Less than a week after their national championship victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Ohio State Buckeyes football program was shocked as Penn State rocked. OSU lost their “defense elevator” to James Franklin, who swooped in and poached a key piece straight from their conference rivals. For years, Penn State has been knocking on the door of the elite, only to have Ohio State and Michigan slam it shut. But now, with a million dollar power move, he flipped the script, making himself heard loud and clear. And just in case Buckeye fans weren’t already fuming, Franklin’s $10M jackpot twisted the knife on his way out—rocking a cap with a not-so-subtle jab.

It feels so strange watching DC Jim Knowles in blue and white. A proven architect of elite defenses, he transformed Ohio State’s unit into the most dominant force last season, holding opponents to a suffocating 12.9 points and 254.6 yards per game. That’s the kind of stingy production Penn State has long prided itself on but never quite perfected. Happy Valley, now truly happy, heard his first words explaining his vision for Penn State’s defense to dominate the CFB!

In an interview with State Media, Jim Knowles discussed everything from structured teaching methods to mastering situational awareness. “Coach Franklin has created a real defensive culture here,” Knowles said in his first interview since the hire. “When you look at it with how successful they’ve been on defense, despite going through some different coordinators, that comes from the head coach and some really quality assistants.” He made a point to name-drop Terry Smith, Deion Barnes, and Dan Connor—coaches who’ve played crucial roles in Penn State’s defensive success—but Knowles is here to add the missing piece. “Hopefully, I can just bring that different perspective that helps.”

Different is an understatement. Knowles’ system thrives on calculated chaos, disguising pressures, and shifting pre-snap looks in ways that leave quarterbacks second-guessing. James Franklin has built a program that flirts with greatness, producing top-tier defenses despite a revolving door at coordinator. But it lacked the final push.

Being a North Philly guy with the hottest recruiting beds pumping out talent, he surely would be having contacts. When asked what message he’s sending to these blue-chip defenders to lure them in, Knowles didn’t mince words. “We’re telling them that we’re going to be the number one defense and we’re going to win a National Championship,” he said. “You’re going to learn about situations and big-picture defense. We’re going to have enough change-ups and teachings where you’re going to have the opportunity to elevate your game from a knowledge perspective.” Having just helped Ohio State win its ninth national title with the nation’s top-ranked defense, he now aims to help Penn State achieve its third.

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What makes this even more fascinating is the backdrop of his departure from Columbus. His exit came amid internal friction within Ryan Day’s camp. That friction, though, is Penn State’s gain. Franklin now has a proven winner on his staff. It will be an ugly face-off on November 1 in the Horseshoe when he returns. If he dares to wear this particular attire, things could get heated.

James Franklin’s $3M/yr investment comes with 3 words of shade

On the surface, Jim Knowles’ move from Ohio State to Penn State might look like a lateral switch. But when you’re getting a massive pay bump to over $3 million a year, that’s a whole different ballgame. Knowles is now one of the highest-paid coordinators in college football, and he seems to be embracing his new home in Happy Valley with enthusiasm.

How enthusiastic, you ask? Well, a picture surfaced on Thursday of Knowles decked out in Penn State gear, rocking a hat that bluntly stated: “Ohio State S–ks.” Yeah… that’ll stir the pot.

It’s no secret that Knowles’ departure wasn’t exactly smooth. Ohio State reportedly asked him not to participate in their national championship parade since it was clear he was heading to Penn State. That awkward breakup left plenty of Buckeye fans feeling sour—and this latest stunt? Let’s just say Knowles isn’t trying to mend any fences.