Bret Bielema turns heads with hilarious decision following late challenge ahead of halftime

Bret Bielema made an interesting decision just before halftime at the ReliaQuest Bowl. Social media was both confused and concerned afterwards.

The first half would have ended after a Mississippi State kickoff, however there was a review challenging whether the clock ran out. The call went in Illinois’ favor so it earned another chance to score before the first half ended.

Whether Bielema’s intention was to troll everyone or not, the Illinois HC decided to run the ball after getting two more seconds on the clock. The Fighting Illini did this despite Chase Brown forgoing the bowl game for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Some fans laughed at Bielema’s move, others hated him for it.

Illinois went into halftime up 7-3 on Mississippi State. Maybe if Bielema didn’t have to troll everyone there may have been a chance for Illinois to score some more points. No one will ever get to know for certain now.

These are some of the better reactions:

Bret Bielema walking to the locker room after challenging for two additional seconds: pic.twitter.com/NErouv49rb

— Joey Wagner (@mrwagner25) January 2, 2023

Reggie Love runs. Ref says, “NOW, it’s the end of the first half.”

— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) January 2, 2023

It’s now actually halftime. Bret Bielema made us go through all that to run the ball.

— Stefan Krajisnik (@skrajisnik3) January 2, 2023

Illinois just challenged the time on the clock just to run it out on the next play.

Screw you, @BretBielema (he can’t see this tweet). pic.twitter.com/ZefvFHKXfO

— Daniel Black (@danielcblack) January 2, 2023

Bret Bielema loves proving referees wrong.

Illinois kick return, Reggie Love down with two seconds left. Ref signals halftime. Players head to tunnels. Bielema challenges the time. Refs put two seconds back on the clock. Illinois runs the ball and now it is officially halftime.

— Illinois Football Focus (@IlliniFB) January 2, 2023

@BretBielema if you’re gonna whine about getting your 2 seconds back on the clock to give your team a last second chance to score before half analytics says don’t run the damn ball #Illinois #reliaquestbowl

— chris buehrer (@chrisbuehrer1) January 2, 2023

Alright.. I like Bret Bielema; but that was pretty damn stupid before the half. #ReliaquestBowl

— Fred Himes Jr. (@BigChiefBuckeye) January 2, 2023

Bret Bielema is obnoxious.

— G Reg (@GReg02703) January 2, 2023

@BretBielema is an idiot, why waste a challenge before half over two seconds and come back and run the ball after a successful challenge? I hope he needs that challenge later in the game

— Randy (@BiggR59) January 2, 2023

HE RAN THE BALL! I love @BretBielema so much!!! #Illini #HTTO #WeNeedANewHashtagToDescribeBert https://t.co/Xo5Pnnhvk4

— Charlie Fillenwarth (@illinifan1280) January 2, 2023

bret bielema letting these refs know that we are taking this game seriously.

— TheTruth (@1StateGameAYear) January 2, 2023