While speaking at Big Ten media days on Tuesday, Bielema elected to take a not-so-subtle shot at the Southeastern Conference."[SEC commissioner] (Greg) Sankey, I know he's gotta protect the SEC, and they kinda wanna live in 2005 forever," Bielema said while at the podium."But, I think the forward thinking of where we are in college football is an awesome thing."Head coach Bret Bielema of the Illinois Fighting Illini speaks to the media during the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days at Hilton Chicago on July 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)ILLINOIS COACH BRET BIELEMA FIRES BACK AT NOTRE DAME AD OVER RECENT REMARKS: 'JUST JOIN A CONFERENCE'There is absolutely no valid argument to be had against the fact that the Big Ten sits on the throne of college football at the moment with programs from the conference winning three straight national championships.Sure, the SEC won the four before the Big Ten built its recent run, but in today's reality, the Big Ten reigns supreme.That, however, isn't what Bielema said, he elected to take a jab at the SEC as a whole, which includes some of the most rabid fan bases in all of sports, for being stuck looking into the rearview mirror.Head coach Bret Bielema of the Illinois Fighting Illini speaks to the media during the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days at Hilton Chicago on July 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)The exact comments from Bielema are rather rich given the fact that he has a history of coaching in the SEC, which Finebaum was quick to remind people of in his response to the head coach."He never fails to be the village idiot at Big Ten Media Days," Finebaum said during ESPN's 'Get Up' on Wednesday. "I have no earthly idea where that came from, why he said it.First of all, 2005, since that moment in time, the SEC has only won 13 national championships."Let’s go back to Bret Bielema ...