Illinois 's Bret Bielema is the No. 17 highest-paid coach in college football, according to USA TODAY's 2025 compensation survey. The Fighting Illini coach is set to earn a total of $8,400,000, not including bonuses, which ranks No. 6 in the Big Ten Conference.

USA TODAY's available data does not include total pay figures for Big Ten member Northwestern.

Amounts for coaches at private schools or Pittsburgh are based the schools' most recently available financial records, which cover the 2023 calendar year and include all forms of pay from the school, including bonuses.

Here's everything you need to know about Bielema's contract with Illinois in 2025.

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