As Nebraska slowly builds its next class, a Citrus Bowl imbroglio helped Bret Bielema and Illinois break out on the 2026 ...

LINCOLN — Despite not impacting the College Football Playoff one bit, Illinois coach Bret Bielema ... as Bielema said, the “biggest of the bigs,” like Michigan and Ohio State.

Four-star safety Kaedyn Cobbs committed to Illinois ... standout chose Bret Bielema's program over schools like Nebraska, UNLV, Texas Tech, UTSA, Baylor, SMU and Oklahoma State, among others.

Bret Bielema came ... junior tight ends and list Illinois among their finalists. "The (class of) 2026 in the state of Illinois is loaded, but also downstate," Bielema said. "I was at a basketball ...

Bret Bielema is building something in Champaign, and the rest of the country is starting to take notice. The post Texas ...