Report: Bret Bielema on Nebraska’s radar
By John Buhler
After being fired by the Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday, former head coach Bret Bielema could end up as the next head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
The college football coaching carousel has begun to rotate. One coach that was canned on Friday was former Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema. After five seasons in Fayetteville, Bielema was fired after going a terrible 4-8 (1-7) in 2017. He was reportedly fired before he even got off the Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium field.
Though Bielema had no clue how to win SEC games, he did win three straight Big Ten Championships while leading the Wisconsin Badgers (2010-12) before taking his coaching talents south in 2013. One program in the Big Ten that will probably be looking for another head coach is the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Like Bielema, Mike Riley went 4-8 in 2017 leading his Nebraska program. After getting humiliated by the Iowa Hawkeyes to end the season, the Cornhuskers could be looking for yet another head coach. While they may want former player and UCF Knights head coach Scott Frost, FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman reports that Bielema could be an option if Nebraska can’t land the UCF head coach.
Curious to see what happens with the #Nebraska job. Expect them to go hard after Scott Frost but think they'll have some good options. Among them Bret Bielema.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 25, 2017
Bielema has his roots in the Big Ten. He was a former nose guard at Iowa, playing for the legendary Hayden Fry. Bielema won a bunch of games at Wisconsin. Maybe a return to the Big Ten is in order for the former Arkansas head coach?
Though his players loved playing for him, Bielema never really was a fit in the SEC. He never could get the most out of his team in rivalry games. Arkansas routinely got beat by rivals LSU, Missouri and Texas A&M. A new start in the Big Ten could be exactly what Bielema needs to get his coaching career back in order?
Next: Ranking The Best Heisman Trophy Winners Of All-Time
While he had been linked to the Kansas State Wildcats as a suitable replacement for Bill Snyder at the end of the year, Nebraska is the better job over K-State. If the Cornhuskers can’t get Frost to leave Orlando for his alma mater, it may be Bielema leading the ‘Huskers on fall Saturdays for the foreseeable future. Keep an eye on this one.