Tom Allen won’t return for eighth season as Indiana coach after slumping record

Tom Allen spent four seasons steadily taking Indiana up the Big Ten ladder, but three consecutive losing seasons and a three-year conference record of 3-24 cost Allen his dream job Sunday, when the two sides reached a financial settlement to part ways.

Allen had four years remaining on a contract he received in 2021 and was owed $20.8 million. But the athletic department said Allen agreed to take two payments worth $7.75 million, all of which will come from donor funds. It’s the biggest buyout ever paid by a Big Ten school, surpassing the $15 million Scott Frost received from Nebraska last year.

Allen’s successes and failures in Indiana mirrored the way college football has changed. Before name, image and likeness deals and building through the transfer portal became the norm, Allen posted a 24-25 mark and coached in three bowl games.

Since then, starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. reunited with his former offensive coordinator at Washington following the 2020 season, and Indiana had three successive losing seasons. But going just 9-27 overall and 3-24 in league play was only part of Indiana’s problem. Shrinking crowds, intensifying criticism and a desire among some administrators and boosters not to embrace college sports’ new era created a disadvantage for the Hoosiers on the recruiting trail.

UTEP: Fired coach Dana Dimel a day after the end of a fifth losing season in six years.

NEW MEXICO: Fired coach Danny Gonzales. The Lobos were 11-32 under Gonzales and ended this season 4-8.