Indiana State University has announced that former Sycamore running back Vincent Allen will have his No. 26 jersey retired by the university in a pregame ceremony prior to the Indiana State University-Eastern Illinois University football game at Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute on Sept. 6. Allen will be the first Indiana State football player to have his jersey number retired.
Allen, a 1973 Richmond High School graduate, gained over 1,000 rushing yards in each of his four seasons at ISU from 1973-1977. Allen finished his collegiate career with a school record of 832 carries for 4,335 yards. He holds the school record for most 100-yard career rushing games with 26, most consecutive 100-yard rushing games with 14, and most career touchdowns with 33.
Allen was a four-time All-American selection, including earning 1975 Associated Press Little First Team All-American and 1976 Football Coaches Association First Team honors. He was also named to the 1974 AP All-American Second Team and the 1973 AP All-American Honorable mention squad.
At the completion of his collegiate career, Allen was one of only four NCAA Division runners at the time to ever record four 1,000 rushing seasons, joining Tony Dorsett on the elite list. When Allen earned Second-Team All-American honors in 1974, the First-Team All-American running back was Walter Payton.
Allen was inducted into the Indiana State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998, the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and has been on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot since 2025.
A version of this article appeared in the August 20 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.