When Penn State left the field after the 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9, James Franklin knew he had work to do.
Franklin, though, didn’t realize then that he’d be spending the next two weeks or so looking for a new defensive coordinator after Tom Allen left to take the same job at Clemson.
The search ended in stunning fashion when the Nittany Lions officially hired Jim Knowles away from nemesis Ohio State, which won the national championship last week.
The 59-year-old Knowles reportedly is signing a three-year contract worth more than $9 million, which makes him the highest-paid coordinator in the country.
His hiring, which became official Monday morning, is the clearest sign that Penn State and Franklin are all in for the 2025 season.
“He’s a strong strategist and excellent defensive mind,” Franklin said in a statement released by Penn State. “He reflects the core values our culture of excellence is built upon.”
The Lions will begin the season as bona fide national championship contenders following the retention of star players Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant and Zakee Wheatley and the addition of Knowles.
After lagging behind Ohio State, the gold standard in the Big Ten, in NIL money for several years, Penn State has ponied up with the support of big-time donors.
By adding Knowles, the Lions not only strengthened their coaching staff but also weakened the Buckeyes’ staff, at least for the time being.
“I have always had a ton of respect for Coach Franklin and the program he has built here,” Knowles said in a statement. “I look forward to working with this tremendous staff and group of student-athletes and am ready to get to work.”
A Philadelphia native and St. Joseph’s Prep grad, Knowles built an outstanding reputation as defensive coordinator at Duke, Oklahoma State and Ohio State, where he worked the last three seasons.
This season, he guided a defense that ranked first nationally in points allowed and total yards allowed and third in rushing and passing yards allowed.
He came under fire, however, after Ohio State’s 32-31 loss at Oregon in October, when the Buckeyes allowed the Ducks to gain 496 total yards.
When the teams met again in the Rose Bowl in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, Ohio State limited Oregon to 276 total yards, including minus-23 rushing yards, and registered eight sacks in a 41-21 rout.
The path to hiring Knowles began shortly after Penn State’s loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, a CFP semifinal.
Allen left after one season as the Lions defensive coordinator to take the same job at Clemson so that he and his wife could be closer to their two daughters and several grandchildren.
Allen’s decision surprised Franklin, according to sources, and came as Allar, Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Dennis-Sutton, Durant and Wheatley were deciding whether to stay at Penn State or move onto the NFL.
Franklin first targeted USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, a former Penn State defensive back who received a new contract to stay with the Trojans.
It seemed like the decision might come down to Lions co-defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter or Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.
That was until after Ohio State’s 34-23 win over Notre Dame last Monday for the national championship when it became clear that Knowles was planning to leave the Buckeyes.
With Poindexter receiving a new contract to stay at Penn State, a move that should not be overlooked, the Lions will have continuity with their impressive defensive staff.
Penn State still has work to do when it comes to personnel, especially at wide receiver and linebacker, but the Lions are poised to make a run at their first national title since 1986.
Just like Ryan Day and Ohio State did a year ago, Franklin and Penn State have moved all their chips to the middle of the table.
