Chip Kelly Criticizes Former Team Oregon Ahead of National Championship

PASADENA, Calif. — Former Oregon head coach and current Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly took a pointed jab at his former program ahead of Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship against Notre Dame. Kelly, who previously coached Oregon from 2009 to 2012, referenced a controversial penalty in the Buckeyes’ regular-season loss to the Ducks as motivation for their Rose Bowl victory.

“I’ll tell you what, it was a unique message with our players: you can’t stop us with 11. You had to stop us with 12,” Kelly told reporters. “You saw the final results of 11 versus 11. So, that was a message to our team for the week leading up to the Rose Bowl that I think resonated really well with our guys.”

Kelly was referring to an intentional 12-men-on-the-field penalty by Oregon during their Oct. 12 matchup, which drained crucial seconds off the clock and contributed to the Ducks’ 32-31 win. The Buckeyes, however, avenged that loss with a dominant 41-21 victory over Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2025.

Ohio State’s offense exploded in the first half, building a 34-0 lead. Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was a standout, finishing with seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Smith, named the game’s offensive MVP, reflected on the earlier loss and the controversial pass interference call that derailed Ohio State’s final drive in Eugene. “I think about that call probably every day,” Smith said. “It was a crazy call. The DB was holding me; I just cleared his hands. I guess receivers can’t be physical in football anymore.”

Kelly, who had been 0-5 against Oregon as an opposing coach before the Rose Bowl win, emphasized the significance of the victory. “It was a unique message to our players, that you can’t stop us with 11,” he said. “You had to stop us with 12. And then you saw the final result of 11 vs. 11.”

The Buckeyes followed their Rose Bowl triumph with a 28-14 win over Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl. They now enter the national championship game as 8.5-point favorites over Notre Dame.

Kelly’s comments highlight the lingering tension between the coach and his former program, adding an extra layer of intrigue to Ohio State’s pursuit of a national title. The Buckeyes will look to cap their season with a championship victory on Monday night.