Penn State has officially hired Jim Knowles away from Ohio State to be its next defensive coordinator. The news of the massive change broke Sunday and was officially announced by the university on Monday following a Board of Trustees committee meeting.

Nittany Lions coach James Franklin has said he wants to hire an expert in contracts and negotiations for the 'next generation' of college football.

James Franklin has picked up his first win over Ohio State since 2016. 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,

Penn State officially has its man at defensive coordinator. The Nittany Lions officially announced the hiring of Jim Knowles from Ohio State on Monday morning, completing the poaching of one of the nation's top defensive play callers.

The Nittany Lions reportedly made the former Ohio State assistant college football's highest-paid defensive coordinator.

Expectations fueled by this recently-completed season that ends with Penn State having its highest ranking in nearly 20 years. Franklin was one of 53 coaches in America who voted in the final poll.

With most of Penn State's talent returning, tight end-turned-college football analyst Adam Breneman is ecstatic to see whether his alma can again contend for a national championship next fall, making a bold claim about what Knowles' hire truly means.

Franklin and tight ends coach Ty Howle stopped in to see Nazareth 2026 four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone on Tuesday. Falzone is ranked by the 247Sports Composite as the nation’s 15th-best quarterback, while he’s visited Penn State twice thus far.

Penn State just made DC Jim Knowles the highest-paid coordinator in college football. With him now on the staff, James Franklin has no excuses left not to win a title.

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

Penn State made the hiring of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles official on Monday. Here's what each had to say about the move

Penn State's historic 2024-25 season comes to an official close with the final US LBM Coaches Poll. See how James Franklin voted.