UCLA Football: What is going on with the Chip Kelly situation

Will Chip Kelly be coaching at UCLA next season? Reports are circulating that he will be relieved of his duties following the USC game.

There were two reports that Kelly will no longer be the coach at UCLA following the USC game. The first one is coming from the Bruin Report.

Then On3Sports tweeted out that Kelly is likely to be let go as head coach of the Bruins as well which confirmed the original news from the Bruin Report.

Now, there have been fans and alums expressing their displeasure and dissatisfaction with Kelly on social media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, and X, formerly known as Twitter. The calls for Kelly to no longer be the coach of the Bruins have grown louder these past two weeks, especially after a home loss to Arizona State.

Let’s now look at the positives and negatives of Coach Kelly’s tenure as the head coach of the UCLA Bruins to put how he has performed overall as the head coach of the Bruins in perspective.

The Low Lights

*In his first three seasons, his record as head coach was 10-21.

*He and UCLA while he has been the head coach have only participated in one bowl game and that was last season and they lost to Pitt in that game. They had qualified for the Holiday Bowl in 2021 but did not play in the game due to COVID-19 protocols.

*He has had at least four losses in every season that he has been the head coach at UCLA.

*Before the USC game this season, his overall record is 33-33,

*Besides having no Bowl victories, he and UCLA have finished in 5th place in the Pac-12 South division twice and 5th place overall in the Pac-12 last season.

*In non-conference play, he and the Bruins have lost to Fresno State and Cincinnati twice as well as losing at home to San Diego State.

*In Pac-12 conference play, here is Kelly’s and UCLA’s record against the following teams:

Arizona State: 3-3
Arizona: 3-3
Oregon: 0-4
Oregon State: 0-2
Utah: 1-5
USC: 2-4

The Highlights

*In his first season as the head coach of UCLA, he led the Bruins to a 34-27 victory over USC.

*In Kelly’s second season at UCLA, the Bruins defeated then No. 19 ranked Washington State on the road and then later in the season, UCLA beat No. 24 ranked Arizona State.

*In 2020 in the shortened season, Kelly and UCLA swept and defeated both Arizona schools.

*The 2021 season was the best season for Kelly and the Bruins since he became the head coach in Westwood winning eight games that season. That year UCLA defeated No. 16 LSU and won road games against Washington, Arizona, Stanford, and their top rival USC. They were scheduled to play NC State in the Holiday Bowl but were canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.

*Last season Kelly led UCLA to a nine-win season which included the Bruins starting the season 6-0. During that period, UCLA defeated No. 15 Washington and No. 11 Utah. The Bruins played in the Sun Bowl and lost by only two points to Pitt.

*This season, UCLA is bowl-eligible with six wins with two remaining regular season games to go. Their best win this season thus far has been against Washington State and Colorado.

*In Pac-12 conference play, here is Kelly’s and UCLA’s record against the following teams:

California: 4-1
Stanford: 4-2
Colorado: 4-2
Washington: 2-1
Washington State: 2-0

Does Kelly coach after the USC game?

If the reports are accurate and UCLA loses to USC, then there is a very strong possibility that Kelly will no longer be the head coach of the Bruins. He has a contract through 2027 with a current buyout of 8.5 million but that would not get in the way of UCLA relieving him of his coaching duties if UCLA were to lose to USC this weekend.

However, if Kelly and UCLA defeat USC, it would be very possible and likely for him to continue to coach UCLA for the rest of the season. He would coach the regular season finale against Cal and if they were to win that game as well, the Bruins would have eight wins. Kelly would then coach UCLA in their bowl game and if the Bruins were to win their bowl game giving them three straight victories, it would be likely that Kelly would come back to coach UCLA in 2024.

No one knows for sure what will transpire unless you are Martin Jarmond who is UCLA’s athletic director and he is the individual who determines if Kelly stays or goes. Many fans and alums are still upset after the home loss to Arizona State which has galvanized the movement to fire Kelly sooner than later. However, time will tell and this game against USC is very important for the future of Kelly as the head coach of UCLA.