Ohio State was handed a big task right after their National Championship win over Notre Dame. The Buckeyes were hit with the reality that DC Jim Knowles would not be sticking around any longer. Following the season,

However, Knowles wasn’t in attendance. About an hour later, reports surfaced that Knowles is leaving Ohio State to serve as Penn State’s next defensive coordinator. The move leaves Day searching for a replacement. Here’s who he might consider as he enters his seventh season as the Buckeyes' head coach.

Ryan Day is once again dealing with the consequences of success in college football after leading Ohio State to a national championship.

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

Penn State has hired Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator after he helped Ohio State win the national championship, according to multiple reports. The Buckeyes had hoped to keep the 59-year-old Knowles,

The Ohio State Buckeyes surprisingly lost its defensive coordinator right after winning a national championship, with Penn State paying Knowles $3 million to leave Columbus. While Ryan Day likely made a strong pitch to keep Knowles in town,