Pat Fitzgerald Untouchable In CBS Sports Hot Seat Rankings

CBS Rankings Give Michigan State’s New Coach a Safe Spot

Pat Fitzgerald entered the 2026 season with a rating of 0.7 on CBS Sports’ five‑point hot‑seat scale, a score that places him in the “untouchable” category. The ranking suggests that, despite recent turbulence, his position remains firmly secured among his peers. This assessment comes from CBS Sports’ annual look at every FBS head coach, highlighting where the pressure points lie across the country.

Leadership Turnover Behind the Scenes

Fitzgerald took over the Spartans after Jonathan Smith was dismissed following just two seasons at Michigan State. The coaching change was made possible by former athletic director J. Batt, who left the university after a single year to accept a role at Kentucky. With both the program’s leader and its top administrator gone, Fitzgerald’s low hot‑seat score appears surprisingly modest.

How Fitzgerald Compares to Other Notable Coaches

Across the rankings, Kyle Whittingham, the new head coach at Michigan, received a 1.5 rating, well above Fitzgerald’s 0.7. That difference reflects the Wolverines’ higher expectations for immediate success compared to the Spartans. The gap shows how perception of pressure can vary even among coaches moving into unfamiliar territory.

What the Rating Means for 2026

A 0.7 rating positions Fitzgerald as one of the safest figures in college football entering his first full season. It signals that fans and analysts view the Spartans as a team where turnover risk is low, at least for now. The rating also gives him room to rebuild without the immediate threat of speculation, though performance on the field will always shape future perceptions.

• Pat Fitzgerald – 0.7 (untouchable)
• Kyle Whittingham – 1.5

The focus now shifts to how the Spartans translate this confidence into on‑field results, aiming to meet the expectations set by a program in transition.