Illinois Coach Bret Bielema Raves About Quarterback Luke Altmyer's Clutch Gene

Bielema recently referred to Altmyer as "the most effective end-of-game quarterback" he has ever coached

Dec 31, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) gets ready to throw the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images | Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer has received a lot of compliments over the past 12 months after leading Illinois to a 10-3 season and a bowl game victory, but he may have received his biggest kudos on Saturday from his head coach.

In a recent appearance on David Pollack's "See Ball Get Ball" podcast, Bret Bielema referred to Altmyer as the most "effective end of game" quarterback he has ever coached.

"One of the greatest points I've tried to make about Luke when I'm talking to the outside world is ... he's the most effective player at end of half, end of game of any quarterback I've ever coached," Bielema said. "When it's an end-of-half, end-of-game scenario and it's game on the line, he is as good as I've been around – and I don't think that happens by chance."

GAME-WINNING HOUSE CALL ON FOURTH DOWN 🏠☎️

We’re revisiting Luke Altmyer’s game-winning TD pass to Pat Bryant on fourth down for @IlliniFootball last season 👀#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/MPJ4OLycaQ

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) April 7, 2025

🔸 21/27
🔸 215 yards
🔸 4 TD
🔸 0 INT

Luke Altmyer was clutch in No. 24 @IlliniFootball's OT win at No. 22 Nebraska.#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/0cZvMB54Lc

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 21, 2024

For the sake of this discussion, we're going to assume this strictly refers to Bielema's college coaching career (and not his foray into the NFL). Because if we included Bielema's NFL coaching career, future Hall of Famer Tom Brady would also have to be in the conversation.

Granted, Bielema was a consultant in his first season with the Patriots and a defensive line coach in his other, but still, you've got to think he was around the offense at least a little bit. And obviously, he saw Brady work a game-winning drive and the two-minute drill more than once.

But back to Altmyer. He has put together more than his fair share of game-winning drives during his Illini tenure, and for Illinois fans' sake, hopefully he isn't done. As for the NFL, it will be interesting to learn where Altmyer ranks among draft-eligible quarterbacks at the end of the season. Top 10? Top five? We'll start learning more at the end of August, when the Illini open their 2025 season.

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