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.Â
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.
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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
