Picked in the preseason to finish 13th in the Big Ten, Illinois has exceeded expectations by already beating three ranked teams. For Bielema, this season is gradually erasing memories of his five seasons at Arkansas and building a bridge to the Wisconsin days, when conference titles and Rose Bowls were the norm.

Illinois football head coach Bret Bielema has renewed hope for fans, and it’s clear this isn’t another fleeting success under a new coach.

Who are this year's Big 12 Coach of the Year contenders? And who's underachieving? We rank every league coach through the first eight weeks.