Bret Bielema: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Illinois Offers JUCO Offensive Lineman Maika Matelau: What It Means

If you're not familiar with offensive lineman Maika Matelau and Mt. San Antonio College, you're missing out. Both are dominating their competition, and slowly but surely all of college football is learning about the star freshman Matelau and the Mt.

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Illinois Football Recruiting Buzz: Nick Hankins, Nasir Rankin Get Set for Next Level

As Illinois (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) turns the page to Week 10, attention shifts back home to Champaign, where Rutgers will visit Memorial Stadium on Saturday (11 a.m.

College Football News / Sporting News / October 28

Bret Bielema gets Illinois ultimatum from Daily Herald columnist after AP Poll exit

Bret Bielema's Illinois football job may be safe, but for how long? The Illinois Fighting Illini fell to the Washington Huskies in Week 9, 42-25.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 26

Illinois Coach Bret Bielema Vents Frustrations After Loss at Washington

It was hard to pinpoint any one thing that went wrong for Illinois (5-2, 2-3 Big Ten) in Saturday's 42-25 loss to Washington in Seattle – and that's the crux of the problem.

NFL News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'AP Defensive Rookies of the Year' quiz

Given the year, team and position, how many of these first-year defensive standouts since the 2000 season can you name in five minutes?

The 'College football FBS nicknames' quiz

The 'College Football Playoff teams' quiz

The 'WRs taken in the First Round of NFL Draft' quiz

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 22

Illinois to Meet Old Friend and Foe in Washington's Ryan Walters in Week 9

It seems that college football, more than any other sport – at any level – is characterized by non-stop shuffling of coaching positions. Even in the midst of the season, as we head into Week 9, the coaching carousel is spinning ‘round at full speed.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 21

Illinois Football Recruiting Buzz: Quarterback Commit Kamden Lopati Rising Fast

As Illinois (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) turns the page to Week 9, attention shifts to the west, where Washington and Husky Stadium await (2:30 p.m. CT, BTN). Coming off a much-needed bye week, Bret Bielema’s squad is aiming to regain its momentum from a strong first half of the season and make a final push toward a College Football Playoff berth.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 13

Illinois Offers Pair of Out-of-State Defensive Linemen: What to Know

Despite losing to Ohio State on Saturday and falling out of the AP Top 25 for the first time all season, Illinois continued to stay busy on the recruiting

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 12

Illinois' Bret Bielema Shares Injury Update on Running Backs and Other Illini

Illinois (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) needed just about everything working in its favor this past Saturday to have a shot against No. 1 Ohio State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten).

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 12

Coach Bret Bielema Offers Stark Assessment of Illinois After Ohio State Loss

Outside Illinois football's friendly confines – Champaign, Central Illinois and Chicago – Bret Bielema catches a lot of hell. Whether it's his late substitutions, on- and off-field trolling or general outspokenness, the big man rubs plenty of folks the wrong way.

College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 12

USC Blasted Michigan in Week 7 – So Is Illinois Better Than We Think?

No. 17 Illinois (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) didn’t exactly put on a show in its 34-16 loss Saturday . But considering it came at the hands of the No. 1 team in the country in Ohio State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten), it’s hardly a stain on the resume of Bret Bielema’s team.

College Football News / A to Z Sports / October 11

Buckeye Nation won’t like Illinois HC Bret Bielema’s admission after Ohio State beat the Illini

The Ohio State Buckeyes had a tale of two halves in Week 7 of the college football season against Oregon. Ohio State jumped out to a 20-3 lead over Illinois and ended up winning 34-16, but they clearly took their foot off the gas in the second half.

College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 11

How Illinois Became First Team to Break Through Ohio State Defense in 2025

Saturday's much-anticipated Week 7 clash between No. 17 Illinois (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) and No. 1 Ohio State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) didn’t yield the upset result Bret Bielema had sought, but a few encouraging signs from the Illini offer hope in the weeks ahead.

College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 11

Social Media Reacts to Illinois Falling Short Against Ohio State

Back to reality for Illinois fans. Despite all the progress the program has made under coach Bret Bielema, Saturday’s matchup served as a reminder that the Illini are still a few steps behind college football’s elite.

College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 11

Three Instant Observations From Illinois' 34-16 Loss to Ohio State

The excitement of college football's top-ranked team, FOX's "Big Noon Kickoff" and national attention all coming to Champaign on Saturday was quelled – and pretty quickly – when No.

College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 11

Why Bret Bielema Declined National TV Opportunities Before Ohio State Game

The national spotlight hasn’t truly shone on Illinois football in decades. Although 2007 – which included that huge win over No. 1 Ohio State – was a memorable season, the Illini weren't consistently attracting national attention at the time.

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The 'NFL passer rating leaders' quiz

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The 'Active NFL receptions leaders' quiz

College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 10

Bret Bielema Explains How Illinois Can Slow a Key Aspect of Ohio State Offense

Matching up against No. 1 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) must feel like an impossibility for any opponent. No. 17 Illinois (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) is set to learn that the hard way this Saturday at Gies Memorial Stadium (11 a.m.

College Football News / A to Z Sports / October 9

Illinois HC Bret Bielema makes major statement with his thoughts on Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes

It’s back on the road for the Ohio State Buckeyes this weekend when they face the Illinois Fighting Illini. Ohio State took care of Minnesota last weekend by a 42-3 margin at home to move to 5-0 on the season.

College Football News / EssentiallySports / October 4

Who are the Announcers for Purdue vs Illinois Week 6 College Football Game?

Bret Bielema’s Illinois squad (4-1) heads to Ross Ade Stadium to face Purdue (2-2) on Saturday in a classic Big Ten matchup. Illinois has been solid on offense, averaging 376 yards per game, but struggles defensively, allowing 374.8 yards per contest.

College Football News / EssentiallySports / October 3

Bret Bielema’s Illinois Puts 135 FBS Teams on High Alert as True Mastermind Behind USC Upset Revealed

Bret Bielema’s Illinois Fighting Illini are 4-1, and their shocking 34-32 upset over USC has the entire FBS taking notice. After a crushing 63-10 loss to Indiana, few expected Illinois to rebound against a USC team favored by 6.5 points.

College Football News / Purdue Boilermakers on SI / September 30

What is Purdue's Record Against Teams Coached by Bret Bielema?

This weekend, Illinois coach Bret Bielema will make his sixth trip to Ross-Ade Stadium as a head coach and will face Purdue for the 10th time in his career.

College Football News / NCAA Football on ClutchPoints / September 28

Illinois’ Bret Bielema drops truth bomb on thrilling USC win after 53-point loss to Indiana

Illinois football had a good comeback on Saturday, rebounding from a crushing 63-10 loss to Indiana to get a stunning 34-32 victory over USC. Coach Bret Bielema talked about his team’s character after the dramatic comeback win, via Jeremy Werner of 247 Sports.

College Football News / USC Trojans on SI / September 27

Illinois Coach Bret Bielema Reveals USC Trojans 'Riled Up' Fighting Irish Before Game

The No. 21 USC Trojans suffered their first loss of the season against the No. 23 Illinois Fighting Illini, 34-32. It was a close matchup, but after injuries and turnovers, the Illini came out on top.

College Football News / Field Level Media / September 24

After ugly loss, No. 23 Illinois plots turnaround vs. No. 21 USC

Illinois coach Bret Bielema hopes to turn the page from a disastrous game, welcoming 21st-ranked Southern California to Champaign, Ill., to face the 23rd-ranked Fighting Illini on Saturday.

College Football News / Athlon Sports / June 26

Bret Bielema Has Change of Heart on Georgia Allegations

During a recent episode of "The Triple Option" podcast, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema stirred controversy when discussing running back Josh McCray’s transfer to Georgia. “Somehow he found his way to the portal and 12 hours after being in the portal he was on a flight to Georgia.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Yardbarker / April 14

Bret Bielema's Florida pipeline grows with latest commitment

Bret Bielema's Florida pipeline grows with commitment of four-star LB

It has to be tough to get a player from the state of Florida to come join the Illinois Fighting Illini, but that's exactly what Bret Bielema and his staff were able to do.

Texas lands commitment from ex-Stanford WR bursting with potential

Notre Dame lands four-star WR over Georgia, North Carolina

Report reveals Bill Belichick's stance on QB Nico Iamaleava

Ranking the new college football coaching hires for 2025

The 'College nicknames that don't end in s' quiz

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Yardbarker / March 4