In the new era of college football, where NIL deals are changing the game, Illinois football head coach Bret Bielema is focused on keeping his team grounded and motivated.
Since arriving in 2021, Bielema has helped the Illini reach new heights, including a 10-win season in 2024. With a highly ranked 2026 recruiting class and a roster full of returning talent, Illinois is making waves in the Big Ten.
Illinois Football HC Bret Bielema Gives Refreshing Take on NIL
Recently, Illinois HC Bret Bielema sat down with quarterback Luke Altmyer on the “Unnecessary Roughness” podcast and shared his honest perspective.
“NIL stands for name, image, and likeness,” Bielema said, “but I always tell guys, the ‘I’ is instant. Instant money. But the forever money? That’s the NFL. That’s where they can really change their lives.”
.@KayceSmith sat down with Bret Bielema and Luke Altmyer and talked a bit of ball@IlliniFootball pic.twitter.com/d7MMYhmK7E
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) July 2, 2025
Bielema’s approach stands out, especially as Illinois is coming off a 10-3 season, its fifth 10-win campaign in program history. The Illini accomplished this while operating on a $5 million NIL budget, showing that development and team culture are still at the program’s core.
According to ESPN, Illinois’ 2026 recruiting class is ranked ninth in the nation, drawing attention from across the college football landscape.
Altmyer, returning for another season in Champaign, also weighed in on NIL. “Feed them well,” Altmyer laughed. “Hibachi, burgers, whatever it is, feed them well. They’ll be loyal to you.” It seems that loyalty and team chemistry are working in Bielema’s favor.
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Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Illinois will return all five starting offensive linemen from last year: J. C. Davis, Melvin Priestly, Josh Gesky, Josh Kreutz, and Brandon Henderson. This kind of continuity is rare in today’s college football, especially with the transfer portal making roster turnover common.
NFL scouts have taken notice, but these linemen chose to come back for another season under Bielema.
The transfer portal has still impacted the Illini. Illinois lost some depth on the line, including Zy Crisler, who transferred to Colorado. To help fill the gap, Ayden Knapik, a transfer from Idaho, joins the squad, and younger players are stepping up to contribute. This depth will be important as the team faces a tough schedule.
Illinois opens the 2025 season at home against Western Illinois on Friday, August 29. Bielema is 4-0 in season openers since taking over in Champaign and will look to extend that streak. The schedule features road games at Duke, Indiana, Washington, and Wisconsin, along with home matchups against USC and Ohio State.
NIL may be the new normal in college football, but in Champaign, Bielema is betting on development, loyalty, and a vision that extends to the NFL.