Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith runs in for a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half of play in the 2025 CFP National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday, January 20, 2025. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com

In hiring Jim Knowles, Penn State followed the adage: If you can't beat them, turn them to your side. While everyone in college football is already talking about Penn State's new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, it's possible that not everyone is realizing how much his betrayal of Ohio State benefits his new club.

Knowles will make Penn State's defense one of the best in the country, but his addition might help the offense too.

Jim Knowles, Penn State's new defensive coordinator, brought his Penn State football history and some Philly ethos to his first meeting with the Nittany Lions. Knowles, whom Penn State hired away from Ohio State, introduced himself to the team this week, telling players and fellow coaches, "This is where I want to be."

Maybe it was mostly about showing him the money, but if Jim Knowles loved working at Ohio State, leaving for Penn State was a funny way of showing it.

Penn State introduced new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to the staff this week after prying him away from Ohio State. There appears to be much drama

Knowles would fill the void on Penn State’s staff left by Tom Allen, who accepted the same position with Clemson earlier this month.

Nobody would have blamed Penn State safety coach Anthony Poindexter if he had decided to leave Penn State for a shot to be a defensive coordinator with another program. After Penn State made a massive move to sign Jim Knowles to be the team’s defensive coordinator, Poindexter will reportedly be staying with the program as well.

Ohio State was on top of the college football world just days ago, celebrating a national title in Atlanta. The Buckeyes' defense was dominant all season, allowing just 12.9 points

Athletic director Joe Castiglione said Thursday the OU football program is in the midst of searching for a defensive coordinator, and general manager.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are fresh off winning the program's ninth national championship and have already turned their attention to defending their title in 2025. In the days following the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff Championship Game triumph,