Not long after the Ohio State Buckeyes won the natty, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles shocked everyone when it was reported that he was leaving Columbus. Not only that, he was making the move to Penn State to accept a $3.1 million deal per year to take over the Nittany Lions' defense.
Ohio State supporters were furious with Knowles. Joining a new program is one thing, but joining a hated Big Ten rival? Yeah, it left a sour taste in a lot of mouths. On Tuesday, ESPN came out with an exclusive interview with the veteran DC and it'd be an understatement to say even more people are pretty ticked off.
In the interview with ESPN's Heather Dinich, James Franklin confirmed that Knowles called him at 5:06 a.m. just two days after the Buckeyes took down Notre Dame. Knowles was working quickly. Not only that, but Knowles told Dinich that his Ohio State exit came down to money and the timing of the extension talks that failed to move at a rapid pace with the Buckeyes.
I had a candid interview with Jim Knowles recently about his move from Ohio State to Penn State … thanks to the Nittany Lions for the access and interviews … @PennStateFball @GoPSUsports https://t.co/9ikuSM9W8T
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) May 6, 2025
Jim Knowles threw Ohio State under the bus in his new interview with ESPN
"Season's over, everything coming to a head again quickly," Knowles told Dinich. "Ohio State hasn't come forward with a deal, and it's like, OK, if I'm going to act on this or at least explore it, I have got to make the call."
Knowles confirmed that he was asked not to attend Ohio State's title celebration, as he was mulling over his decision and offers. At that time, Knowles said he had an OSU offer on the table, but it wasn't as much as others he had in front of him.
"Maybe I'll take less because Ohio State's a great place," he told ESPN, "but then they asked me not to come to the parade. So then you're like, 'OK, honestly, the writing is on the wall.' Now it becomes something. It's always something on the outside world, but now it's become something here, too. I hadn't made any decisions, but you just kind of feel like -- I wouldn't say I'm not wanted here -- but you just feel like, OK, now it's gotten awkward."
Shortly after the parade, the news broke that Knowles indeed was going to be Penn State-bound. Head man Ryan Day then had to look for a replacement, going with Matt Patricia, who is set to make $2.5 million with the Buckeyes next campaign.
Knowles said there was 'finger pointing' following the heartbreaking loss to Oregon in October and that the fourth-straight loss to Michigan was one that really impacted the locker room. While that's not why he left, it certainly turned his head.
Both Day and OSU AD Ross Bjork declined to comment for this ESPN piece, but you've got to imagine they're pretty ticked off after reading it. If anything, Knowles has given Ohio State even more motivation to take down Penn State this fall. Ohio State fans are not happy with him and it's pretty dang easy to see why.