Ohio State’s Title-Winning DC Reveals ‘Awkward’ Situation Led Him to Penn State
Despite guiding Ohio State’s defense to a national championship in 2024, Jim Knowles is set to leave the Buckeyes for a new role at Penn State.
While Ohio State’s defense was among the best in the nation—allowing just 12.9 points per game and dominating throughout the season—Knowles’s contract situation remained a point of tension. The Buckeyes’ failure to offer him an extension before their national championship win on January 20 ultimately led him to explore other options.
Knowles admitted in an interview with ESPN that if Ohio State had made him an offer prior to the championship game, he would have stayed in Columbus and not considered leaving. However, the program didn’t extend an offer until after the title win, and when it finally came, it was for less money than what Penn State offered.
As Knowles weighed his options, defensive coordinator jobs at other major programs like Oklahoma and Notre Dame added pressure to the situation. To make matters more uncomfortable, Ohio State requested that Knowles not attend the team’s national championship parade—something he agreed to, but which he acknowledged contributed to the growing awkwardness.
“Maybe I’d have stayed for less, because Ohio State’s a great place, but then they asked me not to come to the parade,” Knowles explained. “So, at that point, it kind of felt like the writing was on the wall. It became clear that this wasn’t just an outside issue anymore—it was something internal. I didn’t want to say I wasn’t wanted, but it definitely felt awkward.”
This uncomfortable dynamic, along with Knowles’s roots as a Philadelphia native and lifelong Penn State fan, played a role in his eventual decision to leave for Happy Valley. Now, he’ll be on the opposite sideline, preparing to face off against the Buckeyes and coach Ryan Day on November 1, when Penn State takes on Ohio State at Ohio Stadium.
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