The Illinois Fighting Illini football team is flying under the radar heading into the 2026 college football season after two strong years that ended in bowl game victories.
The Illini have reloaded at the quarterback position with Katin Houser of East Carolina cemented as the starter, which has taken attention away from what could be a strong defense led by former Montana head coach and new Illinois defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck.
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On Saturday, Fighting Illini coach Bret Bielema was seen addressing a topic of interest to his program and roster ahead of the season, one of college football’s most prestigious awards.
A frustrated Bielema vented his frustrations as two of his standout players were snubbed from the list.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema disputes a call in the first quarter of the Music City Bowl against Tennessee in an NCAA football game on Dec. 30, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Two Illinois defenders, Xavier Scott and Matthew Bailey, were not included on the Thorpe Award watch list which is given to the nation’s best defensive back each season.
Bielema bristled at their exclusion while also taking a shot at the Tulsa Golden Hurricane program which landed two players on the list.
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“I mean, I don’t know if it’s out yet, the Thorpe Award list, right? Which is the best DB in college football.
“And neither one of those guys were on it which p—ed me off, right?” Bielema said in footage posted by Glenn Kinley of WCIA-3 in Champaign, Ill.
“Xavier was a finalist a couple years ago and Matt Bailey was, I didn’t know if I was gonna get Matt Bailey back because he was ranked so high by NFL a year ago,” Bielema continued.
“So, I don’t know how two players from Tulsa could be on there and not one player from Illinois but that’s another conversation,” he continued.
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Bielema called Scott “super intelligent” and capable of playing “all five DB positions” after speaking with NFL scouts.
Combined, Scott and Bailey have eight years of experience, all of them at Illinois, but will have to prove to college football pundits that they deserve more consideration for the Thorpe Award this season.
Five Big Ten defensive backs from four Big Ten schools made the Thorpe Watch List, including two from coach Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks.
The list includes Amare Ferrell of the Indiana Hoosiers, Brandon Finney, Jr. and Koi Perich (formerly of Minnesota) of the Oregon Ducks, Earl Little, Jr. of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Jyaire Hill of the Michigan Wolverines.
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Bielema, Bailey, Scott, and the Fighting Illini will enter 2026 with a huge chip on their shoulder, and that could be good news for a program used to lurking in the shadows.
Expect plenty of explosive plays from the Fighting Illini defensive back duo, and perhaps a few high profile awards in their trophy rooms by the time the 2026 season comes to a close.
