The news comes as Ohio State was celebrating the team's national championship in Columbus. "Sources: Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is finalizing a three-year deal to become the new defensive coordinator at Penn State," ESPN's Pete Thamel detailed in a Sunday message on X. "It averages $3.1 million over three years."

Ohio State, the first team to run the gauntlet of four playoff games on its way to the national title, celebrated with 30,000 Buckeyes fans on Sunday at Ohio Stadium.