Report: Ohio State Asked Jim Knowles Not to Attend CFP Celebration amid PSU DC Talks

Ohio State asked defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to skip the team's College Football Playoff national championship celebration while he considered a move before joining Penn State, according to Brett McMurphy of Action Network.

Per McMurphy, Knowles' representatives tried to reach a deal for him to remain with Ohio State but the school's offer fell "well below" the competition before he ultimately signed a three-year, $9.3 million contract with the Buckeyes' Big Ten rival.

Penn State officially announced him as the team's new defensive coordinator on Monday.

Knowles' reported deal with the Nittany Lions has an average value of $3.1 million while his annual base salary with Ohio State was worth $2.2 million, via Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch.

Per Rabinowitz, the Buckeyes previously offered him an extension that would have made him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football before he joined Penn State.

ESPN's Pete Thamel noted that Knowles is believed to be the first coordinator in college football to earn a base salary over $3 million.

He'll be replacing Tom Allen, who left the Nittany Lions to join Clemson in the same role at the end of the 2024 season.

While Knowles may not have been included in Ohio State's national title celebration, he was still an important part of the team's stellar 2024 campaign.

The Buckeyes allowed just 12.9 points and 254.6 yards per game during the season, with both representing the best marks in the country. Knowles' unit also stepped up during Ohio State's CFP run, giving up a mere 18.8 points across four playoff contests.

Now, he'll be joining a Penn State squad that ranked No. 8 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten by allowing 16.5 points per game. It's worth noting that the Nittany Lions will be losing a major piece of their defense in 2025, as standout pass-rusher Abdul Carter declared for the 2025 NFL draft on Jan. 10.

While Knowles mulled his decision before choosing to take Penn State's offer, Ohio State reportedly requested that he abstain from showing up to the school's championship ceremony.