The Ohio State Buckeyes are fresh off winning the program's ninth national championship and have already turned their attention to defending their title in 2025. In the days following the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff Championship Game triumph,

Here are three potential options who could fill the Ohio State Buckeyes' defensive coordinator vacancy in 2025.

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

Ohio State football asked former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to not show up to the Buckeyes championship celebration.

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

As Ohio State’s celebration tour for the school’s ninth national title continues, some of the Buckeyes’ key defensive players are grappling with the departure of their defensive coordinator. Jim Knowles decided to leave Columbus for Big Ten rival Penn State after three years at Ohio State,

Just as Ohio State was celebrating its national championship victory at Ohio Stadium on Sunday, news broke that Jim Knowles was heading to Penn State.

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.

Here’s a round-up of the latest news pertinent to Ohio State’s defensive coordinator search. Former Wisconsin defensive coordinator — and interim head coach (2022) — Jim Leonhard seems to be staying put in the NFL.

The Nittany Lions are the Hotline’s early favorite to win the Big Ten after stealing DC Jim Knowles from Ohio State.

Athletic director Joe Castiglione said Thursday the OU football program is in the midst of searching for a defensive coordinator, and general manager.