Tom Allen Explains Why Indiana Cancelled Louisville Series

Indiana has backed out of 2024 and 2025 football matchups against Louisville. After a 21-14 loss to Louisville on Saturday, Indiana coach Tom Allen cited Big Ten expansion as a primary reason.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Following the Hoosiers' 21-14 loss to Louisville on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, coach Tom Allen was asked about a hot-button topic around Indiana lately.

"What are your thoughts about the decision to cancel the rest of this series with Louisville?" Allen was asked.

"Well, I would just say that in the last six months, the Big Ten has changed a lot," Allen said. "And we've added four teams to this conference that has changed the landscape of the Big Ten, and I believe that we have to adjust accordingly. And to me, we have to do what's best for our football program."

Allen is referring to news that the Big Ten will add USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington at the start of the 2024 football season. In short, he knows Indiana's schedule is already difficult, and it's not getting much easier, if at all, any time soon. Keeping Louisville on the schedule would add to that difficulty.

Indiana's decision to cancel the Louisville series – which was supposed to include on-campus matchups in 2024 and 2025, in addition to Saturday's game at Lucas Oil Stadium – has received mixed reviews. Some fans of both schools accuse Indiana of acting cowardly or being afraid to play Louisville, while others have had a more measured response, recognizing potential benefits this can have to Indiana.

Back in August, I explained why it's smart for Indiana to cancel the series, despite fans' complaints. To read that column, CLICK HERE.

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