Bret Bielema: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Illinois Football Offers Four-Star Linebacker, Three Others – What It Means

The college football transfer portal is officially closed, and Illinois and coach Bret Bielema have shifted much of their focus to high school recruits.

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Illinois Football Offers Florida Quarterback and Texas Linebacker – What It Means

The transfer portal is closed (except for national championship game combatants Indiana and Miami), and Bret Bielema and the Illinois football staff have turned their recruiting focus to high school underclassmen with an offer to sophomore quarterback Brycen Marbrey, of Florida, and junior linebacker Anthony James, of Texas, on Wednesday.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / January 18

Illinois Offers Four-Star Receiver and Pass-Catching Tight End – What It Means

Just like the majority of teams in college football, Illinois' focus in recent weeks has been on the transfer portal. But on Friday, Bret Bielema and his staff changed course and offered a pair of high school recruits.

College Football News / NCAA Football on ClutchPoints / January 15

Illinois Fighting Illini bring back familiar kicker from Washington in transfer portal

Bret Bielema and the Illinois Fighting Illini will have a reunion with one of their players, seeing kicker Ethan Moczulski return to the program. Moczulski announced his decision to come back to Illinois on Wednesday, per On3 insider Pete Nakos.

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College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / January 8

Illinois Football Signs Two More Transfers – Including Former MLB Draft Pick

Illinois football and coach Bret Bielema tend to turn to the transfer portal less than other high-major programs, but the Illini still take advantage of the talent and experience available.

College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / January 6

Illinois Football Signs Three Additional Transfers to Bolster 2026 Class

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has pushed his program into a new era. After going 10-3 in 2024, the Illini followed that campaign up with a stellar – albeit a bit underwhelming – 9-4 season in 2025.

Illinois Football Offers Three FCS Transfers – How Do They Fit in?

Before the transfer portal opened on Friday, Illinois coach Bret Bielema seemed to put a special emphasis on the recruitment of junior college prospects.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / January 2

Three More Illinois Football Players Are Set to Transfer – What It Means

Illinois' Bret Bielema became the first head coach in program history to win at least nine games in back-to-back season, and also the first Illini coach

College Football News / NCAA Football on ClutchPoints / December 31

Illinois football rumors: Bret Bielema earns NFL buzz after historic run

For the second consecutive year, Illinois went home with a bowl trophy. On Tuesday, the Illini defeated Tennessee 30-28 in the Music City Bowl after being predicted to lose.

College Football News / Last Word On Sports / December 31

Illinois Wins Physical Music City Bowl Over Tennessee in a Walk-Off

We expected it to be a high-scoring affair, but the first half of the Music City Bowl was anything but. Tennessee came into this matchup after making its money on explosive plays, while Illinois was looking like it was going to be without its most crucial defenders.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / December 30

Non-CFP Bowls Don't Matter? Tell That to Illinois' Bret Bielema

All that sputtering and moaning you've heard out of places like Tuscaloosa and South Bend is the chorus of college football's interminable soundtrack over

College Football News / A to Z Sports / December 29

Illinois HC Bret Bielema accidentally told a lie about Tennessee ahead of matchup against the Vols in the Music City Bowl

The Tennessee Vols and the Illinois Fighting Illini will face off on Tuesday in Nashville in the Music City Bowl. Coaches from both programs met with the media on Monday to preview the game.

College Football News / A to Z Sports / December 28

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema explains why Tennessee didn't want to practice at Vanderbilt ahead of the Music City Bowl

The Tennessee Vols arrived in Nashville shortly after Christmas to continue preparations for their upcoming matchup against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Music City Bowl.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / December 3

Why Illinois Tapping Into the JUCO Pipeline Is More Than Just a Quick Fix

Illinois football has followed up a strong two-year run under Bret Bielema by attacking what had been a possibly underutilized college football talent pipeline: the junior college ranks.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / November 30

Illinois Lands Top JUCO Recruits in TJ Taylor and Jakwon Morris: What It Means

Even before Illinois beat Northwestern 20-13 on Saturday night, Illini coach Bret Bielema and his staff received excellent news: The Illini had landed not one but two top junior college recruits in offensive tackle TJ Taylor and cornerback Jakwon Morris.

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Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / November 30

Illinois Offers Another Top JUCO Recruit in Archie Chambers: What it Means

Illinois football coach Bret Bielema has landed on a somewhat novel approach, and he isn't altering from it: pursue the top junior college recruits as hard as (or harder than) any other football program in the nation.

College Football News / Wisconsin Badgers on SI / November 21

4 keys for Wisconsin Badgers to beat Illinois Fighting Illini and Bret Bielema

The Wisconsin Badgers will once again be significant underdogs this weekend, as they welcome the 7-3 Illinois Fighting Illini to Camp Randall. But over the past three games, Wisconsin has shown an ability to keep games close against superior opponents and even knocked off then-No.

College Football News / Field Level Media / November 20

Bret Bielema returns to Wisconsin as Illinois eyes 3rd straight win

Illinois will be looking for its third consecutive victory when it travels to face reeling Wisconsin in a Big Ten matchup Saturday in Madison, Wis. No.

College Football News / College Football News / November 19

Illinois vs Wisconsin Prediction: The Bret Bielema Bowl

Illinois never should’ve left the College Football Playoff top 25, and now it’s back in at 21 after beating Rutgers and Maryland - like that was enough to catch the committee’s eye.

College Football News / Wisconsin Badgers on SI / November 16

Bret Bielema trying not to let return to Wisconsin become narrative against Badgers

When the Wisconsin Badgers host Illinois on Saturday, all of the talk will be about Illini head coach Bret Bielema returning to face his former team. He's hoping to downplay that narrative and make the game more about the two teams on the field.

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 / 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 / Mike Farrell Sports / September 21

Now What for Bret Bielema and Illinois?

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema wasn’t bashful during the off-season. He spoke about how his Illini were ready to gain respect and that they carried a chip on their shoulders.

College Football News / Wisconsin Badgers on SI / August 2

Wisconsin Badgers' 2026 TE commit pursued with offer from Bret Bielema, Illinois

The Wisconsin Badgers have two tight end commits for the 2026 recruiting class. Bret Bielema and Illinois are trying to flip one of them. Three-star Jack Janda out of Michigan verbally committed to the Badgers after his official visit in early June, but he tweeted on Friday that he received a new offer from Illinois.

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.

College Football News / ChiCitySports / June 25

Illinois football coach Bret Bielema suggests Georgia might have tampered star RB

The Illinois football program was dealt a huge blow in April when senior running back Josh McCray announced his decision to transfer from the program he had been at for four years and play for Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs.