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Bret Bielema keeps using his win over Tennessee as a springboard to rip the SEC

Bret Bielema beating Tennessee in 2025 is only made worse with him continuing to throw shade at the SEC.
ByBraulio Perez
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Oct 24, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema reacts during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Gies Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Oct 24, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema reacts during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Gies Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Maybe one of the worst consequences of Tennessee suffering the heartbreaking loss to Illinois in the 2025 Music City Bowl is that it further opened the door for Bret Bielema to keep acting like a bit of a clown. The Illinois head coach, never short on confidence, clearly has an issue with the SEC as a whole, reminding everyone of that following the win over Nebraska in Week 10.

You'd think that after a heart-stopping win over a Big Ten rival, Bielema would be more focused on his own conference and what the victory meant for his players. Instead, Bielema is getting a ton of attention right now for an unneeded shot at the SEC. Seriously, dude, why go down this road?

Bret Bielema trolling SEC schools over Illinois not being ranked was a joke

Come on.

Here's a fresh reminder for the unhappy Illinois leader. Tennessee is 6-2 on the year, with a loss to then No. 1 Texas, and the Vols are ranked No. 16, right outside the Top 15. So, with that alone, Bielema can take a quick trip to shut-it town. Let's take a closer look at his three losses, too, please.

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• On Sept. 12, a 31-27 loss to Duke
• On Sept. 12, a 42-19 loss to Ohio State
• On Oct. 3, a 24-17 loss to Purdue

That loss to Purdue, now 3-5 on the year, came in Champaign. That alone prevents Bielema from even thinking about being ranked, let alone in the Top 15. Sure, we'll give him some credit for taking down the Vols last winter in the bowl game, but him consistently going after the SEC, obviously a better conference, is getting old.

People haven't forgotten about Bielema's comments during Big Ten Media Days, claiming the SEC wants to 'stay in 2005' forever. Those silly words were pathetic at the time, but now Bielema is back to his old tricks, and for no reason.

The fact that this is where his mind went after taking down Matt Rhule? Anything to keep Illinois in the public eye a bit. We'd say it'd be great for Tennessee to humble Illinois at some point down the road, but the Vols have bigger goals in mind.

Each and every season, Tennessee is ready to push for a trip to the College Football Playoff, which is something that, of course, can't be said for Bielema and Illinois. The Vols will look to post their second Top 10 win of the year after previously taking down Alabama. No. 8 Kentucky is next up at Neyland Stadium. Illinois' last Top 10 win? Five years ago against a No. 7 Penn State squad.

But hey, Bielema can hold on to the Music City Bowl for the rest of time to puff his chest out while trying to throw the SEC as a whole under the bus. Again, he's trying to keep the Fighting Illini relevant, but if anything, it's showcasing some pretty weak energy, especially after he went 29-34 as head coach at Arkansas, with an 11-29 mark in SEC play. Not great, Bret.

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