Bret Bielema: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

College Football News / The Daily Hoosier / September 15

IU football week 4: Early odds, projections, gameday details for showdown vs. Illinois

The long anticipated Big Ten opener against Illinois is here. With both teams off to 3-0 starts, No. 17/19 Indiana hosts No. 8/9 Illinois this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 14

Three Things We Learned From Illinois' Victory Over Western Michigan

Another Illinois game means another handful of learning lessons for head coach Bret Bielema’s squad, along with another glimpse into the Illini and learning opportunities about the team for us observers.

College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 14

Illinois Football's First-Half Woes May Come to Haunt It at Indiana

The Illini have been rolling to start out the 2025 season. Dating back to last year, coach Bret Bielema’s squad is tied for the longest active winning streak in the nation at seven games.

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Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 14

Bret Bielema 'As Spirited As I've Ever Been' at Halftime of Illinois' Win vs. WMU

The wheels again took some time to creak into motion, but No. 9 Illinois was rolling along by the end of its 38-0 win over Western Michigan at Champaign's Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 10

CFP Watch: Evaluating Illinois Football's Playoff Chances After Week 2

Illinois hasn’t been to the College Football Playoff in … well, ever. But 2025 just may be the year for the Illini. Led by coach Bret Bielema and his excellent staff , along with star veteran quarterback Luke Altmyer , all the pieces of the puzzle appear to be falling into place.

College Football News / NCAA Football on ClutchPoints / September 10

Illinois football coach Bret Bielema heaps praise on Luke Altmyer amid top 10 ranking

With a 45-19 win over Duke in Week 2, Illinois finds itself at No. 9 in the updated AP college football rankings. Head coach Bret Bielema understandably gives quarterback Luke Altmyer the majority of the credit for the Fighting Illini’s success.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 9

Illinois Football Recruiting Buzz: A Busy Weekend of Prospect Visits Ahead

As Illinois football turns the page to Week 3, the spotlight shifts to Saturday night’s home showdown against Western Michigan (6 p.m. CT, FS1). While coach Bret Bielema’s squad looks to stay sharp under the lights at Memorial Stadium, the groundwork for future Illini success continues to be built on high school fields across the country.

College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 7

Illinois' Win at Duke Catches Eye of Four-Star Notre Dame Quarterback Commit

After an anxiety-inducing first half Saturday at Duke, Illinois – which led just 14-13 at the break – blew things open in the third and fourth quarters, ultimately cruising to an impressive 45-19 win in Durham, North Carolina.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 7

Illinois Football Leaps in ESPN's FPI Rankings After Polishing Off Duke

Illinois has done it. Finally, the Illini have entered the top 25 … of ESPN’s FPI rankings . Everything the program has been working for has finally come to fruition.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News / Notre Dame Fighting Irish on SI / September 7

Notre Dame QB Commit Teddy Jarrard Praises Big Ten Squad: Is He on Flip Watch?

Notre Dame may have had this week off, but its recruits were quite active, not only on the gridiron themselves, but also on social media – especially four-star

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 7

Projecting Illinois' Spot in the AP Poll After Duke Win: Will Illini Crack the Top 10?

Last week, Illinois climbed from No. 12 to No. 11 after a 52-3 blasting of Western Illinois. But, realistically, the Illini simply completed the assignment in their 2025 debut, while Alabama (No.

College Football News / NCAA Football on ClutchPoints / September 6

Illinois HC Bret Bielema gives assistant props for play of the day vs. Duke

Bret Bielema had some praises to give to an assistant coach following the No. 11 Illinois Fighting Illini’s 45-19 win over the Duke Blue Devils. Illinois improved to a 2-0 record on the season, outscoring their first two opponents 97-22.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 6

Why Duke Coach Manny Diaz Calls Bret Bielema and Illinois Football 'the Blueprint'

Duke head coach Manny Diaz isn't going to sneak up on anybody when Illinois hits the field Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina (11 a.m.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 5

Weather Report and Game Conditions: Illinois at Duke in Week 2

Temperatures around Champaign roughly 24 hours before game time for Illinois football's Week 2 matchup on Saturday hovered around the 70-degree mark, a brisk wind blowing to put the slightest chill in the air under an overcast sky.

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College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 4

Illinois Football Offers Four-Star Wide Receiver Milan Parris: What It Means

Could Illinois be on the cusp of landing another four-star wide receiver? Maybe. After Illinois locked up Nasir Rankin back in May, Illini head coach Bret Bielema and his staff are now pushing hard for Milan Parris.But there's a catch: Parris, a senior at Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), is currently committed to Iowa State.

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

Illinois Football Recruiting Buzz: Jacob Eberhart Shines in His Season Opener

As Illinois football turns the page to Week 2, the focus shifts to Saturday’s road test at Duke (11 a.m. CT, ESPN). While head coach Bret Bielema’s squad

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / September 1

ESPN's Analytics Predicts Illinois at Duke in Week 2: Do the Numbers Lie?

Thus far, ESPN’s analytics have been quite accurate in predicting the outcome of Illinois football games – a solid 1-for-1. The numbers expected coach Bret Bielema’s crew to knock off Western Illinois, and lo and behold, the Illini did just that.

College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / August 30

First Look at Illinois Football Week 2 Opponent: Duke Blue Devils

Illinois opened its season Friday night with exactly the kind of performance it wanted, rolling Western Illinois 52–3 at Champaign's Memorial Stadium. For coach Bret Bielema and his No.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Big Ten Network / August 28

Watch: Illinois Head Coach Bret Bielema's message for Game 1, Previewing TONIGHT'S Games & More | B1G Today

College Football News / Indiana Hoosiers on SI / August 13

Illinois Coach Has 'Huge, Mad Respect' for Indiana, Curt Cignetti: 'Incredibly Gifted'

Illinois football coach Bret Bielema is no stranger to competitive games against Indiana. Since Bielema took over as the Fighting Illini's head coach in 2021, he's faced Indiana twice and gone 1-1.

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.

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

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