The world of college football is currently experiencing a maelstrom, with the Georgia Bulldogs squarely at its eye. Amidst a sensational recruiting surge that has seen them amass an unprecedented collection of 5-star talent for the 2026 class, a stark accusation has emerged from the Big Ten, casting a shadow of controversy over Athens: the claim that Georgia illegally “stole” star running back Josh McCray from the Illinois Fighting Illini.
The accuser is none other than Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, a veteran in the coaching ranks known for his blunt honesty. In a recent appearance on “The Triple Option” podcast, Bielema, while discussing his own running back room, casually dropped a bombshell that was anything but casual.
“We did lose a guy to Georgia,” Bielema began, a hint of exasperation in his voice. Then came the damning implication: “Somehow, he found his way to the portal and 12 hours after being in the portal, he was on a flight to Georgia. I don’t know how that happened, but it’s crazy.”
This wasn’t a direct accusation of Kirby Smart or the Georgia program. Bielema couched his words carefully, wishing McCray “all the best” and acknowledging that the player “took advantage of that opportunity.” But the message was clear, thinly veiled, and designed to sting. “I don’t know how that happened” is a coach’s polite way of saying, “I know exactly how that happened, and it wasn’t by the book.”
Josh McCray’s transfer to Georgia in April 2025 became one of the Bulldogs’ most significant portal additions this offseason. As a physical, 6-foot-1, 235-pound running back, he led Illinois in rushing in the 2024 season with 609 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He was a crucial component of Bielema’s run-heavy offensive scheme. For Georgia, McCray filled an immediate need for a veteran, short-yardage back after the departure of Trevor Etienne to the NFL Draft. Kirby Smart himself lauded McCray’s fit, noting, “In a world of a lot of third-and-ones and fourth-and-ones in college football with analytics people going for it, you need short-yardage backs. We think he gives us the potential to do that.”
The timeline, as highlighted by Bielema, is indeed eyebrow-raising: McCray entered the transfer portal on April 15th and committed to Georgia on April 20th. While five days might seem like a reasonable turnaround, the specific “12 hours after being in the portal he was on a flight to Georgia” detail strongly suggests pre-existing contact. Under current NCAA rules, a school is prohibited from contacting a student-athlete from another institution unless that student-athlete has officially entered the transfer portal. This rule, designed to prevent poaching and maintain some semblance of order, is commonly known as the “anti-tampering” bylaw.
Bielema’s comments, while carefully worded, imply that Georgia had engaged in impermissible contact with McCray before he officially entered the portal. For a player to enter the portal and then within half a day be on a flight to another school, a visit must have been set up, coaches must have already had conversations, and likely, NIL opportunities must have been discussed. Such pre-arranged maneuvers are the very definition of tampering.
Bielema’s accusation isn’t an isolated incident; it’s a symptom of a much larger, increasingly volatile problem in college football. The combination of the immediate transfer eligibility rule and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collectives has created a “Wild West” environment where tampering is widely believed to be rampant, yet rarely proven or punished by the beleaguered NCAA.
- The NCAA’s Lack of Enforcement: The NCAA’s ability to investigate and enforce tampering rules has been severely hampered by court rulings and its own shifting landscape. Coaches across the country openly lament the lack of clear guidelines and the perceived inability of the NCAA to police these violations effectively. This creates a climate of impunity, where programs willing to push the boundaries gain a significant competitive advantage.
- The Wisconsin-Miami Lawsuit: The recent, groundbreaking lawsuit filed by the University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective against the University of Miami, alleging “tortious interference” and illegal tampering in the recruitment of defensive back Xavier Lucas, has set a new precedent. This legal action, rather than an NCAA investigation, is a clear signal that schools are now willing to pursue justice in the courts when they feel their players have been illegally poached. While Illinois has not announced any similar legal action against Georgia, Bielema’s public comments can be seen as a form of pressure, a way to shame or call attention to what he perceives as unfair play.
- Kirby Smart’s Stance vs. Reality: Ironically, Kirby Smart has often been one of the more vocal critics of the NIL and transfer portal system, lamenting its “transactional” nature and the challenges it poses to player development and retention. He’s called for more regulation and transparency. However, his program’s unparalleled success in navigating this very landscape often leads to accusations of hypocrisy. The perception is that while he may dislike the rules, he’s mastering them better than anyone, even if it means operating in the grey areas of tampering.
For the Georgia Bulldogs, the accusation from Bret Bielema adds another layer to the mounting outrage their program is currently generating. Their astonishing 2026 recruiting class, coupled with their sustained on-field success, already has rival fanbases seething, accusing them of “stacking” talent to an unfair degree. The tampering charge, especially from a respected coach like Bielema, amplifies this resentment.
It fuels the narrative that Georgia isn’t just winning through superior coaching and development, but also through ethically questionable means in the recruiting and transfer portal game. While the Big Ten and SEC are not direct rivals in the same conference, the competitive nature of recruiting knows no geographic bounds. Every blue-chip recruit Georgia lands, every key transfer they acquire, is seen as a direct blow to another program.
This latest accusation, regardless of whether it results in formal NCAA action (which is unlikely given the current enforcement climate), deepens the well of animosity directed at the Bulldogs. It forces Kirby Smart and his program to continue operating under a microscope, with every quick commitment or high-profile transfer scrutinized for signs of pre-portal contact.
The world of college football, already struggling with its identity in the NIL and transfer portal era, finds itself in uncharted waters. Bret Bielema’s blunt assessment of the Josh McCray transfer is a stark reminder of the underlying tension and distrust that permeates the sport. While Georgia continues to dominate the talent acquisition game, the whispers of tampering are growing louder, threatening to tarnish the perception of their otherwise impeccable reign. The question remains: In this new, unregulated frontier, will such accusations become the norm, or will a major program finally face consequences that force a change in how talent is acquired? For now, the tampering turmoil continues, with the Georgia Bulldogs firmly in the crosshairs.
