With success comes pillaging and the Ohio State football program is working to fend off the vultures of college football after winning the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship. There have been reports of tampering with OSU’s wide receivers and NIL money, and some serious noise surrounding teams trying to lure defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from the banks of the Olentangy.
Now, it appears as though Knowles may indeed be set to leave town and head over to Big Ten rival Penn State as its new defensive coordinator, and it’s not just one source, but multiple outlets reporting it. The seems to be in the final stages of negotiating a contract north of $3 million dollars. Knowles was already the third-highest paid defensive coordinator in the country with Ohio State, making $2.2 million a year and was in line for a significant bump to be the highest paid according to a report from the Columbus Dispatch.
The move is a curious one as Knowles is at the top of the defensive coordinator food chain in Columbus, but he is a Pennsylvania native. Reports were also afoot that he was entertaining offers from Oklahoma and Notre Dame.
Sources: Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is finalizing a three-year deal to become the new defensive coordinator at Penn State. It averages $3.1 million over three years. pic.twitter.com/fdI7ajMx4o
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 26, 2025
So, the first domino appear to have fallen with the staff unless Knowles has a change of heart, and it’ll be interesting to see who Ohio State targets for the next defensive coordinator.
Stay tuned as we try to read the Buckeye leaves on this one going forward.
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