Chip Kelly Returns To The Rose Bowl, This Time As Ohio State's Offensive Coordinator

Of all the things Chip Kelly is looking forward to in his return trip to Southern California, there is one that rises above everything else.

"Gotta get more sunscreen looking at the weather report, because we haven't seen the sun for a little while in Columbus," said Kelly with a wry smile.

The eighth-seeded Buckeyes will face top-seeded Oregon on Wednesday in the Rose Bowl in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup. The game in the venerable stadium is a homecoming for Kelly, who resigned from UCLA in February after six seasons to become Ohio State's offensive coordinator.

Kelly had a 35-34 record with the Bruins, including 25-13 in his final three seasons. UCLA though appeared to reach its ceiling under Kelly after going 8-5 last season when it was expected to contend for a title in its final season in the Pac-12.

Kelly was on the hot seat a year ago going into the Southern California game, but a 38-20 victory appeared to give him another season. But Kelly said coaching quarterbacks leading up to the LA Bowl after staff departures made him realize that he enjoyed being in the position meeting rooms more than overseeing an entire program.