Five Things To Know: Chip Kelly Returns to Columbus Spearheading A Scary Northwestern

The Ohio State Buckeyes, once the undisputed No. 1 team in the nation, are now looking for answers as they prepare to host a dangerous Northwestern squad on November 14 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Following a 41-28 loss to Oregon that effectively shuttered their postseason aspirations, the 6-3 Buckeyes find themselves in a position few predicted when the 2026 season kicked off. As Ohio State looks to stabilize a program, they must contend with a Northwestern offense orchestrated by a familiar face.

The Return of Chip Kelly

Chip Kelly is set to return to Ohio Stadium, this time standing on the opposing sideline as Northwestern’s offensive coordinator. His history with Ryan Day is deep, stretching back to their shared time at the University of New Hampshire, where Kelly coached Day when Day was the quarterback and later employed him as an assistant.

Their professional careers also intersected in the professional ranks, with Day working under Kelly when he held top coaching positions for the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.

Aidan Chiles might be the hero the 2027 NFL Draft desperately needs He looks like one of the best QBs in college football week after week pic.twitter.com/rRZ8ityE5F

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For those tracking recent history, Kelly’s impact is well-documented. Across the 16-game season that culminated in a national title during his lone year leading the Ohio State offense, the squad put up an average of 37.2 points alongside 429.4 total yards per contest.

After a brief, 11-game stint with the Las Vegas Raiders, Kelly moved to Evanston, where he has coached the Wildcats to 33.6 points and 438.1 yards per game. Adding a layer of personal complexity to the reunion, Kelly is slated to coach Day’s son, RJ, a three-star 2027 quarterback who has committed to the Wildcats.

Aidan Chiles and the Uncertainty at Quarterhead

The offensive firepower Northwestern brings into Columbus hinges heavily on the status of quarterback Aidan Chiles. Chiles, who followed Jonathan Smith from Oregon State to East Lansing, opted to hit the transfer portal. Having opted to transfer to Northwestern, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound signal-caller has put together an impressive campaign for the program thus far.

Through his appearances this season, he has successfully completed 139 of 202 passing attempts, accumulating 1,898 yards, 13 touchdowns, and a single interception, while additionally contributing 86 rushing attempts for 274 yards and 10 scores on the ground.

Northwestern RB Caleb Komolafe (#5) is a bettering ram of a runner pic.twitter.com/UPDqU0dw41

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However, Chiles missed the Wildcats’ recent 24-10 loss to Iowa with an upper-body injury. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the timeline for Chiles to return is unknown. If he cannot go, West Virginia transfer Nicco Marchiol is expected to make his second straight start. In his outing against the Hawkeyes, he went 24-for-32 on passes thrown for 181 yards and a touchdown.

Northwestern’s Offensive Weapons

Beyond the quarterback position, the Wildcats rely on two primary playmakers who have consistently tested opposing defenses. Caleb Komolafe paces the backfield duties, holding the seventh spot in the Big Ten via his 643 rushing yards accumulated across 111 total attempts. He also has 643 yards and five touchdowns, adding 19 catches for 169 yards. Griffin Wilde provides additional firepower, sitting fourth in the conference with 813 yards accompanied by 49 receptions and five scores.

Five Things To Know: Chip Kelly Returns to Columbus Spearheading A Scary Northwestern

The Buckeyes’ defense, which has struggled in the last two weeks, allowing 30 points to USC and 41 to Oregon, faces a critical test in containing these two threats. Matt Patricia’s unit is under immense pressure to deliver a bounce-back performance in what is a must-win situation for Ohio State.

Stability in the Coaching Ranks

While the Buckeyes grapple with recent volatility, Northwestern has found stability under David Braun. Following the firing of Pat Fitzgerald, David Braun took over as interim head coach. His stint with the interim tag proved brief; after stepping into the role in July 2023, he received the full-time head coaching appointment that November.

Following a campaign where he collected Big Ten Coach of the Year honors, he secured a contract extension this past September—moving his commitment past the original 2028 expiration date to keep him at the helm in Evanston through the conclusion of the 2031 schedule.

During his tenure as the lead man in Evanston, he’s pushed the Wildcats to a 25-22 record, and last year he became the first Northwestern coach to earn a bowl appearance in two of his first three seasons. With a 6-3 record this year and a defense that ranks 28th in the FBS with 19.3 points allowed per game, the Wildcats appear to be a program on the rise.

The defensive unit is anchored by Wildcat linebackers Braydon Brus and Oklahoma transfer Kobie McKinzie, who lead Northwestern in tackles with 75 and 63, respectively. Whether Luke Fahey and company can get anything going remains the central question as the two teams prepare to face off at noon on FOX.