SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 15: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is seen during the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium on October 15, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Stanford defeated Notre Dame 17-10. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly needs a strong bounce back season to return as the Irish coach in 2018

With the new improvements around the Notre Dame football program, it becomes easy to forget that the Irish lost eight of their twelve games in 2016. The energy level evaluated with stadium upgrades and the addition of two new coordinators. However, Brian Kelly still sits firmly on the hot seat. Is there a number of wins that gets Kelly off the hot seat and back on track?

If Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick truthfully explained his position, the revamp of the Notre Dame football program will continue into the 2018 season and beyond.

Swarbrick told the IndyStar, “The approach we took in the offseason was an approach based on an assumption of stability. We went and attracted some extraordinarily talented people to join this staff. And you don’t get people of that caliber if they don’t think there’s going to be stability.”

But, honestly, if Kelly repeats the 2016 season in 2017, a new coach takes the helm in South Bend for the 2018 year. So, a number definitely exists.

6 Wins or Less

A season where Notre Dame finishes with six victories or less guarantees Brian Kelly’s dismissal. As difficult as it is to admit, six Irish opponents could top Kelly’s squad in 2017. Georgia, Michigan State, USC, NC State, Miami (FL) and Stanford all possess enough talent to defeat Notre Dame.

7 or 8 Wins

Seven or eight wins represents a strange middle ground on whether or not Kelly remains as the Head Coach at Notre Dame. If the Irish win eight games, they double their victory total from 2016. Most teams would be satisfied with such a turn around. However, Notre Dame is not most teams. If the Irish fall in this category, the argument shifts from the amount of wins to how the Irish played in the victories and the defeats.

9 Wins or More

Kelly reclaims the admiration of his boss and the Notre Dame fan base with a nine win season. If the Irish met that total (or ten, eleven or twelves wins), it means they probably defeated one of the more premier opponents on the 2017 slate like Georgia, USC, Miami (FL) or Stanford. The win total and such a victory solidifies Brian Kelly for 2018 and probably 2019.

The question is, how many games can Kelly steal on schedule littered with difficult contests?