BREAKING: Big Ten head coach set to become next Ohio State offensive coordinator

It didn’t take long for Ohio State to find a new offensive coordinator. Hours after it was made public that former Penn State football coach Bill O’Brien was leaving Columbus to take the Boston College head coaching position, Ryan Day has already made a move on his next play-caller. This time, the Buckeyes have snagged a sitting Big Ten head coach, as Chip Kelly of UCLA is reportedly set to take over playcalling duties for Ohio State. The unprecedented move creates an interesting dynamic for when James Franklin and the Nittany Lions face both the Buckeyes and Bruins this fall.

UCLA head coach Chip Kelly set to become the next offensive coordinator at Ohio State

The Bill O’Brien era as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator was short and sweet. The former Penn State football and Houston Texas head coach was on the Ohio State staff for less than a month, hired on January 18. Friday morning, news became official that O’Brien would become the next head coach at Boston College, made available after Jeff Hafley moved on to the NFL.

And less than 12 hours later, Ryan Day has a replacement candidate lined up. First reported by Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, Ohio State is expected to hire Chip Kelly as its next offensive coordinator. Kelly has a combined 81-41 record in ten years at UCLA and Oregon. He also spent four seasons as the Philadelphia Eagles head coach, going 28-35 between 2013 and 2016.

BREAKING: UCLA’s Chip Kelly is expected to become the new OC at Ohio State, per source. Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day played for Kelly at UNH and later coached with him at three stops. https://t.co/PDDOB76rDq

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 9, 2024

What impact will Kelly’s hiring have on Penn State football?

James Franklin and Penn State will see both sides of this coaching move, hosting UCLA on October 5 and Ohio State on November 2.

Chip Kelly will take over a Buckeyes offense infused with transfer portal talent this offseason. The Ohio State offense will be led by former Kansas State QB Will Howard and Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins, who rushed for 106 yards against Penn State in the Peach Bowl this season. Even with the departure of Marvin Harrison Jr. to the NFL, the Buckeyes WR room will be a threat, led by Emeka Egbuka.

For UCLA, the situation looks more bleak. The Bruins now enter the Big Ten with program instability and will have to forge a new path forward. Kelly’s departure will create a tenuous situation for a former Penn State football player, as Billy Fessler was added to the Bruins staff this offseason.

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