The Indiana Hoosiers are riding high. At 13-0, with their first Big Ten title since 1967 and a No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, this is uncharted territory for a program long defined by its underdog status. And for former head coach Tom Allen, who helped lay the foundation for this historic run, the moment is bittersweet-but mostly filled with pride.
Speaking ahead of the Pinstripe Bowl, where he’ll coach his new team, Allen reflected on the Hoosiers’ breakthrough season and the players he once recruited, coached, and developed. “Just so happy for the players,” Allen said. “Bunch of those guys are playing for them-one was the Big Ten Player of the Year on the offensive line, the kicker is doing extremely well, the receivers, bunch of linemen, DBs, one of their linebackers-just really, really happy for those guys.”
There’s real weight behind those words. Allen might no longer be on the Indiana sidelines, but the fingerprints of his tenure are all over this roster.
Left tackle Carter Smith, recently named the Big Ten’s top offensive lineman, headlines a 2022 recruiting class Allen brought in. That group also includes wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., linebacker Isaiah Jones, right guard Bray Lynch, and safety Louis Moore-all now key starters on a team that’s made program history.
Allen’s time in Bloomington ended after the 2023 season with a 33-49 overall record, including an 18-43 mark in Big Ten play. He led the Hoosiers to two bowl games in seven seasons.
While the on-field results were mixed, his impact on the program’s culture and recruiting pipeline is showing up in a big way now. Indiana paid Allen a negotiated $15.5 million buyout upon his departure.
But as Indiana celebrates its rise under new head coach Curt Cignetti, Allen also pointed to a shift in institutional support-something he believes is playing a major role in the team’s recent success.
“That’s something they know they needed to do,” Allen said. “Said that when I left-they had not done that in the past to the level that was necessary. It’s been awesome to see them recognize that and to see them be rewarded for that.”
Translation: Indiana is finally putting real resources behind its football program. And while Allen didn’t get to reap the benefits of that investment, he seems genuinely happy that the players-and the program-are thriving because of it.
It’s a complicated legacy, no doubt. Allen gave Indiana everything he had, and while his record won’t jump off the page, the seeds he planted are now bearing fruit in the most dramatic way possible.
The Hoosiers are heading into the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 team in the country. That’s not just a turnaround-it’s a transformation.
And Tom Allen, whether he's on the sideline or not, had a hand in it.