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Bret Bielema Accuses Major SEC Football Program Of Tampering

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Jun 25, 2025 4:48 PM ET

It's a bold new world of college football and many of the rules that just 10 years ago would have resulted in a program receiving the death penalty have gone the way of the dodo. But that hasn't stopped Illinois coach Bret Bielema of going after an SEC powerhouse for seemingly poaching one of his recruits.

Appearing on The Triple Option podcast, Bielema spoke about the loss of star running back Josh McCray, who entered the transfer portal and promptly transferred to Georgia. Bielema hinted that it was suspicious that McCray committed to Georgia after such a short time of being in the transfer portal, suggesting that the Bulldogs might have tampered.

“We did lose a guy to Georgia," Bielema said. "Somehow he found his way to the portal and 12 hours after being in the portal he was on a flight to Georgia. I don’t know how that happened but it’s crazy.

“Wish Josh all the best. He took advantage of that opportunity.”

College football plans applauded Bielema for taking Georgia and head coach Kirby Smart to task. Many feel that the Bulldogs have been tampering and cheating for a while now:

"Honestly I would like more coaches to call this out. I really would," one user remarked.

"Georgia football is a bunch of cheating criminals Bret," another declared.

"Kirby getting cooked by mid tier Big 10 programs," a third mocked.

"Finally, a coach calling a team out by name. Not the typical “we know who tampered with our player but choose not to say” bs that coaches have been complaining about for 2-3 years."

CHAMPAIGN, IL - AUGUST 28: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema reacts after a play during the Big Ten Conference college football game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on August 28, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Others feel that Georgia doesn't need to tamper in order to recruit given how much success they've had under Smart:

"Somehow a talented athlete ended up at one of the best schools in the country. Wonders never cease."

"Someone tell Bret it takes 1 minute to receive a phone call & schedule a visit."

"I guest Bret lives under a rock somewhere in Illinois..."

"Everybody tampers with everybody Bret… hate to be the bearer of bad news. It’s the Wild West brother."

It certainly feels like the wild west these days.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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