As Ohio State prepared for a national championship last week, speculation bubbled just beneath the surface that the Buckeyes would have a fight on their hands to keep renowned defensive coordinator Jim Knowles once the season ended.
The season's now over, and that fight has turned into a full-on brawl.
Asked Saturday about rumors connecting him to the defensive coordinator opening at Oklahoma, Knowles was suspiciously non-committal.
“Beat Notre Dame, that's all I'm focused on," he said at the time. "These things happen, I guess, when you have success, players are making plays. My job is to put them in the best position. These things come up when you do well.”
Now days removed from a title game victory, sources tell FootballScoop that Knowles has multiple national powers after his services.
Oklahoma has maintained quiet confidence about its chances to hire the architect of the nation's top total, yards per play and scoring defense. Industry sources told FootballScoop that the Sooners are prepared to offer up to $3 million a year. Meanwhile, multiple sources told FootballScoop that Penn State has offered Knowles a package totaling $3.2 million a year. Notre Dame has shown interest after losing Al Golden to the NFL, sources told FootballScoop.
Needless to say, all three historic powers are highly motivated. Notre Dame, obviously, finished 12 points shy of winning a national title. Penn State reached its first CFP semifinal this season, and has garnered chatter as the preseason No. 1 in multiple way-too-early polls released throughout the week. Oklahoma is willing to overspend, lest pay the cost of purchasing a brand new coaching staff and roster after the 2025 season.
"At about 3 p.m. today," one industry source told FootballScoop, "he had (Ryan) Day, (James) Franklin, (Brent) Venables and (Marcus) Freeman pissed off at him."
And then there is Ohio State. As of Thursday morning, sources told FootballScoop that Ohio State was aware Knowles would field offers, but the newly-crowned champs were confident they would keep him. That confidence remains as of this writing.
Knowles has been with the Buckeyes since 2022, and he's under contract through 2026 at $2.2 million a year, the most among Day's assistants. It would cost approximately $1.2 million -- 30 percent of the remaining contract -- to get Knowles out of that pact, per a portion of Knowles’s contract that FootballScoop reviewed.
However, one has to wonder if the events of this week have created room for hurt feelings and bruised egos to emerge. Ohio State could begin to wonder why it's having to fight so hard to keep Knowles in the first place, after providing him the resources that put him in this position. Ohio State would be really good with Knowles back in 2025; Ohio State would be really good with a different defensive coordinator in 2025, too.
And, as a national champ with multiple suitors at his door, Knowles can now afford to be picky.
Knowles, 59, is also engaged, and such a major life move could trigger a change in priorities. His fiancée, per numerous sources, lives in Oklahoma.
Now at the center of a full-blown market for his services, the ball is in Knowles's court. And the court is covered in green.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.