2022 Sun Bowl: Chip’s first chance at UCLA
Chip Kelly did a full rebuild at UCLA and it took a long time for the rebuild to start paying dividends. The Bruins went 8-4 in 2021 and qualified for the Holiday Bowl, but were forced to withdraw due to a Covid-19 outbreak on the team.
So, finally, in 2022, five years into his tenure, Kelly led UCLA to a bowl game. No surprise it was the Sun Bowl, the fifth Sun Bowl appearance in program history.
Kelly is still waiting for his first bowl win at UCLA because Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the Bruins couldn’t get it done against Pitt and fell 37-35. Pitt backup quarterback Nick Patti started the game and threw for 224 yards and a touchdown with one interception. He was banged up in the game but returned to lead the Panthers on a game-winning field goal drive.