Chip Kelly received eight video games, stomped his greatest rival and received a bowl recreation at UCLA final season. Nonetheless, on Friday, he decided his greatest profession transfer — one of many newest to rock the game — was to take an enormous pay reduce to stay in the identical convention and turn out to be offensive coordinator at Ohio State.

In fact, it made sense. In fact, it made no sense.

Welcome to varsity soccer in 2024. It is a-maze-ing.

The 12 months is simply 40 days outdated, but among the recreation’s high packages, rosters and minds are scrambled.

Jim Harbaugh started January underneath NCAA investigation on two fronts whereas making an attempt to determine learn how to beat Washington. He is nonetheless underneath investigation, however life is lots higher the place investigators cannot contact him: within the NFL with the Chargers.

On the identical afternoon Kelly left UCLA for Ohio State — eight weeks after the season ended — Invoice O’Brien left for Boston Faculty after serving 21 days because the Buckeyes offensive coordinator. Not less than that was a promotion by title.

This migration by Kelly?

The 60-year-old who had spent 14 years as a university or NFL head coach took an enormous pay reduce (from $6 million per 12 months) to turn out to be a coordinator for the primary time since 2009. He noticed a greater future calling performs at Ohio State than following up on the very best three-year run (25 wins) by any UCLA coach since 2015. This regardless of the Bruins being within the strategy of becoming a member of the Massive Ten subsequent season.

Coaches in every single place preach loyalty. The occupation may need cornered the market currently on rental properties.

Kelly’s transfer was unprecedented and but not altogether stunning. He has a relationship with Ohio State coach Ryan Day, his quarterback at New Hampshire whereas Kelly was the offensive coordinator. Kelly stays a revered play caller who, at his base, needs to ascertain a punishing working recreation. That matches the ethic at Ohio State.

It takes some inside and institutional data to determine the remainder.

Kelly, little doubt, noticed a tough future in Westwood. Whereas he wasn’t going to get fired after going 8-5, Kelly was not employed by present athletic director Martin Jarmond, who gave his coach a vote of confidence after final season’s USC win.

That explains why Kelly was interviewing with NFL and faculty groups within the first place: one sub-par season and safety turns into a sizzling seat.

Nonetheless, Kelly had leverage. He had been provided extensions after the 2021 and 2022 seasons. His buyout this 12 months was $8 million, which certainly performed a task in UCLA deciding to trip with him regardless of a 35-34 total file. This 12 months’s recruiting class was ranked 87th — final within the Massive Ten — so there could also be little disappointment throughout.

Vital UCLA followers get their method. Kelly will get a brand new job. Day will get his outdated coach again. 

In a bizarre twist, changing into Ohio State offensive coordinator could also be Kelly’s greatest path to changing into a head coach once more. UCLA is the other way up financially. The transfer to the Massive Ten was partially primarily based on these difficulties. The Bruins haven’t any collective for NIL. Some UCLA followers argue Kelly’s presence was the primary motive, however third-party affect is the place the playbook begins currently within the Energy 4.

Succeed at Ohio State, and Kelly might be able to choose his subsequent job. The draw back, in fact, is what O’Brien little doubt sensed. One other loss to Michigan, and Day’s complete workers might be out by the top of November.

In a weirder twist, the recruiting class Kelly finalized two days in the past are actually actually free brokers. The NCAA offers gamers a possibility to switch with out restriction for a interval of 30 days after they lose their coach, no matter whether or not the switch portal is open at the moment.

Regardless of who the Bruins rent, count on mass transfers. The rebuild is not precisely near what Deion Sanders confronted at Colorado — the Buffaloes had been 1-11 in 2022 earlier than Coach Prime arrived — however it’s one thing important.

In maybe the weirdest twist, the defensive coordinator Kelly employed away from USC ust 10 weeks in the past (D’Anton Lynn) could not have seen this coming. Nevertheless, Lynn might be listed as a candidate to interchange his boss, who himself left to turn out to be … a coordinator.

The primary resolution to be made by Jarmond is philosophical. Does he need an interim “bridge” coach to information the Bruins by means of this disaster or go after the very best identify out there? The difficulty is there are few “greatest names” out there within the second week of February.  

Kelly appeared like he had all of it discovered two months in the past. His feedback about the way forward for the game made nationwide headlines.

“One thing must be accomplished to guard this recreation,” Kelly informed CBS Sports activities not too long ago.

Here is a begin: Make it start making sense once more.