Bret Bielema Takes Shot at SEC: 'They Want to Live in 2005 Forever'
Summary
Bret Bielema, the head coach of Illinois football, shared his views on the rivalry between the Big Ten and SEC college football conferences. He said the SEC wants to stay like it was in 2005, while he thinks the Big Ten is moving forward in the sport. Illinois recently won a bowl game against an SEC team, Tennessee.Key Facts
- The SEC was long seen as the top college football league.
- The Big Ten won the last three College Football Playoff national championships.
- Bret Bielema coached Arkansas in the SEC from 2013 to 2017 and now coaches Illinois in the Big Ten.
- Bielema said SEC commissioner Greg Sankey tries to protect the SEC’s traditional ways.
- Illinois finished the 2025 season with a 9-4 record and won the Music City Bowl against Tennessee.
- The Big Ten had three teams in the latest College Football Playoff: Ohio State, Oregon, and champion Indiana.
- The SEC had five teams in the playoff: Georgia, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Oklahoma.
- Illinois will start their 2026 season on September 3 against UAB.
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