Arkansas football: Ex-coach Bret Bielema just did something he never could while at Arkansas

Former Arkansas football coach Bret Bielema, now the head coach for Illinois, just accomplished something he was unable to do while at Arkansas.

Bielema, who served as head coach for the Arkansas football team from 2013 through 2017, finished with an overall record 29-34 during his tenure with the Razorbacks.

Now, in his first season as the head coach at Illinois, Bielema is beginning to pull the Fighting Illini out of the basement of the Big Ten Conference.

Bret Bielema just did something he was never able to do as the Arkansas football coach

In his five seasons as head coach for the Arkansas football team, Bielema was never able to beat a team ranked No. 7 or better.

The ex-coach got close a couple of times, losing to No. 6 Texas A&M in 2014 in OT by seven points. He also lost to No. 7 Alabama that same season by just one point.

Bielema and his Illinois Illini defeated No. 7 ranked Penn State on the road in an FBS-record nine overtimes.

That’s right, the former Arkansas football coach now holds the record for most overtime games in NCAA football history. There’s never been a game go to eight overtimes, much less nine. And more importantly, Bielema got the win.

It’s a shame that Bielema was unable to make it work with the Arkansas football team. He had some success, notching at least six wins against Top-25 teams during his tenure.

Bielema still has a long way to go in improving the Illinois program, but a win against one of the best teams in the country will surely buy him some goodwill and social capital with the Illini fans.

Current Arkansas football head coach Sam Pittman and the Razorbacks are entering a bye week before taking on Mississippi State Nov. 6 at home.