Ryan Day is once again dealing with the consequences of success in college football after leading Ohio State to a national championship.

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The Ohio State Buckeyes surprisingly lost its defensive coordinator right after winning a national championship, with Penn State paying Knowles $3 million to leave Columbus. While Ryan Day likely made a strong pitch to keep Knowles in town,

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is finalizing a three-year deal to become the new defensive coordinator at Penn State, according to multiple reports.

After Michigan football ran, ran again, and ran some more against rival Ohio State in 2021, Ryan Day recognized that he needed to make something of a drastic change. Out was longtime OSU staffer Kerry Coombs as the defensive coordinator, and in was Oklahoma State DC Jim Knowles.

Jim Knowles is expected to take the same position at Penn State, as first reported by Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger. The two sides are finalizing a three-year deal reportedly worth $3.1 million per season, making him the first college football coordinator to earn an annual salary of at least $3 million.

Ohio State has made Jim Knowles a contract extension offer that would make him the highest-paid defensive coordinator.

Penn State football coach James Franklin announced the hiring of Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator Monday morning.

Knowles would join James Franklin's Penn State staff after three seasons at Ohio State, where he won a national championship.

Here are three potential options who could fill the Ohio State Buckeyes' defensive coordinator vacancy in 2025.

Penn State is nearing an agreement with Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to take the same position on the Nittany Lions coaching staff,