I think 2018 was probably Kelly's best coaching job.

But ultimately, the team hit the same ceiling as in the past: being outclassed in a major bowl game. Brian Kelly is an above-average but nowhere near elite coach at the P5 level.

I also think it is fair to note that 2018 was, according to Sagarin, the easiest regular-season schedule Kelly has played at Notre Dame. USC and FSU were historically bad, and the toughest road game was at Northwestern. Lou Holtz probably would have had two more undefeated regular seasons if he had played schedules that easy.