Illinois head coach Bret Bielema claimed this week on Pardon My Take that the Tennessee Vols offered former Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer $2.5 million more than he was already making to transfer to UT a year ago.

“Luke was offered almost two and a half million more dollars than we were paying him to leave us,” said Bielema. “And then we end up playing that team in a bowl game and beating them.”

Illinois beat Tennessee in the Music City Bowl last season.

According to ESPN’s Heather Dinich, the Vols showed interest in Altmyer in 2025 after Nico Iamaleava left Tennessee for UCLA.

Altmyer confirmed last summer that an SEC school pursued him.

“It was a difficult decision, but I know what’s important,” said Altmyer to On3 last June. “I know what is being created here, and the trust, unity, and the connection that I have amongst my teammates, this community, and my coaches. The success is waiting for me here. It’d be foolish to pick up and start over and take a risk when I have a lot of trust that’s been earned and built.”

The Vols ended up landing Joey Aguilar as a transfer to replace Iamaleava.

Bret Bielema must’ve forgotten what he said before facing Tennessee last December

I found Bielema’s comments about Tennessee this week interesting because of what he said last December before facing the Volunteers in the Music City Bowl.

Bielema claimed that he never spoke to Altmyer about the Tennessee transfer rumors.

“Honestly, I’ve never spoken about that conversation in any way, shape or form with Luke,” said Bielema last December when asked about Tennessee’s pursuit of his quarterback. “One of the things that I’ve really appreciated about Luke’s demeanor and his personality is that he’s just the same guy every day. And to get one more game with him and to have an SEC opponent for him is really pretty cool.

“I know that he’s grown up in the SEC world down there. To start his career at Ole Miss and to go out of here as one of the most decorated players in Illinois football history, but more than that, he just stands for all these great things here at Illinois. And I think to have that moment with him is probably the thing I’ll cherish more than anything.”

One of three things is true here. Either Bielema lied last December about never having a conversation with Altmyer about the rumors, or he’s lying about about the crazy offer from Tennessee, or Altmyer didn’t tell Bielema about the offer until after the season.

Only Bielema and Altmyer know which is true. But I think most fans would agree that option one is the most plausible. And if Bielema wasn’t telling the truth about never having a conversation with Altmyer, then it’s certainly possible he’s exaggerating the offer from Tennessee.

And ultimately, I think most would agree that it’s unlikely Altmyer never told Bielema about the offer. (Why would he not?)

College football in 2026, man. It’s wild.