Jim Knowles's 2024 Ohio State defense had a few hiccups during the season, but ultimately finished as an elite unit. The Buckeyes allowed an FBS-best 12.9 points per game, surrendering more than 23 points just once on the season, and allowing opposing offenses to break 300 yards just three times. Ohio State finished the season ranked first in ESPN's SP+, a measure of team efficiency, en route to winning the College Football Playoff national championship.
With Ohio State, a program with as many resources as any other in the sport, coming off of a national championship, one would assume that the program wouldn't let its coordinators get away for anything less than an NFL opportunity or college head coaching job. And yet, Knowles will once again be coaching defenses in 2025... for the Buckeyes' Big Ten rival Penn State. Knowles's contract situation simmered under the surface during Ohio State's run to the national title, and the team's failure to present Knowles with a contract extension offer before the Jan. 20 championship game win over Notre Dame ultimately cost it an opportunity to keep him in the fold.
