However, Knowles wasn’t in attendance. About an hour later, reports surfaced that Knowles is leaving Ohio State to serve as Penn State’s next defensive coordinator. The move leaves Day searching for a replacement. Here’s who he might consider as he enters his seventh season as the Buckeyes' head coach.

The departure of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles adds a challenge for Ohio State, which was already dealing with heavy roster turnover on defense.

Without defensive coordinator Jim Knowles in attendance on a day sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel he was finalizing a deal to join Penn State, Ohio State celebrated its national championship with 30,000 Buckeyes fans on Sunday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

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

According to The Action Network's Brett McMurphy, Knowles was asked by school not to attend Buckeyes’ national title celebration while he deliberated his coaching options. Not long after the rally concluded, it was announced that Knowles was signing a contract to become the next DC for the Penn State Nittany Lions, a major Big Ten rival.

Penn State has hired Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator after he helped Ohio State win the national championship, according to multiple reports. The Buckeyes had hoped to keep the 59-year-old Knowles,

Ohio State was handed a big task right after their National Championship win over Notre Dame. The Buckeyes were hit with the reality that DC Jim Knowles would not be sticking around any longer. Following the season,