Chip Kelly settles into simpler life at Ohio State as engineer of No. 2 Buckeyes' high-powered offense

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- During conversation with Chip Kelly, the reasons he is currently Ohio State's offensive coordinator leak out in pieces. Not many head coaches leave a Power Four job with years left on the deal to take on a coordinator role. Kelly did just that, however, after an eight-win season at UCLA that included a bowl win.

These are different times and, well, Kelly is a different kind of coach. Kelly's unusual move wasn't even an isolated incident this offseason. His buddy, Jeff Hafley, left his post as Boston College head coach after four seasons to become Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator --with three seasons left on that BC deal.

"I heard [Arkansas head coach] Sam Pittman over the summertime talk about what a head coach does," Kelly told CBS Sports prior to the 2024 season. "[He said] 'You set the practice schedule … and you beg people for money.'"

Pittman entered the season on one of the hottest seats in the country but recently cooled that off with an upset win over Tennessee . By leaving UCLA, Kelly never let himself get into that position in the first place.

Instead, he is in line for the Broyles Award -- given annually to the nation's top assistant coach -- a year after slogging through a 35 - 34 run leading UCLA.

Because life is simpler -- well, as simple as it can be under the red-hot spotlight at Ohio State -- does Kelly agree with Pittman?

"It depends on your school," he responded. "I would imagine Dan Lanning is not begging people for money."

There's definitely that as No. 2 Ohio State travels to No. 3 Oregon this week in the highest-ranked combined matchup of the season to date. Kelly faces the program with which he became a national figure as he shaped the Ducks into a national contender from 2009-2012.

And some things never change with Nike godfather Phil Knight still helping the Ducks relevant in this portal/NIL age with his largesse.

"There was massive change in a short amount of time in adjusting to the portal and NIL," Kelly said. "I think you could literally transfer at halftime if you felt like it."

There's another hint leaked that needs little deciphering.

But the Ohio State job wouldn't have been open in the first place if odd coaching movement wasn't prevalent last offseason. In a three-week span, Bill O'Brien went from Patriots offensive coordinator to Ohio State offensive coordinator to Boston College head coach after Hafley left -- opening the door for Kelly to make the splash move.

It's obvious life is definitely less complicated for Kelly no matter how much money was left on the table. ($6 million per year through 2027 at UCLA compared to $6.3 million total through 2026 at Ohio State).

"I think it's overblown [leaving UCLA]," Kelly said. "I enjoyed coaching. What your role is at one school is slightly different than your role at another school."

The transition is old news now that Kelly has settled in comfortably with the Buckeyes. Actually, thathat would be an understatement as Kelly is having his best year as a play caller in 12 years.

Heading into Saturday's massive game against his former school, Ohio State is averaging its most points (46.0) since 2019. A running back-by-committee situation has been stress free. Transfer quarterback Will Howard is having a career year.

Jeremiah Smith , Ohio State's freshman sensation at wide receiver, is so young and so good he will turn 19 the day before the Michigan game while chasing All-America status.

"You'd like to take credit," Kelly said this week.

But he won't. That's not in the 60-year-old sure-fire hall of famer's approach. Mostly, Kelly likes calling plays. It served him well when Mike Bellotti plucked him out of New Hampshire in 2007 to be Oregon's OC and install an offense just becoming known as the zone-read spread.

That offense transformed not only Oregon but college football as a whole. Kelly had allies, of course -- the likes of Mike Leach and Rich Rodriguez. The Ducks won three Pac-12 titles and played for the 2010 national championship with Kelly calling plays as quick as he drops one-liners.

"In the old days, this was an I-formation team, but Woody's not here," Kelly said before the season. "I don't care where you look in college football, everybody's running the same type of offense."

Without realizing it, Kelly is complimenting himself. Every team -- even the service academies now -- use bits and pieces of his offense that stretch the defense the length and breadth of the field.

That really hasn't been the case for Kelly in the last 12 years. however, as he wandered through the NFL and UCLA. Either the game caught up or Kelly's offensive revolution couldn't last forever. Maybe a bit of both. Nothing in this game stays secret. Strategy leaks spread like the flu virus.

This career switch isn't as radical as it might seem. Kelly and Ohio State coach Ryan Day grew up in the same area in Manchester, New Hampshire. They attended the same elementary school, high school and college. Then, later, Day was New Hampshire's quarterback while Kelly was his offensive coordinator.

They've known each other since Day was 5 and Kelly was 20.

"I trust Chip with my life," Day said prior to the season.

"I trust him with my life, too," Kelly said. "Everything he has ever said to me has been true. Everything I've ever said to him has been true."

There is a, um, situation that cannot be ignored. No matter how good the Buckeyes are this season, it will be a failure if they don't break a three-game losing streak against Michigan. A fourth straight loss to "That Team Up North" would have implications beyond the Big Ten race. Day is 61-8 and also has a hand in the second-longest winning streak in the series. He won the last three games of that eight-game streak.

"Is it fair?" Kelly asked rhetorically. "We're not in the fair game. I don't think we think of it that way [that] he's getting treated unfairly. I don't think any coach gets treated unfairly."

It is at that point Kelly goes to the call sheet for one of his favorite sayings reflecting on life at the top of college football's food chain.

"There's no crying on the yacht."

Membership at the top of college football has its privileges. Ohio State and Kelly continue to have the winds behind them.