Jim Knowles negotiating Penn State buyout, expected to land at Tennessee
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Jim Knowles negotiating Penn State buyout, expected to land at Tennessee
John Leuzzi, USA TODAY NETWORK·USA TODAY Sports
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2 min read
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Jim Knowles, one of college football's top defensive coordinators, is reportedly on the move.
According to multiple reports, Knowles is "negotiating his buyout" atPenn Stateand is expected to fill the vacant defensive coordinator spot atTennessee. A deal with theVolunteersis not finalized yet, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Should Knowles land at Tennessee, he will replace Tim Banks, who wasfired by Vols coach Josh Heupelon Monday, Dec. 8 after five seasons with the Vols.
It's the second offseason that Knowles will be making a move, as he left defending College Football Playoff champion Ohio State for Penn State. Knowles had previously spent three seasons with theBuckeyes, and had one of the best defenses in the country in 2024. The Buckeyes' defense gave up an average of 18.8 points in the CFP last year en route to the national championship.
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Knowles was the highest-paid assistant coach in college football with an annual salary of roughly $3.1 million,according to the York Daily Record,part of the USA TODAY Network.
TheNittany Lionsdefense finished in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten in scoring defense (eighth, 21.4 points per game) and in total defense (ninth, 334.3 yards per game).
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (15) celebrates after the Indiana versus Ohio State Big Ten Championship football game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.
(Rich Janzaruk, Herald-Times via USA TODAY Network)
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates after the team’s win against Kentucky at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
(Mark Zaleski, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network)
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) looks to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 2025 Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 6, 2025, in Indianapolis.
(Aaron Doster, Imagn Images)
Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) runs against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Neyland Stadium on Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Randy Sartin, Imagn Images)
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) pulls back for the throw during an NCAA college football game against Tennessee on Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young, News Sentinel via USA TODAY Network)
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) runs for a first down during the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY Network)
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) rushes up the field Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, during the 100th annual Old Oaken Bucket game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette.
(Grace Hollars, IndyStar via USA TODAY Network)
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) rushes for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on Nov. 28, 2025, in West Lafayette, Indiana.
(Marc Lebryk, Imagn Images)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks loose for a touchdown run against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Caterina, Imagn Images)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates after scoring against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025.
(Michael Caterina, Imagn Images)
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) celebrates with fans after the game against the UCLA Bruins at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 15, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio.
(Joseph Maiorana, Imagn Images)
Jeremiyah Love #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish speaks to the media during the Notre Dame Fighting Irish media day at the Georgia World Congress Center prior to the 2025 CFP National Championship between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Jan. 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (15) celebrates after the Indiana versus Ohio State Big Ten Championship football game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.
(Rich Janzaruk, Herald-Times via USA TODAY Network)
1/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (15) celebrates after the Indiana versus Ohio State Big Ten Championship football game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.
(Rich Janzaruk, Herald-Times via USA TODAY Network)
2/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates after the team’s win against Kentucky at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
(Mark Zaleski, The Tennessean via USA TODAY Network)
3/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) looks to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers during the 2025 Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 6, 2025, in Indianapolis.
(Aaron Doster, Imagn Images)
4/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) runs against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Neyland Stadium on Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Randy Sartin, Imagn Images)
5/12
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Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) pulls back for the throw during an NCAA college football game against Tennessee on Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young, News Sentinel via USA TODAY Network)
6/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) runs for a first down during the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY Network)
7/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) rushes up the field Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, during the 100th annual Old Oaken Bucket game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette.
(Grace Hollars, IndyStar via USA TODAY Network)
8/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) rushes for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on Nov. 28, 2025, in West Lafayette, Indiana.
(Marc Lebryk, Imagn Images)
9/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks loose for a touchdown run against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Caterina, Imagn Images)
10/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates after scoring against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 22, 2025.
(Michael Caterina, Imagn Images)
11/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) celebrates with fans after the game against the UCLA Bruins at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 15, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio.
(Joseph Maiorana, Imagn Images)
12/12
See the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy in action
Jeremiyah Love #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish speaks to the media during the Notre Dame Fighting Irish media day at the Georgia World Congress Center prior to the 2025 CFP National Championship between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Jan. 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
