Bielema Excited About Working with ‘new toys’ in Illini’s 2025 Preseason Roster

Illinois will have 15 players from the transfer portal and incoming first-year players that will be experiencing the routine of Bret Bielema’s practice program for the first time starting tonight.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 1, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — When the calendar flips to August 1, Bret Bielema treats this moment like everybody else feels about Christmas morning.

The Illinois fifth-year head coach simply can’t wait to open up the brand new pieces of his roster and quickly install them into his home as a completed set.

“I can’t ever forget this even . . .

 

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