Bielema Named to 2025 Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List

News

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois head coach Bret Bielema was named to the Dodd Coach of the Year midseason watch list, released Wednesday by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc.

Bielema, who was also named to the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year watch list last week, has led the #23 Illini to a 5-2 overall record. Illinois has played the #6 strength of schedule in the nation, according to ESPN. Illinois’ strength of record metric is 13th-best in the nation, as the Illini’s season has been highlighted by a top-25 win over USC. 

This year’s list includes 24 of the nation’s top college football coaches representing all Power Four conferences, as well as the AAC and an independent.

Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc. and presented by PNC Bank, The Dodd Trophy, college football’s most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team that enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s coaching philosophy. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.

 

The watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc., taking into consideration each program’s graduation rate, Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, on-field success thus far for the 2025 season and Academic Progress Rate (APR).

A panel consisting of previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family, and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The winner of the 2025 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

The 2025 Watch List includes (in alphabetical order):

Bret Bielema, Illinois

Jeff Brohm, Louisville

Curt Cignetti, Indiana

Mario Cristobal, Miami (Fla.)

Ryan Day, Ohio State

Kalen DeBoer, Alabama

Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State

Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri

Mike Elko, Texas A&M

Tony Elliott, Virginia

Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame

Alex Golesh, USF

Josh Heupel, Tennessee

Brian Kelly, LSU

Brent Key, Georgia Tech

Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss

Dan Lanning, Oregon

Clark Lea, Vanderbilt

Joey McGuire, Texas Tech

Steve Sarkisian, Texas

Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati

Kalani Sitake, BYU

Kirby Smart, Georgia

Brent Venables, Oklahoma