did not play in the second half. On3's Pete Nakos reported Monday that Iamaleava suffered a torn ACL and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
ALSO SEE:
Oregon hosts Nebraska on Saturday at 11 p.m. ET at Autzen Stadium. No. 12 UCLA faces Wisconsin at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Rose Bowl.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
