The Ohio State football team has the top defense in the country. They lead the nation in almost every statistical category, thanks to new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. He has come in and kept a Buckeye defense that lost eight starters from a year ago elite.
Jim Knowles decided to leave the Ohio State Buckeyes in the offseason for rival Penn State. He became the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the country with that move. The Nittany Lions might be looking at a return policy with how poor the defense has been this year.
Knowles' defense has struggled to stop anyone. The Buckeyes carved up the Nittany Lions a week ago, and Indiana did so on Saturday on a game-winning drive. Ohio State fans couldn't contain their glee when seeing that Knowles' defense once again couldn't stand up to the pressure.
Ohio State football fans gleefully clown Jim Knowles for his defense failing again
After Penn State blew a lead on the final drive of the game, Ohio State fans couldn't keep from showing their happiness on social media.
Jim Knowles when asked to dial up a good defensive gameplan to seal the win pic.twitter.com/EefRQNL08e
— SILVER BULLETS R NATIONAL CHAMPS #LLDH7🕊️🥩#BIA (@StrappedByBIA) November 8, 2025
Jim Knowles asked to get a stop with 2 min left to win? pic.twitter.com/xCsCWl5mRR
— Brutus Wayne™ (@BuckeyeBat) November 8, 2025
Jim Knowles owes Day at least 75% of his salary for fooling everyone
— Mountain State Buckeye (@WVBuckeyee) November 8, 2025
The Buckeyes won a national championship last year in part because of what Knowles' defense was able to do. Still, they clearly are better without Knowles. Patricia has actually decided to explain why he's doing certain things with the scheme, which Knowles failed to do.
Players have loved Patricia from the moment he stepped on campus. The Buckeyes have been able to shut down every offense they have faced. The next elite offense they will face will be Indiana's, and that won't happen until the Big Ten Championship.
Ohio State will have its work cut out for it when it plays them in December. They will be happy to play that game without Knowles calling the defense. They are filled with the confidence that Patricia has instilled in them. Now, the Buckeyes feel they are going to win back-to-back championships.
It's laughable that Penn State fans actually thought they were stealing something great from the Buckeyes in the offseason.