SI's Pat Forde lists UCLA's Chip Kelly as one of nation's most intriguing coaches

The Bruins have posted three consecutive losing seasons under Chip Kelly since he arrived in the 2018 offseason

Even with his lack of success in recent years, Chip Kelly continues to draw eyeballs.

Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde released his annual list of college football's most intriguing coaches Wednesday, and the UCLA football head honcho came in at No. 8. The list goes through the names Forde thinks all eyes will be on this fall, whether it's for success, failure, creativity or drama.

Here is what Forde had to say about the storylines surrounding Kelly:

8. Chip Kelly, UCLA. Kelly was the mega-hire of late 2017, the guy Florida wanted, the up-tempo savant whose NFL travails were forgiven as soon as he signaled his desire to return to the college game. But like Frost, he’s under-delivered with three straight losing seasons. Kelly should have his best UCLA team this season, built around a more experienced Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback, but the defense must improve after giving up more than 30 points per game in each of Kelly’s seasons. Kelly will get a big chance to change his stumble-out-of-the-gate narrative on Sept. 4, when LSU comes to the Rose Bowl.

USC's Clay Helton, Arizona State's Herm Edwards and Washington's Jimmy Lake were ranked No. 17, 19 and 23, respectively.

The Bruins have gone 10-21 across Kelly's three seasons in Westwood. The program has been breaking barriers and setting records in both good and bad ways during that time, allowing a program-worst 310.8 passing yards per game in 2019 while revitalizing a previously-dormant ground game with Joshua Kelley, Demetric Felton, Brittain Brown and others.

Kelly has also utilized tight ends better than nearly any coach in the country, with Caleb Wilson, Devin Asiasi and Greg Dulcich each garnering awards and attention of their own. Add an experienced quarterback in Thompson-Robinson to Kelly's up-tempo style and UCLA's offense will surely be interesting to watch in 2021.

The past failures of the defense are notable, however, and Kelly's contract situation adds even more stakes and intrigue to this season. Kelly's 2022 salary becomes non-guaranteed after January 15, so 2021 could very well be a contract year for the former Rose Bowl champion and Oregon darling.

Even looking beyond UCLA's team storylines, the status of Kelly and the Bruins' partnership moving forward is very much dependent on how this fall goes. Any coach flirting with the hot seat who brings as much offensive firepower and intellect to the table is going to be must-see TV, and that's exactly what Forde says Kelly will be this season.

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