Kyle Whittingham Considered ‘Untouchable’ In Latest Coaching Hot Seat Rankings

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is untouchable according to CBS Sports’ latest coaching hot seat rankings.

Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports revealed his rankings for all 130 FBS head coaches in college football.

Dodd used a rating system by putting a number between zero and five with the following description attached to each number:

• 0 = Untouchdable – 24 coaches received this rating.
• 1 = Safe and secure – 43 coaches received this rating.
• 2 = All good… For now – 40 coaches received this rating.
• 3 = Pressure is mounting – 12 coaches received this rating.
• 4 = Start improving now – 5 coaches received this rating.
• 5 = Win or be fired – 6 coaches received this rating.

Hot Seat 2021. Job security might have never been so, secure. https://t.co/sVueVCtgip

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) July 8, 2020

Whittingham’s Rating

Kyle Whittingham was among the 24 coaches that are considered untouchable. Whittingham just completed his 15th season at the helm for the Utes and led the team to their second straight Pac-12 South Division Title.

Last season, Whittingham was given a 1 rating which is considered safe and secure. Whittingham has a 131-64 record as head coach for the Utes.

One of three coaches in the Pac-12 to receive a 0 rating, Whittingham joins Oregon’s Mario Cristobal and Stanford’s David Shaw as coaches in the conference that are untouchable.

Other Pac-12 Coaches Ratings

Arizona head coach Kevin Sumlin received a 4 after getting a 3 last year. The pressure is mounting for Sumlin in Tuscon.

Herm Edwards has done a nice job at Arizona State in his short time in Tempe. Edwards received a 1 and is safe and secure.

California head coach Justin Wilcox improved his 2019 rating of a 2 to 1. Wilcox will have a talented team this season and is safe and secure.

Karl Dorrell will enter his first season at the helm for the Buffaloes. Dorrell received a 2 rating and is good for now.

Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith also received a 2 rating and has done a great job rebuilding the Beavers’ program.

After a disappointing season in 2019, Kelly received a 2 rating last year but after the 2019 campaign, his seat is getting very warm with a 5 rating. Kelley needs to win now or get fired.

The seats of the two Los Angeles schools are hot. USC head coach Clay Helton received a 4 rating which is start improving now. With a decent season in 2019 but disappointing as far as USC standards, Helton needs to win or will be fired after receiving a 5 rating.

Washington head coach Jimmy Lake will enter his first season at the helm for the Huskies. He has big shoes to fill, replacing Chris Petersen but Dodd gave Lake a 1 rating. Lake is safe and secure in Seattle.

Nick Rolovich will take over the Washington State program after Mike Leach left for Mississippi State. The former Hawai’i head coach received a 1 rating and is safe and secure in Pullman.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.