Illinois football coach Bret Bielema just landed at No. 25 on The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel’s ranking of the top 25 college football coaches. It’s a pretty big nod, especially for a program that spent the past two decades mostly wandering in the wilderness.
Bielema’s turnaround at Illinois is hard to ignore. He’s led the team to at least eight wins in three of the last four seasons, plus snagged bowl victories over SEC teams—no small feat.
The list features other Big Ten names, too. Indiana’s Curt Cignetti actually shot up to No. 1, which is a wild leap.
The Rise of Bret Bielema
So, Bielema making Mandel’s Top 25 College Football Coaches list? That’s a big deal for him and for Illinois. He took over a team that had been pretty hopeless for years and managed to make them competitive in the Big Ten again.
Since he arrived, Illinois has posted some solid records. At least eight wins in three of the last four years, and a couple of bowl wins that turned some heads.
Key Achievements
Bielema’s got some real highlights:
- Eight Wins in Three of Four Seasons: Not something you see every day for Illinois.
- 19 Wins Over the Last Two Seasons: That’s consistency, and it’s not easy to pull off.
- Bowl Wins Over SEC Opponents: Shows they can hang with the big boys.
Big Ten Coaches in the Spotlight
Bielema’s one of seven Big Ten coaches to make Mandel’s rankings. That says a lot about how tough the conference is right now.
And then there’s Cignetti at Indiana, who somehow vaulted from No. 11 to No. 1. That’s not something you see every year.
Curt Cignetti’s Remarkable Turnaround
Cignetti’s story is wild. He took over a program that went 9-27 from 2021 to 2023, then somehow turned them into a 16-0 national champion in just two years.
It’s one of those coaching turnarounds people will probably talk about for years. You have to wonder—can anyone else pull off something like that?
Other Notable Coaches in the Rankings
The list isn’t just about the Big Ten, though. Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, and Oregon’s Dan Lanning fill out the top four.
These guys have stacked up wins and trophies, so yeah, they deserve their spots.
Big Ten’s Strong Representation
Besides Cignetti and Bielema, the Big Ten’s got some serious firepower in the rankings:
- Michigan’s Kyle Whittingham (No. 9): Fresh from Utah, and he’s already made an impression.
- Penn State’s Matt Campbell (No. 11): New to the conference, but not new to turning heads—he did it at Iowa State too.
- Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (No. 14): The old guard, still doing his thing after all these years.
The Challenge Ahead for Bielema
Getting on the list is tough, but sticking around is even tougher. College football moves fast, and you’ve got to keep evolving if you want to stay relevant.
Four coaches from the 2025 list have already fallen off. It’s a reminder that nothing’s guaranteed in this business.
Recent Successes and Future Goals
Bielema’s recent wins over Tennessee’s Josh Heupel (No. 17) and Kansas’ Lance Leipold (No. 20) show he can go toe-to-toe with some of the best. But the real test? Keeping Illinois in the conversation year after year.
If you want the nitty-gritty and the full rankings, check out the original article here.
Conclusion
Bret Bielema landing in the Top 25 College Football Coaches list feels like a nod to how much he’s turned things around at Illinois. It’s honestly pretty impressive to see how far the program’s come under his watch.
Big Ten coaches, in general, keep showing up in these rankings. That says a lot about just how tough and unpredictable college football can get.
Will Bielema keep this momentum going? Hard to say, but there’s a sense that Illinois football is on the verge of something exciting.
If you’re as curious as I am about where things go from here, keep checking back for more updates and the occasional hot take as we follow these coaches and their wild seasons.
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