Latest news with #BretBielema
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'This one is special': Illinois football assistant shows off Citrus Bowl championship ring
Illinois football had a turnaround season under fourth-year coach Bret Bielema, winning 10 games for the first time in two-plus decades, including a victory in the Citrus Bowl. At least one coach has received his championship ring from the big bowl win, as receivers coach Justin Stepp posted multiple photos of the bling to last week. Advertisement The silver-colored ring reads "CITRUS BOWL CHAMPIONS" on top, circled around the block "I" logo, encrusted with multiple orange and blue jewels. Illinois football 2024: Every story from Illini run to Citrus Bowl title One side of the ring includes a number, plus the Citrus Bowl trophy. The other side has a last name and the program's 100-year logo. Inside the ring are engravings of "The Land of Lincoln Trophy" and "The Cannon" — won in 2024 in rivalry victories against Northwestern and Purdue. Also engraved inside are the initials "DD," a tribute to late Illini assistant Dana Dimel, who died in December. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois football: Illini shows off Citrus Bowl championship ring
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the 10 toughest Big Ten or SEC football schedules for the 2025 season
Ranking the 10 toughest Big Ten or SEC football schedules for the 2025 season Less than 12 weeks remain before the 2025 college football season kicks off. In what has become an annual tradition, this build-up period is being spent arguing which conference deserves the crown as the sport's best. Or, if the SEC is still No. 1, whether the Big Ten is now narrowing the gap. These discussions aren't only held between fans and analysts. Current Illinois and former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema even joined the mix, arguing that the last 2-3 years of NIL and the transfer portal balancing rosters have brought the Big Ten up to the SEC's top level. While there is no definitive answer to that argument, the Big Ten did dominate the 2024 college football postseason, including a national title and numerous head-to-head wins over SEC opponents. The SEC's common retort to that argument is an outline of its conference schedule for 2025, with 14 of its 16 member teams ranked within ESPN SP+'s top 50 entering the year. While that piece of evidence matters, it discounts what Big Ten programs, primarily Wisconsin, face in 2025. The Badgers not only have by far the toughest schedule in the Big Ten, but their schedule is tougher than nearly every SEC slate. As a reminder, we utilize Connelly's initial SP+ rankings to evaluate the difficulty of every schedule. Here is our methodology: The equation used to compare each slate is simple. First, we take each team's SP+ rating to find a numerical value for every game. The higher that number, the tougher the matchup. We then add every opponent's SP+ rating together to find a total opponent score. That large number is divided by the number 12 (total games) to find the average opponent score — a number that can then be compared to the SP+ leaderboard to find, on average, what a team will face each week. (Note: Home and away is not factored into the model. Also, Football Championship Subdivision opponents are not listed in SP+. Every FCS opponent was assessed a "minus-15' rating, akin to the No. 120 team in the Football Bowl Subdivision) For specifics, here is where Wisconsin's slate ranks among the top 10 Big Ten or SEC schedules for 2025, ranked from easiest to toughest. 10. Texas A&M Aggies Total Opponent Score: 106.9 Average Opponent Score: 8.90 (akin to the 33rd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 111.8 Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Auburn (11.8) Mississippi State (-1.4) Florida (17.3) Arkansas (7.0) LSU (22.1) Missouri (12.5) South Carolina (16.1) Texas (26.4) Nonconference Schedule: UTSA (0.0) Utah State (-14.8) Notre Dame (24.9) Samford (FCS -15) Get more (Texas A&M) news, analysis, and opinions on Aggies Wire 9. Arkansas Razorbacks Total Opponent Score: 109.1 Average Opponent Score: 9.09 (akin to the 33rd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 107 Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Tennessee (18.4) Texas A&M (17.2) Auburn (11.8) Mississippi State (-1.4) LSU (22.1) Texas (26.4) Missouri (12.5) Nonconference Schedule: Alabama A&M (FCS -15) Arkansas State (-9.9) Memphis (2.1) Notre Dame (24.9) 8. Alabama Crimson Tide Total Opponent Score: 110.8 Average Opponent Score: 9.23 (akin to the 33rd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 126 Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Georgia (26.9) Vanderbilt (1.7) Missouri (12.5) Tennessee (18.4) South Carolina (16.1) LSU (22.1) Oklahoma (16.5) Auburn (11.8) Nonconference Schedule: Florida State (7.2) LA-Monroe (-14.6) Wisconsin (7.2) Eastern Illinois (FCS -15) Get more (Alabama) news, analysis, and opinions on Roll Tide Wire Total Opponent Score: 114 Average Opponent Score: 9.50 (akin to the 33rd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 145.5 Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Tennessee (18.4) Texas A&M (17.2) Florida (17.3) Texas (26.4) Arkansas (7.0) Georgia (26.9) Missouri (12.5) Ole Miss (19.8) Nonconference Schedule: Southern Miss (-17.7) Arizona State (12.2) Alcorn State (FCS -15) Northern Illinois (-11) Total Opponent Score: 114.1 Average Opponent Score: 9.51 (akin to the 33rd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 123.5 Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Florida (17.3) Ole Miss (19.8) South Carolina (16.1) Vanderbilt (1.7) Texas A&M (17.2) Alabama (27.9) Arkansas (7.0) Oklahoma (16.5) Nonconference Schedule: Clemson (23.3) LA Tech (-11.9) Southeastern Louisiana (FCS -15) Western Kentucky (-5.8) Get more (LSU) news, analysis, and opinions on LSU Wire 5. Kentucky Wildcats Total Opponent Score: 119.9 Average Opponent Score: 9.99 (akin to the 32nd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 138.4 Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Ole Miss (19.8) South Carolina (16.1) Georgia (26.9) Texas (26.4) Tennessee (18.4) Auburn (11.8) Florida (17.3) Vanderbilt (1.7) Nonconference Schedule: Toledo (-1.4) Eastern Michigan (-14.2) Tennessee Tech (FCS -15) Louisville (12.1) Get more (Kentucky) news, analysis, and opinions on UK Wildcats Wire 4. Oklahoma Sooners Total Opponent Score: 120.2 Average Opponent Score: 10.01 (akin to the 32nd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 155 Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Auburn (11.8) Texas (26.4) South Carolina (16.1) Ole Miss (19.8) Tennessee (18.4) Alabama (27.9) Missouri (12.5) LSU (22.1) Nonconference Schedule: Illinois State (FCS -15) Michigan (21.5) Temple (-16.4) Kent State (-24.9) Get more (Oklahoma) news, analysis, and opinions on Sooners Wire 3. South Carolina Gamecocks Total Opponent Score: 127.7 Average Opponent Score: 10.64 (akin to the 32nd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 122.4 Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Vanderbilt (1.7) Missouri (12.5) Kentucky (4.7) LSU (22.1) Oklahoma (16.5) Alabama (27.9) Ole Miss (19.8) Texas A&M (17.2) Nonconference Schedule: Virginia Tech (4.3) SC State (FCS -15) Coastal Carolina (-7.3) Clemson (23.3) 2. Wisconsin Badgers Total Opponent Score: 130.2 Average Opponent Score: 10.85 (akin to the 32nd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 124.9 (first, the toughest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Maryland (-1.1) Michigan (21.5) Iowa (11.4) Ohio State (29.5) Oregon (24.7) Washington (6.4) Indiana (12.2) Illinois (14.3) Minnesota (6.0) Nonconference Schedule: Miami OH (-7.6) Middle Tennessee (FCS -15) Alabama (27.9) 1. Florida Total Opponent Score: 141.6 Average Opponent Score: 11.8 (akin to the 25th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 134.1 Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): LSU (22.1) Texas (26.4) Texas A&M (17.2) Mississippi State (-1.4) Georgia (26.9) Kentucky (4.7) Ole Miss (19.8) Tennessee (18.4) Nonconference Schedule: LIU (FCS -15) USF (-3.5) Miami (18.8) Florida State (7.2) Get more (Florida) news, analysis, and opinions on Gators Wire Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Bret Bielema turns Illinois into leading NFL talent producer; earns contract extension
Bret Bielema turns Illinois into leading NFL talent producer; earns contract extension Bret Bielema has completely turned the Illinois Fighting Illini football program around, and he's been rewarded for his efforts with a new lucrative contract extension. On Tuesday night, the University of Illinois announced a new six-year contract for Bielema, which extends him through the 2030 season. He will now be paid an annual salary of $7.7 million, plus potential incentive add-ons over the life of his new deal. Bielema led the Illini to just their fifth 10 win season in school history in 2024, which concluded with a Citrus Bowl win over then #14 South Carolina. Illinois returns 18/22 starters from that team, and thus they now find themselves often in the top 15, sometimes in the top 10 of various publications' "way too early" preseason polls. And the Illini have quietly become a NFL talent factory as well. According to a press release from the school, "Illinois was one of five schools with three or more players drafted in the first three rounds in both the 2023 and 2024 NFL Drafts, along with Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, and Penn State." That is extremely elite company right there. But the Illinois Sports Information Department included another impressive stat, about the 12 NFL Draft picks that have come out of Illinois since the Prophetstown, Illinois native took the job in 2021. The release states that "eight have been selected within the top-100 picks, the fourth-highest mark in the Big Ten behind only Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State among teams that have been in the league since 2021." This factoid is even more impressive, because now you're putting the Illini in the same conversation as the league's traditional triad of power. UM, OSU and PSU, during most of the 2010s and 2020s, have been in a class well above the rest of the conference. However, of Bielema's many talents, skills and abilities, producing NFL Draft picks is right there at the top of the list. During his three different stops as a college head coach (Wisconsin and Arkansas in addition to Illinois), his programs have produced 56 different draft picks. The 2023 NFL Draft was especially memorable for Bielema and Illinois. As we spotlighted in our Pat Bryant prospect profile piece, the Illini secondary saw three of their players go in the first three rounds: "Devon Witherspoon became the first cornerback off the board in the 2023 draft, going fifth overall to the Seattle Seahawks. Jartavius "Quan" Martin, DB went 47th overall to the Washington Commanders in the 2nd round while Sydney Brown, S, went 66th overall to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 3rd." Illinois is getting a great return on their investment in Bielema, and thus it was time to make him a newly minted man.
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Illinois football head coach Bret Bielema signs contract extension
Illinois football head coach Bret Bielema signs contract extension A Big Ten football coach has signed a contract extension. Bret Bielema and Illinois have agreed to a six-year extension. The new contract will run through 2031 and will increase Bielema's salary to $7.7 million per year. While at Illinois, Bielema's record is 28-22 overall and 18-18 in the Big Ten. He's been to two bowl games and has a 1-1 record. The former Wisconsin and Arkansas coach has a career mark of 125-80. Bielema is 5-2 against Nebraska in his career, with a 3-0 mark while at Illinois, with a 31-24 Friday night overtime victory last season. While at Wisconsin, he was 2-2 against the Huskers, with one of those victories the infamous 2012 Big Ten Championship Game, when the Cornhuskers lost to the Badgers 70-31. In a statement to the public, Bielema said that he is fortunate to work with an athletic director who fully believes in our football program and a coaching staff that fully believes in the players. "Over the last four seasons, our program has been built on tough, smart, dependable people in every facet: from our players, to our coaches and staff, to our administration." Nebraska and Illinois do not meet during the 2025 regular season. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Former Wisconsin football head coach signs major contract extension
Former Wisconsin football head coach signs major contract extension Former Wisconsin football head coach Bret Bielema and the Illinois Fighting Illini have agreed to a new six-year contract that extends through the 2030 season, according to a release. The deal is worth $7.7 million annually, plus it includes retention incentives that begin at $700,000 and increase each year. The $7.7 million figure would rank No. 20 among all college football head coaches last season, according to USA TODAY's salary database. It is more than a $1 million raise from his previous $6.65 million annual contract. Bielema is now 28-22 in four years at Illinois. His 10-3 2024 campaign tied the program record for wins, one it had previously achieved only in 1902, 1983 and 2001. Looking ahead to 2025, he has the Illini potentially set for an even further breakthrough. A veteran returning team and a manageable schedule combine to create College Football Playoff-level expectations. The program's current success under Bielema is a significant departure from its standing under its previous five head coaches. Lovie Smith (2016-20) failed to register a winning season during his tenure, Bill Cubit (2015) went 5-7 in his only year in charge, Tim Beckman (2012-14) went 12-25 in his three years at the helm, Ron Zook (2005-11) registered two winning seasons in seven years and, finally, Ron Turner (1997-2004) also totaled just two winning seasons. Bielema is over .500 through four years with two winning seasons and two respectable 5-7 finishes. His team's 2024 breakthrough raises the expectations for the rest of his tenure. While these contracts are rarely played out in full, he's now locked up through the rest of the decade. Bielema went 68-24 in seven years at Wisconsin from 2006-12. That run included two Rose Bowl trips and two Big Ten titles. Since taking the Illinois job in 2021, the veteran head coach is 1-1 against his former program. That includes a 34-10 win in 2022, Paul Chryst's last game with the Badgers, and a 25-21 loss in 2023. The Badgers and Fighting Illini will meet at Camp Randall Stadium on Nov. 22 this season. The game is projected to be key to Wisconsin's quest for bowl eligibility. Much more may be at stake for Illinois, which could be looking for an at-large CFP berth. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
