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Bret Bielema responds to Diego Pavia's Big Ten dig: 'He's regurgitating what's being said to him'

Chandler Vesselsby:Chandler Vessels•06/17/25•

ChandlerVessels

bret bielema diego pavia
Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois coach Bret Bielema is firing back at Diego Pavia after the Vanderbilt quarterback took a shot at the Big Ten. Pavia made a joke in a recent appearance on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast about wanting to “play for the best,” in the SEC, adding that he wouldn’t want to play in the Big Ten.

Bielema caught wind of it and issued a response Tuesday. The Fighting Illini coach and former Wisconsin coach and Iowa player stood up for the league which he has spent the majority of his football career.

“He’s regurgitating what’s been said to him, probably, I think,” Bielema said. “Listen, the Big Ten, I grew up in this league. Played in this league. Was very successful at Wisconsin. My first bowl game, we beat an SEC team that I actually ended up working for later. I think on any given Saturday, anybody can get anybody. That’s what would play out in a bowl game, right?

With conference realignment taking place last season, the Big Ten and SEC have established themselves as the clear top two leagues in college football. But the Big Ten saw four teams make the College Football Playoff, narrowly edging out the SEC which came in second with three.

The eventual national champion was also from the Big Ten as Ohio State defeated Notre Dame for the crown. The SEC had only one team to reach the semifinals as Texas lost to the Buckeyes in that round.

The Big Ten also had a surprise team make the field as Indiana took the country by storm with a program record 11-1 regular season finish. Bielema believes examples such as that one prove that, in the new era of college sports, anyone can compete. He’ll hope the same can be true for Illinois coming off of a 10-3 finish of their own in the 2024 season.

“It’s just kind of one of those moments where, I think the last three years, the evolution of college football with the portal and the NIL has created a level playing field that’s never been seen before. I think it’s trending more that way than going back the other way. A lot of people want to live in the past and stay by the rules of the past. I just don’t see it as part of the future.”