Ohio State and Northwestern have a major clash in Columbus this Saturday. As easy as it is to reminisce about the championship glory days of Kelly's Buckeye tenure in 2024, though, Kelly has earned an intriguing coaching-cycle opportunity this offseason for the work he's done with the Wildcats in 2026.
Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI's Jeremy Pernell sees Kelly as a suitable play-caller replacement for Dana Holgorsen, who was recently fired in Lincoln. Pernell believes Kelly's ego actually makes a union realistic, since prestige is Nebraska's best pitch to Kelly, not money.
"That makes it unlikely Nebraska could persuade him to come to Lincoln using financial incentives. They would have to lean on the Cornhusker gig being far more prestigious and the challenge of resurrecting a blue-blood program. His ego may actually lend to him being interested in the job," Pernell wrote.
"I have no idea whether he'd entertain leaving Northwestern after just one season. But given his experience, offensive philosophy, and proven ability to call plays against Big Ten competition, I'd absolutely want to find out."
Glenn Thomas is the current interim play-caller for the Huskers, but it'd take an exceptional finish to the season for him to be promoted full-time. There could be multiple job openings at Nebraska the way the team's season has fallen apart.
Matt Rhule is certainly not safe if Big Red's input means anything. The Rhule era has been costly, but with minimal results to show for it.
Chip Kelly should be on OSU's short list at play-caller if a move is made
Arthur Smith's honeymoon period with the program has worn off after starting quarterback Julian Sayin's injury caused the offense to no longer keep up with the opposition. Smith isn't on the hot seat, but not everyone wants him back next season.
Kelly may be the only goodwill hire possible for Ryan Day if there were a culling of his high-priced, NFL-worthy coaching staff. Patricia did a bang-up job following up on Jim Knowles's efforts when he was hired before the 2025 season, but that goodwill has worn off.
After leaving Columbus for the Las Vegas Raiders and successfully rebuilding his image with Northwestern, Kelly would have the ball in his court if Smith found an NFL job and left. Smith could be finding that the college game isn't what he bargained for.
Day's son, RJ, committed to the Wildcats, and Kelly was part of the equation. Kelly being hired back to the Buckeyes would be an easy excuse to bring RJ home as well.
There are reservations for most of the names that'd come up in an offensive coordinator search this offseason if Smith were to up and leave. Being burned by the Smith hiring is a tough pill to swallow for Ohio State fans, and they want something better.
Kelly is as sure a thing as it gets, though. It'd be a move with enough goodwill built up already. That needs to be the main theme for Day's program moving forward.
Add us as a preferred source on Google