Knowles, the architect of Ohio State’s top-ranked defense that played a huge role in the Buckeyes’ 2024 national championship run, attended St. Joseph’s Prep. He succeeds Tom Allen, who left James Franklin’s Penn State program after one season to take the Clemson DC job.

Penn State poached Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles over the weekend. While Ryan Day and the Buckeyes were busy celebrating their first national title in 10 years with a party at Ohio Stadium, Knowles was putting pen to paper and signing a contract with Penn State that'll see him making more than $3 million annually.

The go-big hire of Ohio State's Jim Knowles signals a shift for Penn State football: Why it means so much now and later