Indiana football fires head coach Tom Allen after seven seasons

After seven seasons in Bloomington, the Indiana football program is parting ways with head coach Tom Allen, a source confirmed to HoosierIllustrated.com. Zack Osterman of the IndyStar was first to confirm the news.

Allen’s buyout sits at just over $20 million, making it one of the highest buyouts at the college football level in its history. Before Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher received a record-buyout of $76 million, the highest buyout rewarded was Gus Malzahn at nearly $22 million.

At Indiana, Allen went 33-49 overall and 18-43 in Big Ten play. His 33 wins as Indiana football head coach is tied for fifth in program history.

Despite bringing the program to national relevancy in 2020 during the covid season, the past three years have been anything but. Indiana has gone just 3-24 in Big Ten games over the last three seasons, including two last-place finishes in the Big Ten over that time.

Indiana finished just 3-9 overall this season and was the only one-win team in conference play.

Allen was asked about his job security on Saturday following Indiana’s loss to Purdue, 35-31.

“You know, I get it, you’ve gotta win,” Allen said postgame when asked about his job security. “I understand the nature of college football. I understand that. I’ve been doing this a long, long time.  I don’t know anything more than anybody. I’m just gonna keep battling, scratching and clawing.  That’s out of my hands. It’s not up to me.”

Across the 2019 and 2020 seasons Indiana went 14-7. That included an 8-5 record in 2019 and an appearance in the Gator Bowl. In 2020 during a shortened season, Allen led Indiana to a 6-2 record and a loss in the Outback Bowl

Indiana has gone just 9-27 overall from 2021-2023.

Allen has won more than two games in Big Ten play in just two seasons.