As College Football Evolves, Bret Bielema Keeps Illinois Focused Amid Portal Chaos
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Welcome to the new era of college football, where roster management in December is starting to look more like NFL free agency than the traditional postseason grind. For Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, it’s not just about prepping for the Music City Bowl against Tennessee - it’s about navigating a three-pronged challenge: keeping his current players, scouting new talent, and making peace with those who are ready to move on.
The transfer portal officially opens on January 2, but Bielema and his staff are already deep into the process. While the team prepares for its bowl matchup, assistant coaches are working overtime, identifying and ranking potential portal targets for the 2026 roster.
“Every position we plan on taking someone through the portal, those coaches are meeting, ranking and prioritizing players that we feel are going to be available,” Bielema said. “It is really an unprecedented world.”
That’s not hyperbole. The college football landscape has shifted dramatically, and Bielema is doing his best to stay ahead of the curve.
He’s built a reputation for retaining key talent - something that stood out last offseason when Illinois held on to several core players, including cornerback Xavier Scott, edge rusher Gabe Jacas, offensive lineman J.C. Davis, and quarterback Luke Altmyer.
Altmyer, in particular, reportedly drew interest from a familiar SEC program, but stayed put in Champaign.
Still, retention one year doesn’t guarantee the same results the next. All four of those players are now headed to the NFL Draft, and safety Matt Bailey could join them if he decides to forgo his senior season.
To stay proactive, Bielema began meeting with players last week to get a handle on where everyone stands. It’s part of what he calls a three-part roster strategy: retention, removal, and acquisition.
“I think I met with 68 of our players,” Bielema said. “I got about another 30 left that I will get with next week. That is obviously a big part of retention.”
But retention isn’t always possible - or even part of the plan. Earlier this season, Bielema made it clear he wanted to improve depth at certain positions. That opens the door for some players to seek opportunities elsewhere, and several have already told him they won’t be back.
“Even though the portal doesn’t open until January 2nd, there’s a couple guys that have removed themselves already and won’t be with us,” Bielema said. “I probably have another six to 10 guys that have expressed to me that they will probably be in the portal after the bowl game.”
Here’s where Bielema’s approach stands out. Some coaches might sideline players who are planning to leave, but he’s taking a more inclusive route - as long as there’s mutual respect and communication.
“I wanted them to play and they are going to play,” Bielema said. “If you started this season and you want to play, that is obviously a decision you can make.”
He’s not naming names, and understandably so. In a competitive landscape, tipping your hand can open the door for other programs to swoop in.
What we do know is that most of the players planning to leave are backups. Only one is a starter - and Bielema acknowledged that’s a unique case.
“For the most part all of the guys that are moving on from us, none of them are a starter - we have one guy that is a starter,” he said. “That is kind of an unusual situation but that is a decision he makes and what he wants to do.”
This is the reality of college football now - a constant balancing act between loyalty, opportunity, and strategy. Coaches know some players are eyeing the portal, but until January 2, many of those conversations stay unspoken. That gray area can be the toughest part.
“That is the part that is really difficult right now,” Bielema said. “Kids want to get in, they can’t get in, you know they are going in, and they can’t say it.”
Through all the uncertainty, one thing remains clear: Bielema is locked in on the task at hand. The Music City Bowl is more than just a postseason game - it’s a chance to close the season on a high note, reward the players who stuck it out, and show recruits and returners alike what Illinois football is building toward.
And in a world where rosters can change overnight, that kind of clarity - and commitment - might be the most valuable asset of all.