Penn State fans starting to see why Tom Allen failed at Indiana

Tom Allen was a defensive-minded head coach at Indiana. Yet, his only two winning seasons came because of the efforts of his quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. Nobody knew it then, but Penix, who carried the Hoosiers to 8-5 in 2019 and 6-2 in 2020, with a win that still give Nittany Lions fans nightmares, ultimately became a first-round NFL draft. 

After a 3-9 season in 2023, Allen was fired as Indiana’s head coach and replaced by Curt Cignetti who is off to a hot start. Now, in Week 2 after Bowling Green’s electric offensive start and 24-20 halftime lead, Penn State fans are starting to see why Allen was let go in Bloomington. 

In 2023, his final year as a head coach, Allen’s Indiana defense ranked 106th in the country, allowing 423.5 yards a game. Allen’s defenses ranked outside the top 100 in 2023 and 2022 and were 71st in the country in 2021. During his tenure, Allen’s best defensive unit came in 2020 when the Hoosiers finished 41st. 

In the first half against Bowling Green, Penn State allowed 286 yards and the Falcons averaged 7.9 yards per play. Bowling Green’s star tight end Harold Fannin Jr. racked up 85 yards and a touchdown on five catches. 

Allen’s former starting quarterback at Indiana, sixth-year Connor Bazelak has started the game 13/15 for 167 yards and two scores. Not only is the Bowling Green passing game dominating the Penn State secondary, but the Falcons are controlling the game up front. 

Penn State’s new offense under Andy Kotelnicki has been exceptional, averaging 9.1 yards per play and putting up 20 first-half points, but it won’t be enough if Allen can’t figure out how to get a stop.