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Notre Dame Football: Kelly’s Job Is Safe According to CBS’ Dodd

By J.P. Scott

CLEMSON, SC - OCTOBER 03: (L-R) Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers talks to head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before their game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on October 3, 2015 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - OCTOBER 03: (L-R) Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers talks to head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before their game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on October 3, 2015 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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CBS writer Dennis Dodd published his annual “Hot Seat Rankings” on Monday. Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly’s job is safe…for now.

Notre Dame football fans are all-too-familiar with hot seat talk leading up to the season.

Well, we have good news –or maybe bad news — depending on which side of the Brian Kelly fence you sit on. CBS’ Dennis Dodd released his annual College Football Hot Seat Rankings on Monday.

Every coach at the FBS level is given a grade of 5 to 1: The rubric for those are as follows:

5: Win or be fired

4: Start improving now

3: Pressure is mounting

2: All good…for now

1. Safe and secure

0: Untouchable

In 2017, Brian Kelly was one of only two coaches who received a 5, something Dodd calls “a kiss of death.”

Heading into 2018, Brian Kelly is rated as a “2.” This makes sense. Notre Dame’s 10-win season a year ago should have built confidence in the administration and bought him more time. That said, I’m not sure it bought him enough confidence and time to survive another .500 or below season.

Long story short: Kelly needs to keep winning at a high level.

To give you an idea where where Brian Kelly stands amongst his peers, 42 coaches in all received the same score. Some of the more notable names to earn a “2” from Dodd are Troy Calhoun (Air Force), Gus Malzahn (Auburn), Bobby Petrino (Louisville), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Will Muschamp (South Carolina), Clay Helton (Southern Cal), Mike Leach (Washington State) and Dana Holgorsen (West Virginia).

Next: Know Your Enemy: Michigan

The six coaches on the hottest seats in Dodd’s eyes — earning a grade of “5” — were Brad Lambert (Charlotte), Scottie Montgomery (East Carolina), Lovie Smith (Illinois), David Beaty (Kansas), Everett Withers (Texas State-San Marcos) and former Notre Dame football coach Bob Davie (New Mexico).

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