Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left the Buckeyes program in a surprising turn of events, accepting the same job with the Penn State Nittany Lions

Ohio State coach Ryan Day spent the weekend celebrating the program's ninth national championship, a crowning achievement for a group that had operated like one of the best teams in the country all year and then played some of its best football in the biggest moments with a challenging run through the College Football Playoff.

One of the most surprising coaching moves of the college football offseason was former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles heading to Penn State to serve in the same role for the Buckeyes' Big Ten rival. The Pennsylvania native had just helped lead Ohio State and the nation's top defense to a College Football Playoff national championship.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are college football national champions for the first time since the 2014-15 season after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23 in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday night. The Buckeyes survived a 4th quarter comeback attempt by the Irish late in the fourth quarter to claim the second consecutive national championship for the Big Ten Conference in as many seasons.

In hiring Jim Knowles, Penn State followed the adage: If you can't beat them, turn them to your side. While everyone in college football is already talking about Penn State's new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, it's possible that not everyone is realizing how much his betrayal of Ohio State benefits his new club.

In or out? A verdict on which of the College Football Playoff qualifiers will be back in the bracket next season.

Knowles will make Penn State's defense one of the best in the country, but his addition might help the offense too.

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar runs as Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, defensive tackle Ty Hamilton and defensive end JT Tuimoloau move in during the fourth quarter on Nov. 2, 2024. Joe Hermitt | [email protected] PennLive

When it comes to recruiting, James Franklin rarely takes a backseat. He proved that again Sunday when he lured Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, to Penn State. Of course, money helped.

By Neil Rudel [email protected] When it comes to recruiting, James Franklin rarely takes a backseat. He proved that again Sunday when he lured Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, to Penn State.

Knowles becomes James Franklin’s third defensive coordinator in four seasons. Manny Diaz left after the 2023 season to become the head coach at Duke following a two-year stint in Happy Valley. Allen was hired after a lengthy run as the head coach at Indiana and left after helping Penn State to the College Football Playoff semifinals.