Latest news with #BretBielema
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Illinois' magical playoff run (as told by EA College Football 26)
In what is quickly becoming a national holiday for sports nerds, especially myself, EA Sports College Football '26 was released on Monday. The game made its long-awaited return to glory last year, and it's back yet again. Thankfully, this year's version is a lot kinder to Illinois than last year's. Illinois is rated as the No. 25 overall team, but when you load into dynasty, they begin the season ranked No. 10. Not too shabby for Bret Bielema & Co. Gabe Jacas and Xavier Scott are the two highest-rated Illini in the game, with Jacas at a 92 and Scott at a 90. Quarterback Luke Altmyer checks in at an 89. I'm going to give a quick breakdown of notable stats for each game. If you'd rather skip ahead, scroll to the bottom for end-of-season stats and results. So, let's dive into the game-by-game predictions for the 2025–26 season. Week 1: No. 10 Illinois def. Western Illinois 66-14 Luke Altmyer had a day throwing for 403 yards and 5 touchdowns. Aidan Laughery got it done on the ground with 105 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Collin Dixon had a breakout performance with 8 catches for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns. An easy victory for Illinois over Western Illinois (FCS Midwest) week one. Week 2: No. 7 Illinois def. Duke 30-20 Keelan Crimmins legacy game. His three punts pinned inside the 20 helped the Illinois defense hold Darian Mensah and Duke to just 20 points. Aidan Laughery and Collin Dixon both went for over 100 yards again, but Altmyer struggled mightily throwing two interceptions and only completing 34% of his passes. Gabe Jacas and Leon Lowery both had two sacks apiece and Dylan Rosiek and Kaleb Patterson picked off Mensah once. Week 3: No. 7 Illinois def. Western Michigan 38-7 A 3-0 start for the Illini as Luke Altmyer bounced back with 316 passing yards and two touchdowns, Dixon continued his electric start to the season with 7 catches for 112 yards, and Justin Bowick caught his first touchdown of the year. Jacas and Lowery added a sack apiece, and the running back tandem of Laughery and Feagin combined for three rushing scores. Week 4: No. 19 Indiana def. No. 7 Illinois 41-20 Ouch. Have a day, Illini defense! Hoosier running back Roman Hemby ran for 150 yards, and the Illini offense was stifled by Indiana's defense. Illinois dropped to No. 18 ahead of their week five matchup with USC. Week 5: No. 21 USC def. No. 18 Illinois 41-14 Cue Free Fallin' by Tom Petty. After a promising start, Illinois drops two in a row and gets dominated by USC. Jayden Maiava torched the Illini defense with 295 yards and three touchdowns. Illinois falls from top 10 to unranked in just two weeks. Week 6: Illinois def. Purdue 30-21 Back on track. Luke Altmyer throws for a touchdown and Aidan Laughery runs for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hudson Clement had his breakout game in an Illinois uniform with 9 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. Lowery continued his strong season with 1.5 sacks. Illinois creeps back into the top 25 at No. 24. Week 7: No. 24 Illinois def. No. 16 Ohio State 52-34 Andddd here's how you know this is a video game. Ohio State rolling into Champaign, ranked No. 16. Dixon outdueled Jeremiah Smith with 12 receptions for 150 yards and four touchdowns, breaking the Illinois record for touchdown receptions in a game. Altmyer threw six touchdown passes, and the Illini outgained the Buckeyes 224–38 on the ground. Champaign might burn down if this result happens in real life. Week 9: No. 15 Illinois def. Washington 28-24 Altmyer had four total touchdowns, including three through the air and one on the ground— despite throwing for just 116 yards. Kaleb Patterson picked off Demond Williams twice, and Illinois escaped Seattle with a narrow win. Week 10: No. 13 Illinois def. Rutgers 26-21 Altmyer threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Tanner Arkin had nine catches for 98 yards. Jacas and Tomiwa Durojaiye each added a sack as Illinois fended off the Scarlet Knights. The Illini appeared in the top 12 of the College Football Playoff rankings with just three games remaining. Week 12: No. 8 Illinois def. Maryland 31-26 Illinois jumped three spots in the CFP poll without playing a game, and they got the job done against a one-win Maryland team. Unfortunately, Aidan Laughery got injured. In other news, grass is green, but Kaden Feagin picked up the slack with 17 carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Durojaiye added 1.5 sacks, and Patterson snagged another interception. Week 13: No. 7 Illinois def. Wisconsin 26-25 Illinois snuck by the Badgers, and while Wisconsin fans jumped around in the fourth quarter, it was the Illini who were smiling and dancing when the clock struck zero. Bielema moved to 2-0 at his old stomping grounds, and he was carried by a stellar performance from Altmyer, who had 303 yards and three touchdowns. Collin Dixon added 9 catches, 133 yards, and a touchdown while Justin Bowick had two touchdown grabs. Leon Lowery showed out against his former squad with two sacks. Week 14: No. 7 Illinois def. Northwestern 44-14 Ending the year with a blowout victory of the kitties is always nice. Kaden Feagin had himself a monster day with 216 yards and two touchdowns, and Altmyer added 284 yards through the air with two passing touchdowns. Illinois ends the regular season at 10-2 (7-2), and was ranked No. 5 in the CFP poll, but won't play in the Big Ten title game. All the Illini have to do is wait until Selection Sunday to see their logo pop up in the College Football Playoff. Remember that early season win over Duke? Yeah, it held up nicely as the Blue Devils finished the regular season ranked No. 8. Conference Championship Week Iowa shocked the world and upset No. 1 Penn State to win the Big Ten title, thus securing its spot in the College Football Playoff. Miami dominated Duke, Texas Tech knocked off No. 1 Iowa State, and Florida defeated Georgia in the SEC title game. Illinois headed into the College Football Playoff ranked No. 4 and would have a bye before facing the winner of No. 5 Iowa State and No. 12 Iowa. Cotton Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal): No. 5 Iowa State def. No. 4 Illinois, 38–28 Illinois' first College Football Playoff appearance was short-lived. Rocco Becht threw for 361 yards and four touchdowns to lead Iowa State past the Illini. For the Illini, Collin Dixon eclipsed 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns while Luke Altmyer set the single-season touchdown record for an Illinois quarterback with 28, adding two touchdown passes in the Cotton Bowl. End of Season Recap For those who skipped the game summaries—glad you're still here! For those who stuck with me through them, thank you! Illinois finished 10–3, falling in the CFP quarterfinals to Iowa State. Dixon broke the single-game touchdown reception record, and Altmyer set the program's single-season passing touchdown mark. If this happens in the fall? I'll have Josh Whitman on speed dial, begging him to build the statue of our savior, Bret Bielema. A College Football Playoff appearance this season would be nothing short of magical and would put a surging Illinois program on the map nationally. This was a lot of fun to do. Now, after a pure sim of the Illini (I seriously did not touch a thing), it's time for you and me to build a dynasty and take home some virtual national titles. I'll leave my fellow sickos with some end-of-year stats below. Let's hope EA got it right. I-L-L. End of Year Stats QB Luke Altmyer: 3,343 yards, 28 TDs, 6 INTs RB Kaden Feagin: 151 carries, 814 yards, 14 TDs RB Aidan Laughery (9 games): 164 carries, 733 yards, 11 TDs WR Collin Dixon: 71 receptions, 1,049 yards, 10 TDs TE Tanner Arkin: 64 receptions, 636 yards, 2 TDs WR Hudson Clement: 59 receptions, 616 yards, 2 TDs WR Justin Bowick: 38 receptions, 416 yards, 8 TDs LB Dylan Rosiek: 79 tackles, 1 INT CB Xavier Scott: 71 tackles EDGE Leon Lowery: 71 tackles, 16 TFLs, 12 sacks CB Torrie Cox: 65 tackles, 2 INTs CB Kaleb Patterson: 34 tackles, 4 INTs EDGE Gabe Jacas: 38 tackles, 15 TFLs, 8.5 sacks K David Olano: 15 of 18 FG, long of 53, 59 touchbacks P Keelan Crimmins: 13 punts inside the 20, 46.5-yard average
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Ryan Walters' former boss thinks he failed with Purdue football
Before Purdue hired Ryan Walters as head coach, he was a defensive coordinator under Bret Bielema at Illinois.
Fox Sports
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 Big Ten Media Days: Ohio State QBs, Nebraska Transfers Among Day 1 Storylines
Talking season in college football began earlier this month when the Big 12 kicked off the sport's annual media days caravan at The Star in Frisco, Texas, where commissioner Brett Yormark and the league's coaches were inundated with questions about implementation of the House v. NCAA settlement, potential tweaks to the College Football Playoff format and the offseason spending habits of Texas Tech. Next came the SEC's turn in the spotlight, which began on Monday in Atlanta, with commissioner Greg Sankey describing his league as a "super conference" and then waxing poetic about both its strength of schedule and sphere of influence in the ongoing discussions about playoff structure. One week from now, on July 22, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti will have his chance to respond to everything his colleagues have said when the league begins its three-day media event in Las Vegas, a locale that reflects the conference's coast-to-coast membership. For the second straight year, each day will feature representatives from six programs: Day 1: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio State, Rutgers Day 2: Minnesota, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State, Washington, Wisconsin Day 3: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, UCLA, USC To preview the event, FOX Sports analyzed every team ahead of the 2025 campaign. Here's what to expect from Day 1 at Big Ten Media Days: Illinois Last year: 10-3 overall, 6-3 Big Ten Postseason: 21-17 win over South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl Head coach: Bret Bielema, fifth season, 28-22 at Illinois Coordinators: Barry Lunney Jr. (offense); Aaron Henry (defense) Recruiting: No. 46 nationally, No. 13 in the Big Ten Transfer portal: No. 43 nationally, No. 13 in the Big Ten Key storyline: The formula concocted by first-year Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti in 2024 demonstrated to the college football universe exactly what's possible in this expanded playoff era, when the right combination of coaching, player acquisition/retention, veteran leadership and favorable scheduling come together simultaneously in a fairytale season. Many fans and analysts are seeing a very similar mold at Illinois, where head coach Bret Bielema retained both coordinators and 17 starters from a group that reached 10 victories for the first time since 2001. The Illini are led by one of the league's most experienced quarterbacks in former Ole Miss transfer Luke Altmyer, now in his third year atop the depth chart, and an offensive line that returns all five starters. A relatively modest schedule includes winnable non-conference games against Western Illinois, Duke and Western Michigan, while also avoiding Big Ten powerhouses Oregon, Penn State and Michigan. That means the expectations surrounding Bielema's program, which is likely to be ranked among the top 20 in the preseason AP Poll, are soaring ahead of what some believe could be a magical run toward the College Football Playoff. The biggest question is how the Illini, a team unaccustomed to consistent winning, will handle that level of anticipation on a weekly basis. Indiana Last year: 11-2 overall, 8-1 Big Ten Postseason: 27-17 road loss to Notre Dame in CFP first round Head coach: Curt Cignetti, second season, 11-2 at Indiana Coordinators: Mike Shanahan (offense); Bryant Haines (defense) Recruiting: No. 47 nationally, No. 14 in the Big Ten Transfer portal: No. 22 nationally, No. 6 in the Big Ten Key storyline: An unexpected darling from the 2024 campaign rode the roaching acumen and bravado of Cignetti all the way to the College Football Playoff, where an in-state matchup with blue-blood Notre Dame gave Indiana an incredible platform despite the eventual loss. Shrewd talent evaluation and development skills shown by Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan when it came to quarterback Kurtis Rourke, a former MAC standout at Ohio who developed into a seventh-round pick with the Hoosiers, made Indiana a desirable destination for veteran signal-callers in the transfer portal. That the Hoosiers landed Cal standout Fernando Mendoza, the No. 22 overall transfer and No. 4 quarterback in the portal, speaks to the impression Indiana's work with Rourke made on potential targets. Former Maryland tailback Roman Hemby (No. 237 transfer, No. 15 RB) and former Northern Illinois cornerback Amariyun Knighten (No. 163 transfer, No. 17 CB) were two more high-profile pickups. A rebuilding defense retained arguably its three best players in edge rusher Mikail Kamara, linebacker Aiden Fisher and cornerback D'Angelo Ponds, all of whom received some form of All-American recognition last season. So can the Hoosiers be darlings once more? Maryland Last year: 4-8 overall, 1-8 Big Ten Postseason: None Head coach: Mike Locksley, eighth season, 33-41 at Maryland Coordinators: Pep Hamilton (offense); Ted Monachino (defense) Recruiting: No. 25 nationally, No. 8 in the Big Ten Transfer portal: No. 34 nationally, No. 10 in the Big Ten Key storyline: There was a puzzling inequality between the success Maryland enjoyed during this year's NFL Draft and the on-field product it put forth last fall amid the team's worst Big Ten season since 2019, when Locksley first took over the program. Six of Locksley's former players heard their names called in late April to form the Terrapins' largest draft class since 1986 and increase the total to 15 draft picks over the last four years, a stretch in which Maryland never finished above .500 in conference play. Still, accumulating talent has proven fairly easy for Locksley, whose last five recruiting classes all landed among the top 40 in the national rankings. Prior to last year, when the league officially nixed divisions, Maryland's inability to parlay recruiting victories into actual victories could be written off as a product of the relentless Big Ten East, where Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State all lurked. But that excuse wasn't available in 2024 as the Terrapins crumbled without facing the Buckeyes or Wolverines. The hiring of a new athletic director in May means there's even more pressure on Locksley to deliver. Nebraska Last year: 7-6 overall, 3-6 Big Ten Postseason: 20-15 win over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl Head coach: Matt Rhule, third season, 12-13 at Nebraska Coordinators: Dana Holgorsen (offense); John Butler (defense) Recruiting: No. 22 nationally, No. 6 in the Big Ten Transfer portal: No. 13 nationally, No. 2 in the Big Ten Key storyline: Though Nebraska ended on a positive note by upending Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl, there was still an air of dissatisfaction considering how poorly the second half of the season unfolded. In mid-October, the Cornhuskers were 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten entering a highly anticipated road game against then-No. 16 Indiana. What followed was a humiliating 56-7 beatdown in which quarterback Dylan Raiola tossed three interceptions and Nebraska fumbled three times. That loss kickstarted a string of four consecutive defeats that drained much of the momentum from Rhule's second season. Aware that his roster lacked top-end talent, Rhule responded with a spending spree in the transfer portal that produced the No. 13 class in the country and No. 2 haul in the Big Ten, trailing only Oregon. The Cornhuskers added numerous plug-and-play starters, including former Kentucky wideout Dane Key (No. 34 transfer, No. 10 WR), former Missouri edge rusher Williams Nwaneri (No. 36 transfer, No. 3 DL), former Alabama offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett (No. 45 transfer, No. 6 OT), former Oklahoma linebacker Dasan McCullough (No. 123 transfer, No. 4 LB), former Notre Dame right guard Rocco Spindler (No. 139 transfer, No. 10 IOL) and former Cal wideout Nyziah Hunter (No. 200 transfer, No. 35 WR). How well those additions perform relative to the price tags they undoubtedly commanded will be a strong barometer for Nebraska's trajectory this fall. Ohio State Last year: 14-2 overall, 7-2 Big Ten Postseason: Victories over Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame en route to national title Head coach: Ryan Day, seventh season, 70-10 at Ohio State Coordinators: Brian Hartline (offense); Matt Patricia (defense) Recruiting: No. 4 nationally, No. 1 in the Big Ten Transfer portal: No. 26 nationally, No. 7 in the Big Ten Key storyline: One of the driving factors behind Ohio State's run to the national championship last season was the continuity that peppered both the roster and the coaching staff at critical positions, with so many familiar faces returning after the 2023 campaign ended without a trip to the College Football Playoff. Those strong retention efforts preserved the nucleus of head coach Ryan Day's lauded 2021 recruiting class that eventually produced eight starters on the title-winning squad. Since then, however, the fallout from reaching college football's mountaintop has included changes at offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, offensive line coach and quarterbacks coach, not to mention the 14 Buckeyes selected in this year's NFL Draft, one of whom was signal-caller Will Howard (sixth round, No. 185 overall). All of which invites plenty of questions entering 2025 regarding how much change is too much change for a legitimate title defense: Can first-time playcaller Brian Hartline match the success enjoyed by predecessor Chip Kelly, now of the Las Vegas Raiders? Can former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia, the Buckeyes' new defensive coordinator, salvage his reputation at the collegiate level? Is former five-star prospect Julian Sayin ready to step forward and win the quarterback job in his true sophomore season? Those are just a few of the unknowns from an attempted repeat that has been all about the moving parts thus far. Rutgers Last year: 7-6 overall, 4-5 Big Ten Postseason: 44-41 loss to Kansas State in the Rate Bowl Head coach: Greg Schiano, 17th season, 94-101 at Rutgers Coordinators: Kirk Ciarrocca (offense); Robb Smith and Zach Sparber (defense) Recruiting: No. 32 nationally, No. 10 in the Big Ten Transfer portal: No. 51 nationally, No. 16 in the Big Ten Key storyline: Over the past two seasons, both of which ended with bowl games, running back Kyle Monangai was the unquestioned focal point of Rutgers' offense under freshly hired offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, formerly of Minnesota. He handled the workhorse role with aplomb by shouldering 498 carries for 2,541 yards and 21 touchdowns during that span, earning All-Big Ten recognition in both campaigns. What the offense will look like without Monangai, who was drafted by the Chicago Bears earlier this spring (seventh round, No. 233 overall), remains to be seen as the Scarlet Knights seek a third consecutive bowl appearance for the first time since winning 23 combined games from 2012-14 under Schiano and former coach Kyle Flood. The likely replacement is former Florida Atlantic standout CJ Campbell Jr., who carried 165 times for 844 yards and 11 touchdowns last season before joining the Scarlet Knights via the transfer portal — though it's worth noting that Monangai's backup, Antwan Raymond, chipped in 113 yards and three scores in the bowl game against Kansas State. Together, Campbell and Raymond will support mobile quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (251 rushing yards, 3 TDs) to form a three-headed attack on an offense that returns seven starters, including four along its veteran-laden offensive line. Michael Cohen covers college football and college basketball for FOX Sports. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joel Klatt Names College Football Program That ‘Hit The Lottery' In Its Conference
Joel Klatt Names College Football Program That 'Hit The Lottery' In Its Conference originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt made waves this week with high praise for Illinois football, declaring on his podcast that the Fighting Illini have 'hit the lottery in the Big Ten.' His comments centered around head coach Bret Bielema and the program's steady rise under his leadership. Advertisement "Bret Bielema has built this team into what he wants: Physical, tough. They win against South Carolina in the bowl game. They show the level that they can get to, and that team that won that day is essentially all back. Sixteen starters are back, nine on offense, seven on defense. Luke Altmyer is back for his third season. … I think they've hit the lottery in the Big Ten," Klatt said. Since taking over in 2021, Bielema has brought his hard-nosed, run-first identity to Champaign, and it's starting to pay off. After a strong close to the 2024 season, capped by a 21-17 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Citrus Bowl, Illinois enters 2025 with something it hasn't had in a long time: real expectations. The Fighting Illini bring back 16 starters, including quarterback Luke Altmyer, who enters his third season in Bielema's system. Altmyer threw for 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2024 while cutting down on turnovers, showing growth that should give Illinois confidence heading into a loaded Big Ten slate. Advertisement Klatt sees Illinois as uniquely positioned to compete. With continuity, experience and a clear identity, Bielema's team isn't just fighting to keep up, it is aiming to win. Fans rush the field after a victory by the Illinois Fighting Illini over the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium.© Ron Johnson-Imagn Images For a program long defined by inconsistency, the idea that Illinois could be a steady contender in one of college football's toughest conferences might've once seemed far-fetched. But in 2025, with Bielema at the helm, the Illini are no longer content to chase after relevance. Related: Urban Meyer Recalls Bret Bielema's Furious Reaction After He Broke the 'Gentleman's Agreement' Related: Big Ten Program Adds Four-Star Recruit on Friday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Coach Bielema launching Military Appreciation Day initiative at Memorial Stadium
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois Head Football Coach Bret Bielema and his family are kicking off an initiative to honor those who serve in the military. In recognition of Military Appreciation Day on Nov. 15 vs. Maryland, Bielema has pledged to match tickets purchased by Illini fans to bring veterans, active-duty military and their families to Memorial Stadium. This initiative is aimed at filling the seats with heroes from across Illinois and beyond for the team's annual Military Appreciation game. Advertisement Nick Hankins Jr. discusses Illinois football commitment Additionally, the matched tickets will be donated directly to service members and organizations that support them. 'Our family believes deeply in honoring those who sacrifice so much for our freedom and safety,' Bielema said. 'We are grateful for the opportunity to say thank you and give them the chance to enjoy a day of celebration, recognition, and Illini Football.' Fans are being invited to participate by buying specially designated $20 tickets through the campaign. For every ticket purchased, Bielema will match it in an effort to double the impact and the number of honored guests who will get to experience and enjoy the game. Advertisement More information, including how people are able to contribute and how organizations can request donated tickets, is available here. Tickets for the Military Appreciation initiative will be given out through Vet Tix. Anyone interested in getting tickets through this program can register on their website and create an account. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
