College football buzz: Coach Chip Kelly takes over as Bill O'Brien departs Ohio State
Columbus, Ohio - The rumors are no longer rumors! After just two weeks in Columbus as the Ohio State Buckeyes' offensive coordinator, Bill O'Brien has departed to become Boston College's head coach – and UCLA's Chip Kelly has scooped up his place.
Amid buzz that broke the college football internet, Boston College finally confirmed on Friday that they found their new head coach in Ohio State's offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien.
While the hiring of O'Brien to Boston isn't a shock with his extensive coaching resume in both college football and the NFL, it comes after being hired just two weeks ago by Ohio State to take on the offensive coordinator role.
Luckily for the Buckeyes, head coach Ryan Day quickly found O'Brien's replacement in UCLA football head coach Chip Kelly.
Day and Kelly share a close relationship, as the Buckeye head coach began his coaching career under Kelly's guidance. With the legendary 60-year-old coach now embarking on a new journey with the Buckeyes, a reunion between mentor and his protégé, bringing together their shared coaching style and philosophy, will make Ohio State's offense soar to new heights.
Landing a flashy play-caller in Kelly, who is renowned for crafting some of college football's most innovative offenses, Ohio State's spring game on April 13 promises fans an exhilarating preview of the team's refreshed offensive approach in the upcoming season.
Will UCLA players transfer following Chip Kelly's departure?
Following Chip Kelly's departure from UCLA, players will now have a 30-day window to transfer out of the program.
It remains to be seen if any Bruins players will follow Kelly to Ohio State, as Julian Sayin did when Bob O'Brien moved from Alabama to the Buckeyes earlier this offseason.
Throwing a wrench into things is UCLA's academic system. The school operates their school year in "quarters" not "semesters," meaning the student athletes won't finish their current quarter until March 22, making any immediate moves unlikely.
Yet, they will still have the opportunity to transfer during the spring transfer period, running from April 15 to April 30.
The question remains: with all the coaching moves, will UCLA experience another wave of player departures, akin to Alabama and Washington earlier this year?
Cover photo: Collage: HARRY HOW & Maddie Meyer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP