UCLA’s ugly loss to Arizona State resurrects questions about Chip Kelly’s future

Arizona State linebacker Tate Romney celebrates following a sack of UCLA quarterback Colin Schlee in the second quarter of the Bruins’ 17-7 loss at the Rose Bowl on Saturday evening. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

The Rose Bowl stadium was silenced in the final minutes, with boos replaced by a lack of interest from the dwindling crowd. The UCLA team was at its fourth-string quarterback, scrambling to complete one last play against Arizona State. Fans chanted “A-S-U!” as a UCLA fan behind the bench offered the verdict, “Figure it out, Chip!”

This sentiment raises questions about Coach Chip Kelly’s future and his ability to produce results for the Bruins, especially in the Big Ten. The crushing defeat left UCLA (6-4 overall, 3-4 Pac-12) with back-to-back losses and renewed concerns about their coach.

Kelly struggled to make an impact both offensively and defensively, continuing to face intense scrutiny. UCLA’s lackluster performance raised doubts about Kelly’s leadership and play-calling capabilities.

Meanwhile, Arizona State capitalized on its creativity, overcoming deficiencies in their team to produce and win the game. Their ability to adapt and generate offense was in stark contrast to the Bruins’ shortcomings.

In the end, Arizona State secured a 17-7 lead over UCLA, leaving a lingering feeling of disappointment and frustration among the Bruins and their supporters. Kelly now faces mounting pressure as his team’s performance continues to fall short.

The Bruins desperately need to reevaluate their approach and strategy under Kelly’s leadership. The latest defeat raises significant concerns about the team’s future and Kelly’s ability to guide them back to success.

This article originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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John Smith

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