I can't remember being completely disinterested in a season, 9+ months before it even starts.
I think he still has a job for 3 reasons:
1.) No 'permanent' President at the university at the moment. Interim Pres (and by extension Swann) likely don't have the horsepower to make any long term changes.
2.) Dr. Perv at the med campus was a PR disaster, and is going to cost the school a fortune. Helton isn't likely to attract the NCAA's bloodhounds any time soon, so at least there's no scandal there.
3.) Who is going to replace him?
In general terms, I'm all good with keeping a coach after 1 bad season....particularly when he was 21-6 in the previous two, including a Pac12 title and a Rose Bowl win. I don't want a revolving door of coaches, so I'm good with giving coaches a mulligan.
That being said....
I don't think Helton is as good of a coach as the 21-6 indicates. I think Darnold's heroics bagged him far more wins than he 'deserved.' And it's not just the 5-7 record this year. It's the way the team played that is hard to swallow. Totally undisciplined, and soft as butter. Every game was the same: score 2 or 3 times early and look decent for a quarter or so, and then bend over, grab the ankles, and hang on for dear life while the opponent ripped off as many points as they wanted. That's all coaching.....or lack thereof.
It'll be interesting to see what the crowds look like next year. The renovated Coliseum debuts, including a bunch of new suites (that people paid between $1m and $8m for)....and
this is the product they're being offered?