Big Ten coach who had an abysmal record in the SEC thinks his team would be ranked in the SEC

Quite the spin!This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.

This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.TIM BRANDO JOINS DAN DAKICH ON 'DON'T @ ME' TO DISCUSS INDIANA COACH CURT CIGNETTI'S CFP 'BIAS' COMMENTSNow, to be fair, Illinois is having a decent season.The Fighting Illini are coming off a 24-13 win over Nebraska Friday night, and sit at 6-3 as the regular season begins its final month.

It's been a good year for Illinois up to this point.Credit where it's due, Bielema has the fellas playing well in 2026.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.

(Justin Casterline/Getty Images)For some reason, though, the SEC continues to be on the brains of every Big Ten coach in America right now.Earlier this week, Curt Cignetti took a shot at the conference after the initial CFP rankings was overloaded with SEC teams.BRET BIELEMA ROASTS NICK SABAN, SEC, AT BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS: 'THEY WANT TO LIVE IN 2005 FOREVER'After last night's win, Bielema joined the chorus, saying his unranked Fighting Illini would be in the mix if they played in the SEC.Take a look:"But to be in this job, where we’re at right now, 6-3, we beat another 5-3 team.

If we were in the SEC, we’d probably be a top-15 team."Thoughts? First impressions?So, Bielema is correct in the fact that if Illinois was currently 6-3 and played an SEC conference schedule, it would be ranked.Not sure it would be a top-15 team, but certainly ranked.

I guess it depends who the wins/losses came against.Illinois head coach Bret Bielema yells at an official during the second half of the Music City Bowl NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Tuesday, Dec.30, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.

(AP Photo/George Walker IV)But also, if Illinois played in the SEC ...I'...