Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has resurrected his career in Champaign, but his latest idea might have just torched his reputation with college football fans everywhere. The former Big Ten Coach of the Year dropped a bombshell this week that has the sport buzzing: he wants a 32-team College Football Playoff.
According to a report from On3, Bielema said he'd love to see “as many teams included as humanly possible” in the postseason. While he stopped short of endorsing a 64-team bracket, he admitted he's intrigued by a 32-team format that was floated last year.
“Personally, I would love to see as many teams included as humanly possible. It can’t go to 64 — I’m not talking about that. I think somebody floated 32 last year or something like that,” Bielema said.
The reaction was swift and brutal. College football fans, already skeptical of playoff expansion, took to social media to eviscerate the Illinois coach. Former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions mocked the idea on X, writing, “Why is 64 out of the picture if 32 is such a no brainer? It’s 'just one more game.' In fact, why not just make it 128? What’s an extra round really matter anyway? While we’re add it, we could just include the FCS and Ferris State and make it 256.”
Other fans were less sarcastic and more direct. “It’s always the coaches with trash teams that want more teams in,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Call me shocked a guy who’s never made it wants to expand so he can make it and keep his job.” A third jabbed, “Guy who consistently hovers about 30 wants to let 32 in. Shocking.”
The criticism cuts to the heart of Bielema’s own history. Over 17 seasons as a head coach, only three of his teams would have qualified for a 12-team playoff. With a 24-team field, that number jumps to six. But in a 32-team bracket, he would have made the cut in at least seven seasons — including each of the last two. It’s hard not to see the self-interest, especially with the Illini hovering near the top 30 in recent years.
Bielema’s proposal comes amid broader debate about the future of the College Football Playoff, which expanded to 12 teams this season. The current format has already sparked plenty of controversy, but a 32-team field would dwarf even the most aggressive expansion plans. Critics argue it would dilute the regular season and reward mediocrity, while proponents like Bielema claim it would give more teams a shot at glory.
For now, the Illinois coach is taking heat for a suggestion that feels more like wishful thinking than a serious proposal. But in a sport where coaches often push for rules that benefit their own rosters, Bielema’s stance is hardly surprising.
Whether the playoff expands further remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Bielema has made plenty of enemies with this take. And given his team’s recent trajectory, he might need that 32-team field just to get a seat at the table.
