Chip Kelly blew all of it away. This time he actually blew it, and he wonders if he’ll ever get an opportunity like this once more.
As a substitute of the crowning victory of his unspectacular five-year tenure at UCLA, the rivalry recreation in opposition to USC on Saturday evening produced extra angst.
Fond emotions for quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s improvement because the undisputed group chief as a fifth-year senior?
They evaporated within the Pasadena evening sky because the Bruins blew what was left of their 14-point lead.
Optimism concerning the route of this system?
USC’s livid comeback within the third quarter nullified that.
The hope that possibly, simply possibly, Kelly can nonetheless make UCLA nationally related once more?
The 48-45 loss to no. 8 trojans served as the final word actuality examine.
The frustration within the Rose Bowl was extra about this recreation, and this season as effectively. This was as a lot concerning the certainty of what USC is changing into and the skepticism of what UCLA will seem like in future seasons.
As a result of if Kelly didn’t get a win in opposition to the Trojans on this specific recreation with this specific Bruins group, what does that inform us concerning the future?
There will likely be no Pac-12 title this yr, the loss formally eliminating the Bruins from the convention championship recreation subsequent month in Las Vegas.
There will not be a Pac-12 title subsequent yr or the yr after.
USC is about to grow to be what your administration envisioned when it employed Lincoln Riley. The Trojans may make the School Soccer playoffs this yr. They assume they are going to be common attendees within the coming years, as Riley has adopted what seems to be a sustainable mannequin for group constructing, his schedule as aggressive in recruiting the nation’s highschool expertise as he’s in attracting one of the best gamers to the switch portal .
The Bruins are much less diversified of their method, not essentially by alternative. Their recruiting courses underneath Kelly have declined yr on yr, growing their reliance on the switch portal.
What’s going to UCLA be like subsequent yr?
Who is aware of?
The subsequent yr?
Who is aware of?
UCLA coach Chip Kelly, left, walks the sideline in the course of the second half of Saturday’s loss to USC within the Rose Bowl.
(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Instances)
The questions created urgency for the Bruins to maximise this season, during which they’d have a senior fifth-year beginning quarterback in Thompson-Robinson, convention chief in Zach Charbonnet, and a talented protection.
Their depth gave them a brief edge over USC. Riley used the switch portal to evaluation his offense, however couldn’t do the identical together with his protection. Riley is not generally known as a defensive coach, however the Trojans’ protection will presumably be much less horrible sooner or later. The explosive offense now additionally had issues, as beginning operating again Travis Dye was sidelined with a knee harm.
UCLA’s time to strike was now.
Riley performed down the rivalry with UCLA within the week main as much as the sport, as did his quarterback, Caleb Williams.
The nonchalance was mirrored in the way in which the Trojans began the sport, the Bruins taking a 14-0 first quarter lead.
Williams intercepted a move for under the third time this season, throwing a ball proper to linebacker Kain Medrano.
USC kicker Denis Lynch missed two area objective makes an attempt. Lynch would have missed a 3rd, within the closing second of the primary half, however Kelly known as timeout earlier than the ball was snapped. Lynch obtained the relax from 49 yards and obtained it this time. The Trojans have been abruptly down by only one level 21-20.
UCLA transformed a area objective on their opening drive of the second half, however RJ Lopez’s ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, putting the ball on the 35-yard line.
USC capitalized on the error, a 35-yard move from Williams to Jordan Addison giving the Trojans their first lead of the sport at 27-24.
Thompson-Robinson misplaced a fumble on UCLA’s subsequent possession, and USC once more turned the Bruins’ errors into factors, with Austin Jones’ two-yard run extending the Trojans’ result in 34–24.
The Bruins spent the remainder of the sport catching up.
Simply after Korey Foreman sealed USC’s triumph by intercepting a move from Thompson-Robinson, Kelly was operating to the Rose Bowl area to congratulate Riley. Kelly’s group fought, however the fights from right here will solely enhance in problem.
