Is Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher really on the 'hot seat' in 2023?

Texas A&M is undoubtedly a blue-chip college football program, and Jimbo Fisher is generally regarded as a top coach among fellow college football coaches.

Entering his sixth season as the boss in College Station, the pressure is on for Fisher to produce a big-time winner. He delivered a national championship to Florida State in his fourth season, after all. They're two different programs, but Fisher followed up an 8-4 record in 2021 with a 5-7 record in 2022. That's not good enough for a program that entered the season ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll.

The pressure is on, without a doubt — so much so that Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports ranked Fisher high on his list of coaches on the hot seat heading into 2023. In fact, Dodd categorized Fisher in the "start improving now" category, which is just one below "win or be fired."

"Look, we're not predicting that Texas A&M is going to pony up $70 million-plus for the buyout after this season if things continue to go sideways. However, hot seat is the topic, and Jimbo is certainly on one," Dodd explained. "A major bounce back is needed from the Aggies after their first losing season (5-7) since 2009. Jimbo hired Bobby Petrino as the new offensive coordinator and will (maybe? hopefully?) give him 100% play calling duties. Talented QB Conner Weigman and a deep receiving corps give the Aggies a chance offensively (101st in scoring last season). The usual slog through the SEC West looms. TAMU travels to Tennessee, LSU and Ole Miss."

Dodd is right in pointing out the SEC West schedule. Yes, the Aggies do have a big game against Miami in Week 2, but Fisher's season (and potentially his future) will be predicated on how his team fares against Auburn, Arkansas, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and LSU — and that's no easy slate of games.

Throw in a road game against Tennessee followed by a clash with the up-and-coming South Carolina squad, and outside of contests against New Mexico, UL Monroe and Abilene Christian, it could be said that the Aggies don't have a single guaranteed win in 2023.

"Is eight wins enough for Jimbo to keep his job? Stay tuned," Dodd wrote.

Eight wins may even be pushing it if things don't break right for the Aggies in 2023.