Ohio State’s defensive coordinator is celebrating winning a national championship with a new contract — from one of their rivals.
After guiding the Buckeyes defense for three seasons, Jim Knowles is jumping ship to Penn State after the Nittany Lions offered him a three-year contract worth $3.1 million per season, according to ESPN.
The deal, per ESPN, makes Knowles the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football, and he’s believed to be the first college coordinator ever to make at least $3 million in base salary.
Ohio State did offer Knowles a contract that would’ve made him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the country — more than $2.5 million per year — but it apparently wasn’t enough.
Notre Dame, who lost to Ohio State in the championship game, and Oklahoma also showed interest in Knowles, according to the report.
Knowles, 59, reportedly had a base salary of $2.2 million during the championship season but earned close to $3 million due to bonuses.
Ohio State had the No. 1 defense in the country during the 2024-25 season, allowing the fewest yards per game (254.6) and fewest points per game (12.9).
The season prior, Ohio State was third in yards allowed per game (265.4) and second in points allowed (11.2).
Knowles was previously a defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State and Duke and was the head coach at Cornell from 2004-09.
The Buckeyes rebounded from losing to rival Michigan by defeating Tennessee, undefeated Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff.
Penn State, which lost to Ohio State by seven during the regular season, lost to Notre Dame in the CFP semifinals after defeating SMU and Boise State in the first two rounds.
Knowles replaces Tom Allen, the former Indiana head coach who left Penn State after one season for a lateral move to become Clemson’s defensive coordinator.
