Over the last two games, former Ohio State football defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is learning that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Last week, Knowles and Penn State suffered a deflating home loss to Dan Lanning and Oregon.
Then this week, the Nittany Lions were expected to CRUISE to a win against winless UCLA, as things have been a disaster for Nico Iamaleava and Co. this season. However, Knowles and his defense simply could not stop the former 5-star quarterback on Saturday.
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In absolutely stunning fashion, UCLA took down No. 7 Penn State 42-37 in Pasadena. Iamaleava looked like the kind of QB who helped Tennessee get to the College Football Playoff last campaign, throwing for two scores and adding three more on the ground. UCLA, with an interim head coach and new OC after firing Tino Sunseri earlier in the week, took Knowles and Co. to school.
Jim Knowles keeps learning the grass isn't always greener after leaving Ohio State
Jerry Neuheisel took over as UCLA's play-caller and he mixed things up in a way that Knowles was not ready for. How on earth can you give up 42 points to a team that had combined for 57 total points in its previous four games, which were all losses? Because of that defensive implosion, Knowles indeed is getting destroyed online, with people letting him have it:
Jim Knowles is getting dog walked by a guy in his first game calling plays who looks like this.
— Kevin Horne (@KevinHornePSU) October 4, 2025
Even elite coordinators turn to mush the moment they step into the building. pic.twitter.com/3aXZ542uDL
- Matt Patricia’s defense has allowed just 22 points all year
— Swish (@swishxvibes) October 4, 2025
- Jim Knowles defense has given up 42 points to UCLA alone #LevelsToThisShit pic.twitter.com/QXRsjRNGsa
Thank you Jim Knowles,
— The Scarlet and Gray Podcast (@TheSG_Podcast) October 4, 2025
Sincerely,
- Buckeye Nation
You scored 37 points and lost.
— Papa G (@papa_gardner11) October 4, 2025
To UCLA.
Leave the entire defense and Jim Knowles in California.
James Franklin pays Jim Knowles THREE MILLION DOLLARS a year to allow winless UCLA to hang 42 points on them
— mark froling (@mark_froling) October 4, 2025
James Franklin had Jim Knowles speak to his defense this week about how OSU lost 2 games last year and still won the natty.
— Dan Divjak (@IceShark8) October 4, 2025
The defense huddled up and said “let’s get that 2nd one out of the way now”.
The worst part of the loss is that Jim Knowles, a brilliant defensive coordinator, never seemed to adjust to a running QB. Infuriating to watch Nico run over and over with no answer to that.
— Tommy Lawlor (@lawlornfl) October 4, 2025
Pretty sure Penn State didn’t make Jim Knowles the richest coordinator in CFB to be 40-pieced by arguably the worst team in the Big Ten. I mean, how do you even begin to explain this?
— Seth Engle (@bigsengtweets) October 4, 2025
Another week of jim Knowles defense giving up 450 in yards.
— Marcus (@Whysomad89) October 4, 2025
There are plenty more posts just like those getting fired up. Knowles had it made in the shade with Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes win the natty last year. However, issues with his contract led to some issues behind closed doors and he ended up signing a new deal with Penn State.
He bailed on Ohio State, which led to the Buckeyes bringing in Matt Patricia. That defensive coordinator switch is working out pretty well for Ohio State, but Knowles sure must be missing Columbus right now. Hey, that's his own fault, as he made the decision to chase a bag with a Big Ten rival. Meanwhile, things are going perfectly for Ohio State and Patricia continues to silence people who doubted his hiring in the first place.