Illinois head coach Bret Bielema offered some pointed advice to Notre Dame after the Fighting Irish's athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, raised the idea of a potential super league in college football: "Just join a conference."
Speaking at a hearing Wednesday on the Protect College Sports Act, Bevacqua said that the best way to "truly maximize the media value" of college football would be through a super league. However, he quickly added that he doesn't want one.
"If you wanted to maximize media value around college football, I think you would take 24-30 teams, create unbelievably competitive scheduling where a team like Notre Dame would play Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, and start to get a number that more closely resembles an NFL number," Bevacqua said.
The comment drew the ire of Bielema, who responded on X on Thursday.
Some guys really like to talk about something that could happen and who they might play…. Actually it’s pretty easy just join a conference 🤷♂️👊🤷♂️ https://t.co/QMh8KEMiR3
— Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) June 4, 2026
Many prominent names in college football, including former Alabama coach Nick Saban, have been to Capitol Hill this week to speak in support of the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan bill introduced last week. Key parts of the bill include preventing a breakaway super league, limiting athletes to one transfer without penalty, capping athletes' eligibility at five years, and prohibiting former professional athletes from playing in college.
Sen. Ted Cruz recently claimed the SEC and Big Ten wanted to form a super league, according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports. However, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti dismissed the rumors as "fabrication."
