It’s difficult to explain what makes CFB tick and what makes it thrive. If you were to tell the latest revelation out of a certain blueblood program to a non-CFB fan, they’d probably think you’re joking.

Professionalism is a key facet of this amateur sport. With the influx of money over recent years, it’s more binding than ever. College Football is not a part-time gig anymore. Players and coaches are making real money. So try imagining this rather unfathomable scenario. You’re one of the top 3 highest-paid defensive coordinators in the sport. You’re with a perennial contender, a program synonymous with success. In your late 50s as well, so comfort and job security perhaps take precedence over ambition. Do you leave? Turns out, you may have no option. Since your fiancee seemingly doesn’t rock with the place. Kid you not; this is actually transpiring down in Columbus.

Ohio State Buckeyes’ DC Jim Knowles could be on the move. This development leading up to the Natty is not what Ryan Day and the program needed. But the rationale behind it is even more excruciating or romantic, depending on your rooting interest. The team he’s being earmarked for is the Oklahoma Sooners. According to Jon Rhoades of “The Big Ten Huddle Podcast”, this is because Knowles’ fiancee hails from the area. He leveraged what he’s garnered from OU “message boards”. “We are about to get as College Football as College Football gets here,” he prefaced it aptly…

“The rumors stem from Jim Knowles recently getting engaged,” said Rhoades. “[Jim Knowles’] soon-to-be fiance is unwilling to move to Ohio and wants to stay in Oklahoma. So now Jim Knowles is going to take the defensive coordinator position at Oklahoma, so that way he can be with his fiance again.” that’s cute, Jim, but you’re literally at Ohio State making $2.2 mil a season. To be fair, Jon Rhoades also pointed to other factors that could play a part. Remember, Knowles was the D-Coordinator at Oklahoma State before coming to Columbus as well.

“Obviously, there’s other stuff there as well. With Brent Venables, and the mastermind he is on defense. The opportunity to work with him,” he said. Brent Venables’ tenure at OU hasn’t been underwhelming, to say the least. This could be a huge coup for the Sooners and their attempts to return to the upper echelons of the sport, where they belong. Oklahoma is a behemoth program in its own right, but it is far from Ohio State at this current juncture. Jim Knowles could be rewriting the transcripts of what people do for love with this one. Let’s suspend convention and disbelief, and actually consider this being based in truth. What could Jim Knowles do to sway his fiancee? Maybe explain to her the magnitude of what he’d be turning down…

Jim Knowles stuck between a rock and a (heart) place ahead of the biggest game of his career

The National Championship game remains yet to be played. However, it’s not far-fetched to suggest Ohio State is the best team in the country. Not to take anything away from Notre Dame whatsoever, their traversal to this point has been pretty impressive, too. Albeit not quite as dominant. The Buckeyes are a juggernaut in every sense of the word. The fact that they’re almost 10-point favorites in the Natty is evidence of this hypothesis. Jim Knowles’ own contribution has been a massive proponent. He’s got a very enticing prospect due next season, too.

Arguably, the best player on the OSU defense, Caleb Downs, is still a sophomore. The lockdown safety will be back next season. Coaching and developing the talent of Caleb’s ilk is what CFB coaches strive for. Knowles has come this far already, will he want to hand his proverbial project over to a new guy to take the plaudits? Oklahoma sure doesn’t have a player of this caliber just yet. If the consensus seems to think Steve Sarkisian won’t leave Texas and Arch Manning, the same school of thought does translate to this scenario, too.

If the rumors are true, Jim Knowles is in a massive conundrum. Head or heart, career or love? Maybe that’s an overstatement. The OU Sooners aren’t that much of a downgrade. It is one though, at least short-term. Knowles will have to factor that in. Whatever he chooses to do, he’s got his hands full with the Natty. An upset to Notre Dame, in tandem with the nature of this revelation, will manifest a wrath from the Buckeyes’ faithful that no amount of love in the world could quell.