COLUMBUS, Ohio; Ohio State celebrated its national championship victory in front of 30,000 fans at Ohio Stadium on Sunday, marking a historic achievement as the first team to win the College Football Playoff with a 12-team format. The celebration, however, was tinged with change as defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was notably absent.
Coach Ryan Day praised Knowles at the podium, calling him the defensive coordinator of the best defense in the country that was completely dominant in the playoff. Sources confirmed that Knowles was finalizing a deal to become Penn Statenew defensive coordinator, prompting immediate attention to the future of Ohio Statecoaching staff.
The celebration, however, was still filled with excitement as Day emphasized the importance of team effort in achieving the national title. Despite the absence of several key players, including 13 starters who are out of eligibility and others declaring for the NFL Draft, fans braved 30-degree temperatures to honor the team remarkable run. Ohio State dominant playoff performance saw the team trailing for only 6 minutes across four games, defeating top-tier opponents like Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame.
Ohio State national title victory came a decade after they became the first team to win the inaugural four-team College Football Playoff. The team unwavering resilience, including bouncing back from a loss to Michigan in the regular season, was celebrated by players like defensive end Jack Sawyer. Sawyer, known for his crucial scoop-and-score against Texas, spoke about the team embodiment of Ohio fighting spirit.
Looking ahead, Ohio State future remains promising. Redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin is expected to take over from quarterback Will Howard. The team also anticipates the return of star receiver Jeremiah Smith, alongside new additions from the transfer portal, including West Virginia running back CJ Donaldson and former Purdue tight end Max Klare. On defense, All-American safety Caleb Downs and veterans Sonny Styles and Davison Igbinosun have announced their return for 2025, ensuring that the program remains in strong hands for the future.
