LOS ANGELES (AP) – Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly is confident he will be back next year after the Fighting Irish wrapped up a disappointing season with a blowout loss at Southern California on Saturday.

Kelly won at least eight games in each of his first six seasons, but the Irish finished 4-8 this season, culminating in a 45-27 loss to the No. 12 Trojans.

Kelly scrapped his usual late-November itinerary of recruiting in California after facing the Trojans to return to South Bend, but says it’s not related to Notre Dame’s struggles.

“I don’t believe I’m coming back early because I’m getting fired,” Kelly said.

Asked if he wanted to coach Notre Dame next season, Kelly said, “Oh yeah, absolutely. I’ll be back.”

After reports on Yahoo Sports and ESPN hit, Saturday night, suggesting Kelly was considering options outside of the university, Kelly issued another statement through the university, saying he is not interested in options outside Notre Dame that and he is “fully committed to leading the program in the future.”

Statement from @NDFootball coach Brian Kelly… pic.twitter.com/NuPHmNlTyr

— Michael Bertsch (@NDsidBertschy) November 27, 2016