Former Buckeyes coach Jim Knowles finds out his career fate for 2026 season

Just one year after winning a national championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes as defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, in the same role with Penn State, failed to recapture that magic with the Nittany Lions in 2025.

Penn State finished the season with a 6-6 record and barely made it to a bowl game. They also had their head coach, James Franklin, fired from the school after the team started the season 3-3.

With new head coach Matt Campbell taking over Penn State, he had some tough decisions to make with the coaching staff. His decision with Knowles was a bit easier, as Campbell decided to retain Knowles for the 2026 season.

Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is not being retained by Matt Campbell, sources tell @On3sports.

Former Ohio State and Oklahoma State defensive coordinator. https://t.co/bFtwfr9iif pic.twitter.com/pMtZsrH4pj
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) December 10, 2025

Shortly after news that Knowles would not return to Penn State, it was reported that he would instead be the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers. This will be the third defensive coordinator job in three years.

In 2025, Penn State's defense was ranked ninth in the Big Ten in total defense, allowing 334.3 yards per game. They were also sixth in the conference in pass defense (183.5), 13th in rush defense (150.8), and eighth in points allowed per game (21.4).

While Knowles was the defensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2024, he had much better success with that defensive unit. His defense was first in the conference in total defense (254.6), second in pass defense (167), second in rush defense (87.6), and first in points allowed per game (12.9).

The Buckeyes went on to win out with Knowles' departure last offseason, hiring Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator. That move has paid off big time with a historic season. Ohio State's defense this season is first in the nation in total defense (213.5), first in pas defense (129.1), sixth in run defense (84.5), and first in points allowed per game (8.2).

A big reason for that is that Patricia implemented a new pro-style defense at Ohio State that has produced outstanding performances—star players like Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Caden Curry have carried the Buckeyes throughout the season. Patricia has easily made all Buckeyes fans forget about what Knowles did last year during their national championship run.

Buckeyes fans can appreciate what Knowles was able to do, especially during the dominant College Football Playoff run during the 2024 season, but now that he's out of the Big Ten conference and no longer a problem for Ohio State.