UCLA Football: Chip Kelly Weighs In On Conference Change
The UCLA Bruins have been making waves in the Pac-12, and their recent upset win against then 13th-ranked Washington State Cougars the top 25 AP Poll.
As they continue to navigate their current conference, they are gearing up to face the 15th-ranked Oregon State Beavers this upcoming week.
Amidst the excitement, it's worth noting that Washington State and Oregon State are among the few remaining Pac-12 teams, with ten teams departing for new conferences in the future, including the Bruins.
These two programs, steeped in a rich football history, have been pillars of the Pac-12 for over a century. It's disappointing to see them potentially left behind in the wake of conference realignments.
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly shares this sentiment. He believes that both the Cougars and the Beavers deserve better and the fact that they may not have the opportunity to showcase their talents in a competitive conference in the upcoming seasons.
“I think it’s a travesty that Washington State’s not in a conference. That, to me, is a joke. That’s a really, really good football team and a school that’s had a bunch of tradition. And it’s the same thing with Oregon State. The fact that those two schools aren’t in a Power Five conference, or won’t be in a Power Five conference next year — people should figure it out. There’s a lot of really smart people in college athletics, but if we let those two schools not end up in a Power Five, then shame on us. That’s just not right.
“You’re talking about two nationally-ranked football teams that do it the right way. I’ve got a ton of respect for both of those programs. I hope things work out for them, because they deserve to play football at the highest level because they can play football at the highest level… I’ve got a ton of respect and I think those are two outstanding programs. And we gotta play them back-to-back. You saw what they were like today, and we know what it’s going to be like next week when we go to Corvallis.”
Washington State has been a part of the Pac-12 since 1917 and Oregon State since 1915. Over more than a century, they have contributed significantly to the conference's legacy of great football. It's disheartening to witness the potential end of an era as these teams face an uncertain future.
While there is still a glimmer of hope that they may find new conference homes, the current outlook appears challenging. The Pac-12, as we know it, will cease to exist by the end of the 2023 season with the departure of ten teams. It's a situation that leaves Oregon State and Washington State in a precarious position.
As the remaining Pac-12 teams embark on new journeys, we can only wait and see if these two programs can find a way to continue competing at a high level. In the end, the fate of these proud football traditions lies in their hands (maybe).
