Ohio State making big offer in attempt to keep defensive coordinator Jim Knowles

Ohio State has made defensive coordinator Jim Knowles an offer that would make him the highest paid DC in the country, a source told On3 Saturday. But Knowles is weighing other options.

Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Penn State all need defensive coordinators. Given the resources at the schools currently seeking a coordinator, it seems likely that no matter what Knowles does, he’ll wind up with the richest deal ever seen for a college DC.

LSU’s Blake Baker led all DCs in 2024 at $2.5 million a year. Michigan coordinator Wink Martindale’s deal escalates to $2.5 million a year in 2025. Knowles currently makes $2.2 million a year at Ohio State.

Knowles just helped Ohio State win a national title with a defense that ranked first in the nation with only 4.19 yards per play allowed. That number climbed in every year Knowles has worked at Ohio State. The Buckeyes were No. 43 in the nation in 2021 (when Knowles’ Oklahoma State defense was No. 5). After Knowles joined in 2022, Ohio State’s rank rose to No. 37, then No. 3, then No. 1.

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