After weeks of rumors that Oklahoma was pursuing Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, a report suggests that he’s going elsewhere.
Toby Rowland, voice of the Sooners and a News9/News on 6 contributor, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that reliable sources told him that Knowles is headed to Penn State, barring a “last-second” change of heart.
Rowland also reported that Knowles notified PSU coach James Franklin that he’ll accept the offer, which is said to be “well over” $3 million and would make him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football history.
Reliable sources confirm that barring last second change of heart, Jim Knowles is headed to Penn State. He has notified James Franklin that he’ll accept their offer of well over $3 million to be highest paid coordinator in college football history. Knowles is from Philly.
— Toby Rowland (@TRowOU) January 26, 2025
In his third season as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, Knowles led a Buckeyes defense that finished first nationally in total defense, allowing only 254.6 yards per game. The Buckeyes also placed first in scoring defense, surrendering just 12.9 points per contest.
OSU also finished No. 3 in rushing defense (87.6 yards per game) and No. 3 in passing defense (167 yards per game).
The Buckeyes, seeded No. 8 in the College Football Playoff, finished the 2024 season 14-2 and defeated Notre Dame in the National Championship Game on Monday. On their way to the title, they took down No. 9 Tennessee, No. 1 Oregon and No. 5 Texas before beating the Fighting Irish.
Ohio State shut out two opponents, Western Michigan and Purdue, and allowed only one score in games against Akron, Michigan State, Iowa and Northwestern.
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For weeks, various rumors swirled that Knowles would be interested in the Sooners’ defensive coordinator vacancy, as his fiancé reportedly lives in Oklahoma.
Knowles is also very familiar with the state.
He served as Oklahoma State’s defensive coordinator from 2018-2021, taking the Cowboys’ defense to new heights. Oklahoma State’s defense went from 112th overall and 97th in scoring in 2018 to 5th and 9th in 2021, his final year with the program.
It appears those rumors, to the dismay of Sooner fans, won’t come into fruition. OU is still on the hunt for its defensive coordinator after 2024 DC Zac Alley left for West Virginia in December.
OU also loses consensus All-American linebacker Danny Stutsman, All-SEC safety Billy Bowman, starting defensive end Ethan Downs and starting defensive tackle Da’Jon Terry.
Still, whoever takes over for Alley will inherit a defense with significant experience.
The Sooners bring back sacks leader and All-SEC defensive end R Mason Thomas, big-play defensive linemen Damonic Williams, Jayden Jackson and Gracen Halton, playmaking linebacker Kip Lewis, cornerbacks Eli Bowen and Gentry Williams, starting safeties Peyton Bowen and Robert Spears-Jennings and cheetah linebacker Kendal Dolby while also adding Florida State edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr. and Oklahoma State hybrid Kendal Daniels as well as returning 5-star defensive linemen P.J. Adebawore and David Stone.
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There are high expectations for Alabama freshman quarterback Keelon Russell. Those expectations will likely not come to fruition in 2025, his true freshman season, but the Crimson Tide has big hopes for the former five-star quarterback recruit. This season's starting quarterback in Tuscaloosa is likely to be redshirt junior Ty Simpson. After him on the depth chart would be redshirt sophomore Austin Mack, and then there's Russell. In a perfect world, Alabama wouldn't have to send Russell out onto the field in 2025, and instead, he could watch, learn, develop and take a redshirt season. That doesn't mean Russell hasn't already made jumps in his development, though. He was in Tuscaloosa for spring ball, and much like the other quarterbacks in the system, DeBoer said there has been development from spring to fall camp. As he gets more experience, he gets better, but right now, Alabama is doing things at a basic level offensively. "Keelon's reps continue to build up from what it was in the spring, when he was primarily with the 3s and 4s. But here early on, you're just installing and you're trying to give each quarterback, along with each other position and player, the reps of the install," DeBoer explained, according to Hunter De Silver of On Si. While DeBoer does think that all three of his quarterback options are coming along, it's worth noting that he did pay specific attention to Russell in his comments. He believes the former five-star may grow the most in confidence and competence this fall, but that's a natural thing when a freshman comes in and is "drinking from the firehose" of information. "Keelon is probably the one you're going to see the biggest jump naturally and I feel like that was good. He's making quick decisions and not sitting there thinking too much." If Russell is already comfortable with running the offense, there's a chance he'll see the field for the Crimson Tide sooner rather than later in his career. Russell was ranked as the No. 2 quarterback in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite, only behind Michigan freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers only officially joined the Pittsburgh Steelers shortly before their three-day mandatory minicamp in June and, thus, is still learning about his new teammates in the early days of training camp. Rodgers is also using summer practices as a way to introduce himself to members of the Steelers' defense. During a Wednesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," Steelers star pass-rusher T.J. Watt detailed what it's been like to go against a Rodgers-led offense on the practice field. "Frustrating, because he talks a lot of smack," Watt said about Rodgers, as shared by Eva Geitheim of Sports Illustrated. "He really does. A lot of the no-look passes are things that we're getting used to. I like to bat down a lot of passes at the line of scrimmage. He's able to manipulate the defense good, so that's been very frustrating. Hopefully, one day we get the better of him." Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently gushed over the arm talent Rodgers flashed during his first handful of training camp practices with the club. This past Tuesday, Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith mentioned that Rodgers' "release and how he generates power" is still "unbelievable" even though the future Hall of Famer will turn 42 years old this coming December. Multiple injury issues slowed Rodgers last fall when he was with the New York Jets. Current Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams was Rodgers' teammate last season and is convinced the veteran signal-caller can still be among the top half of the quarterbacks in the NFL if he's able to stay healthy through a grueling campaign. "His cadence is deadly," longtime Steelers defensive lineman and team captain Cameron Heyward added about Rodgers during the show segment. "The thing he does best is he knows how to abuse the play clock. It's ridiculous, but it's gonna make us better." It remains to be seen if Rodgers will take even a handful of snaps in Pittsburgh's preseason opener at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 9. History shows he could give Steelers fans a highlight-reel moment or two if he participates in that exhibition contest.
What’s more iconic than Cloud wielding a Buster Sword? How about Cloud rocking Erdrick’s Armor and wrecking Dragon Quest monsters all in one event? That’s right, Square Enix has decided to gift us mere mortals a crossover between Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis and Dragon Quest Tact. This limited event runs from July 30 to August 6, and if you’re not hyped yet, you might want to check your gaming pulse. But what does this actually mean for you? Well, buckle up, because this crossover is more than just a gimmick. It’s packed with so much fan service that even Sephiroth might need a break from brooding to join in on the fun. The Chaos, The Loot, The Slimeocalypse First off, Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is about to host King Slime and his slimy gang because, apparently, even pixels deserve to meet their heroes. Players get to battle these absurdly charming enemies and earn event-exclusive gear worthy of both franchises. We’re talking Cloud stepping into Erdrick’s Armor and wielding what is unquestionably one of the most epic swords in gaming. Aerith, not to be outdone, is gracefully handed the Supreme Sage Garb because, you know, killing enemies and looking fabulous is her thing. And don’t even get me started on Sephiroth taking a cosplay detour as Psaro. Imagine one iconic villain dressing up as another. It’s meta. It’s chaotic. It’s everything we didn’t know we needed. Players, Prepare for Nostalgia Overload The crossover also throws in daily free draws, a boatload of loot, and arguably, a reason to ditch any other mobile games cluttering up your screen time. There’s something inherently rewarding about collecting crossover goodies that scream, “I was there when Square Enix decided Cloud needed an RPG glow-up with Dragon Quest-style flair.” Some highlights from the event include: Daily Free Ten Pulls (Spoiler Alert: Prepare for gacha heartbreak… and joy). Crossover Missions loaded with rewards like Red XIII’s Great Sabrecat Collar (think of it as drip for your furry companion). Event Bonuses that range from refined Mythril piles to rare crossover wallpapers that scream, “Yeah, I’m that gamer.” And, oh yeah, login bonuses stacked higher than a stack of pancakes at a chocobo-catered brunch. Why This Crossover Actually Slaps If you’re rolling your eyes at the idea of yet another crossover event, it’s time for a quick reality check. This isn’t just a lazy cash-grab with recycled assets and buzzwords. It’s a love letter to fans of both games, blending two legendary worlds into an experience that’s as ridiculous as it is satisfying. Think of it like a bizarre but beautiful RPG fever dream where Dragon Quest monsters challenge Final Fantasy heroes, and the only loser is anyone who missed out. Plus, when was the last time you saw King Slime try to flex on Aerith? Exactly. Is this Peak Mobile Gaming? Now, will this event cure all your gaming ailments? Probably not. Will it load up your plate with so much nostalgia and fan-service-packed chaos that even your backlog of unplayed games might get jealous? Absolutely. Square Enix’s crossover brilliance usually lies in its ability to unite wildly different fandoms and generate hype that turns even the most casual gamer into a midnight-grinding, loot-obsessed fan. And if that’s not peak mobile gaming, what even is? Final Thoughts Events like these are why gaming history has a vault packed with “Hype Levels Overload” moments. Whether you’re here for the loot, the cross-franchise cosplays, or just some good old-fashioned Dragon Quest monster smashing with your favorite FF cast, this event delivers on every front. Hot tip? Set your alarms. Grab your popcorn. And pray that RNG is in your favor for those 10 pulls. Trust me, you’ll want bragging rights when someone asks why Cloud suddenly looks like he walked out of a Dragon Quest cutscene. Remember, this party only lasts for a week. Don’t sleep on it, because King Slime certainly won’t. Be sure to visit Total Apex Gaming for more game-related news and content.
The extraordinarily rare four-man quarterback competition unfolding in Cleveland is ongoing, but adjustments are being made. Kenny Pickett is out with a hamstring injury, giving Joe Flacco a wider runway to reacquire the job. While Pickett recovers, Kevin Stefanski said Flacco will take the bulk of the first-team reps, via ESPN.com’s Daniel Oyefusi. Flacco did not take as many offseason reps, but because of his 2023 Browns showing, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer indicates he received what amounted to a first-round bye in this battle ahead of training camp. Flacco proved he remained a capable starter during a serviceable but unremarkable Colts stint, but his elevating a battered Browns offense to a playoff berth in 2023 carries considerable weight. The Browns are obviously evaluating how a 40-year-old Flacco differs from his 38-year-old version, but with Pickett down, the 18th-year veteran has a chance to impress and start a season opener for the first time since filling in for Zach Wilson in 2022. This would be Flacco’s 14th time earning a Week 1 NFL start. As Flacco enjoys a strong opportunity to grab the reins, Shedeur Sanders does not look to have a chance at the Week 1 gig. Sanders entered the Browns’ offseason program “far behind” Flacco, Pickett and third-rounder Dillon Gabriel, Breer adds, and is trying to catch up. Sanders received extensive criticism for his strange approach to the pre-draft process, but beyond proving difficult in interviews with teams (as a recruiting-type mentality is believed to have taken place on the QB’s part), Sanders drew attention for being behind from a "football-knowhow standpoint," according to Breer. The two-year Colorado starter being as far behind as he was during predraft meetings surprised some, Breer adds, and he fell into fourth place during the Browns’ offseason workouts due in part to lagging on the football IQ front. To open camp, the first-team reps primarily went to Flacco and Pickett, with Gabriel taking the leftover work. Operating as an inverse option to Sanders thus far, Gabriel has impressed with his football IQ while presenting a less-than-ideal frame (at 5-foot-10) and skillset. The Browns plan to stop sending out two offensive units simultaneously, a tactic deployed due to the unique four-man QB battle, according to Stefanski. This transition will lead to fewer reps, further increasing Sanders’ degree of difficulty as a developmental option. As it stands, Sanders faces a “Super Bowl LI”-like uphill climb to win the job, Breer concludes, adding he has gained ground since workouts started. Although Sanders was a much-rumored first-round candidate, falling to fifth for myriad reasons made it unrealistic he would win the Browns’ Week 1 job. Fifth-round rookies are almost never in QB competitions in the first place, making this training camp more of a developmental stage for the second-generation pro. At the preseason’s conclusion, the Browns will need to decide if they want to carry four quarterbacks — a genuine possibility — on their 53-man roster. Gabriel looks close to a roster lock here, with Sanders the wild card. Pickett’s injury would open a door for the Browns regarding an IR move, as a way to retain both rookies, but it would seem unlikely the team would proceed that way with a player firmly in the mix for the Week 1 job. (The team is not planning to trade one of its rookie arms.) Sanders would need to pass through waivers to reach Cleveland’s practice squad, further complicating the situation. Jimmy Haslam also fielded a question about Arch Manning this week. While the owner cannot realistically comment on the Browns’ path to the soon-to-be Texas starter, he did voice a belief the QB will stay in school for the 2026 season (kicking the can to the 2027 draft), via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. Haslam mentioned his relationship with the Manning family in offering that prediction. Even if Manning is unlikely to declare for the 2026 draft, next year is projected to include a much deeper class compared to 2025. The Browns having two first-round picks seemingly came in preparation for that. For now, Gabriel and Sanders continue to make their cases about future duty while the Flacco-Pickett veteran matchup represents the far more likely decider for Week 1 this season.