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Ryan Day Explains Truth About His Relationship With Jim Knowles

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Oct 28, 2025 1:24 PM ET

Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes will welcome a familiar face back to Columbus when playing Jim Knowles and the Penn State Nittany Lions this weekend.

After winning a national title as Ohio State's defensive coordinator, Knowles left to take the same job at Penn State. The break-up has gone better for the top-ranked Buckeyes, who have played smothering defense under Matt Patricia entering Saturday's game. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions will attempt to snap a four-game losing streak.

Asked about Knowles before the Big Ten matchup, Day admitted on Tuesday that he hasn't spoken to his former staffer much since his exit.

"Like any relationship, when it breaks off, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad," Day said, per Chase Brown of Eleven Warriors. "But there really hasn't been much communication."

'It was abrupt'

Apr 26, 2025; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Jim Knowles walks on the field prior to the Blue White spring game at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn ImagesMatthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Ohio State allowed a nation-low 12.9 points per game under Knowles last season. Day probably had no desire to lose his star lieutenant, but Knowles took a three-year, $9.3 million deal that made him college football's highest-paid defensive coordinator.

The head coach didn't fixate too much on Knowles defecting to join a conference rival. He shifted his energy toward finding a new coordinator.

"He did a great job when he was here, helped us win a national championship," Day said of Knowles. "Kind of left it at that. Then it was, 'Hey, we gotta go make a replacement and move on from there.' Yeah, that's kind of how it is. It was abrupt, but we certainly respect the work he did when he was here."

Day isn't taking Penn State lightly

Most college football observers thought Ohio State and Penn State could be undefeated teams battling for the nation's No. 1 ranking when they collided. Instead, the Nittany Lions are unranked and playing under interim head coach Terry Smith following the firing of James Franklin.

Penn State's sudden free-fall has robbed the Big Ten matchup of some sizzle, but Day won't let his program overlook a dangerous opponent.

"I don't think there are many teams in the country that have more talent than Penn State has," Day said. "Sure, (the season) hasn't gone the way they wanted it to, but that doesn't change that they still have really good players. When you looked at this game a few months ago, it was an absolute matchup game. That has not changed."

Day cautioned that Ohio State must be on "high alert" against a team entering The Shoe with a "nothing-to-lose mentality." The game starts Saturday at noon ET on Fox.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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