The Buckeyes’ road to the National Championship was a dominant one, with Jim Knowles’s defense shutting down opponents. They held teams to under three touchdowns per game throughout the grueling four-game playoff run, while Will Howard and the explosive offense cruised to victory. The entire Buckeye Nation was buzzing after their historic win, with 30,000 fans celebrating at a massive rally. But amidst the euphoria, something felt off. Knowles wasn’t there! The DC was busy finalizing a deal with Penn State. Whether you call it smart or cold-blooded depends on perspective. For one OSU legend, it seems like loyalty took a backseat to the almighty dollar in this case.

“Jim Knowles has really brought this defense around to be a force,” former Buckeyes Matt Finkes said this about Jim Knowles just a day before the OSU Football clinched the championship. Averaging 254.6 yards per defense, Knowles’ defense was a fortress all season. And the former Buckeyes DE acknowledged this with full praise on the championship eve. “Jim has done a great job,” Matt added. But when Knowles finalized his contract with the PSU for a whopping $9 million and became the highest-paid coordinator in CFB history, Finkes did not hesitate to question Knowles’ loyalty.

Finkes recently revealed his thoughts on Jim Knowles’ departure from Ohio State in an X post. He boldly remarked, “This is a business, now more than ever. Coaches are always looking to do 2 things: survive &/or maximize opportunities. If Jim can get $10m over 3 at PSU, God bless. Loyalty comes in paycheck form for almost everyone in this game.” Not sure if money is the only factor at play here, but in the NIL era of college football, it’s undeniable that money matters. Well, certain coaches, like Nick Saban, are primarily driven by football, but not to forget, even he received a hefty salary from Alabama. Although there will always be disagreements, Knowles made a very significant contribution to Ohio State’s defense, and there’s no doubt about that!

By taking the Penn State DC job, Knowles gave a significant blow to Ohio State, dismantling a key part of their coaching staff. On the PSU side, with many important players returning, Knowles will now try to improve on an already formidable defense of Penn State Football, which finished sixth in total defense and 8th in scoring defense.

Following that, Matt added, “Thanks for the memories. On to the next one.” The OSU legend even made some bold talks, declaring, “Everyone is replaceable. Go Bucks!” Perhaps he is right. Perhaps money has the power to modify or purchase anything. And why not?

Top Comment by THE Buckeyes Crusher

To use a term often attributed to red states, “it is so rich that Jim Knowles is now being burned...more

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Debate

Knowles is anticipated to sign a 3-year contract with PSU that will pay him an average of $3.1 million annually, making him the highest-paid DC in CFB. It is thought that he was the first collegiate football coordinator to earn a base salary of a minimum of $3 million. And compared to what the 59-year-old was receiving from the OSU, it is almost $1M more. His basic pay increased to $2.2 million this past season from $1.9 million when he first joined OSU in 2022. If money is the only consideration in this case, is PSU’s current situation unfavorable to Knowles?

What’s Jim Knowles up to at Penn State?

Penn State returns a large core of its 2024 CFP squad and could be among the favorites for the national championship the following season, so the move is a major one for the Big 10. And Jim Knowles will have a few important people to collaborate with. Along with LB Tony Rojas and CB A.J. Harris, defensive linemen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant will be crucial. Moreover, PSU’s preseason confidence for 2025 will be rooted in the return of QB Drew Allar, running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and a potent offensive line.

It’s not just about the money for Jim Knowles at Penn State. Sure, the paycheck is nice, but he’s also joining a program on the rise. He’s taking over for Tom Allen, who just bolted for Clemson. But this isn’t Knowles’ first rodeo. He’s got a solid track record, having coached at Duke and Oklahoma State before this. He even served as head coach at Cornell for a while after a decent playing career there. It’s a pretty unique path. He basically climbed the ladder, starting his coaching journey at his alma mater back in the late 80s.

Since joining OSU in 2022, Knowles has produced his greatest work with a unit from the previous season. To be honest, the whole starting line and 8 other players from OSU’s 2024 defense are anticipated to be selected in the draft. Maybe it could also be a reason for the DC to leave. Meanwhile, the search for a new coordinator will continue at Ohio State!