As Franklin said before hiring Allen last year, Penn State's defense is not in rebuild mode. The program is about winning now, which the returns of Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki have foreshadowed. Franklin is chasing hardware next season, and the defensive coordinator hire will reflect that.

Defensive coordinator Tom Allen is leaving Penn State after one season to take the same job at Clemson, according to several reports Monday. Allen spent the previous seven seasons at Indiana as the Hoosiers head coach before he was fired after the 2023 season.

Two more blue blood programs are on the same field today as a historic college football postseason schedule kicks off the first of two semifinal games. Notre Da

Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter connected on a 41-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the fourth quarter, propelling the Fighting Irish past the Nittany Lions. The kick came six plays after Penn State quarterback Drew Allar threw an interception with 33 seconds left in the fourth frame, setting Notre Dame up at Penn State's 42-yard line.