Clemson is expected to hire Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen to the same post for the Tigers, according to multiple reports Monday. ESPN reported a final decision is expected in the coming days, while CBS reported Allen has accepted the job.
Allen, 54, completed one season in Happy Valley, a year that saw the Nittany Lions finish among the top 10 nationally in yards per play, total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and takeaways en route to a College Football Playoff semifinal berth.
Prior to 2024, Allen spent seven seasons as the head coach at Indiana. His 2020 team finished second in the Big Ten and No. 12 in the AP poll.
Allen has never worked in the ACC or with Swinney, but he does have ties to Florida after serving as an assistant at multiple Sunshine State high schools and as South Florida's defensive coordinator in 2015.
Clemson won the ACC and returned to the Playoff for the first time since 2020, and will enter 2025 with expectations to repeat as conference champions and reach the CFP quarterfinals at a minimum.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.