In a shocking turn of events, Jim Knowles, Ohio State’s Defensive Coordinator, has accepted the same position at Big Ten rival Penn State. The Pennsylvania native, who has been at Ohio State for the past three seasons, leaves after helping craft one of the best defenses in school history. Knowles’ defensive units have shown marked improvement throughout his career.
Photo Cred: Cleveland
Before joining Ohio State, he served as the Defensive Coordinator at Oklahoma State for four seasons. In his final year there, Oklahoma State boasted a top ten defense nationally, leading the country in sacks, which ultimately led to his hiring by Ohio State. At the time, the Buckeyes’ defense ranked outside the top 35. In his first season with Ohio State, Knowles made an immediate impact, turning the defense into the 24th-best unit in the country. By the 2023 season, Ohio State’s defense ranked 2nd nationally in scoring, and in 2024, they finished as the No. 1 defense in the nation.
That year, they also claimed the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship. Over a four-game stretch in the playoffs, the Buckeyes’ defense dominated: they recorded 18 sacks, 35 tackles for loss, and allowed just over 18 points per game against the 7th, 1st, 3rd, and 5th-ranked teams in the country. Remarkably, Ohio State trailed for only 6 minutes of game time during this stretch. Knowles’ success has made him one of the most sought-after defensive minds in college football.
Despite already being a top-ten paid assistant coach, Ohio State was willing to make him the highest-paid coordinator in the country in hopes of keeping him after his contract expired following the 2024 season. But with eight defensive starters, including the entire defensive line, set to leave for the NFL, Knowles’ departure became inevitable. Penn State, on the other hand, returns several key players and sees Knowles as a major upgrade.
His track record, which includes guiding Ohio State to a National Championship, makes him an ideal fit for a program that reached the College Football Playoff quarterfinals for the first time last season. Under the terms of his new contract, Knowles will earn an average of $3.1 million per year, making him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football. Now, Ohio State finds itself searching for a new defensive coordinator, with the challenge of replacing eight starters.
Photo Cred: USA Today
While the Buckeyes have a wealth of talent ready to step into starting roles, the timing is not ideal, as Ohio State’s season just ended while other programs have already been making changes. Additionally, rumors have surfaced that Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly may be considering an NFL job. If both coordinators depart, Ohio State will have a lot of work ahead as they look to repeat as National Champions next season.
