Michigan State’s new head coach Pat Fitzgerald is officially considered one of the safest coaches in college football heading into the 2026 season. CBS Sports dropped their annual hot seat rankings for all FBS head coaches, and Fitzgerald landed with an astonishingly low 0.7 rating on a scale of zero through five, earning him the coveted “untouchable” status right now.
“Untouchable” Status: Is It Real?
A 0.7 rating is as cool as it gets on the hot seat scale, signaling immense job security. Fitzgerald is set to kick off his very first season leading the Spartans, stepping into the big shoes left by Jonathan Smith, who was fired after just two years at the helm. It’s a fresh start for MSU, and on paper, Fitzgerald’s got all the backing he could ask for with that kind of job security rating.
The Elephant Not In The Room
Here’s the twist that makes you scratch your head about that “untouchable” label: J Batt, the athletic director who brought Fitzgerald to Michigan State, is already gone. Batt bolted for Kentucky after only a single year running the Spartans’ athletics department. How can a coach be “untouchable” when the very person who hired him isn’t even around anymore? That kind of rapid change behind the scenes certainly adds an unexpected layer to Fitzgerald’s perceived security.
Rivalry Check: More Pressure on the Wolverines?
For some perspective, rival Michigan’s new head coach, Kyle Whittingham, pulled a 1.5 rating, notably higher than Fitzgerald’s. The prevailing thought is that Whittingham’s number is higher because the Wolverines are shouldering much bigger expectations to win this year compared to the Spartans. So while Fitzgerald might be “untouchable” on paper, the true test of his job security will come as his inaugural season unfolds. Will that 0.7 rating hold up when the games start? We’re all gonna be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply