Ohio State fans have seen enough. For the past two seasons, the Buckeyes’ once-vaunted supremacy in The Game has been stripped away, not just by a surging Michigan squad, but by a tactical shift on the other side of the ball led by a man who was supposed to bring Columbus glory — Jim Knowles. The defensive coordinator, who arrived at Ohio State in 2022 with promises of toughness, takeaways, and total domination, has in recent months become as polarizing as any figure in the program’s storied history. He’s been praised for revitalizing the defense but increasingly vilified for the way things have unraveled in the team’s biggest moments. And now, as November approaches and the Buckeyes once again find themselves eyeing that final Saturday of the regular season, Knowles has made it clear: he’s not backing down. If anything, he’s twisting the knife deeper — and Ohio State must answer.
There’s a chill in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center every time Knowles’ name is brought up. Whether it’s because of the trauma of back-to-back Michigan losses or the fresh tension surrounding his comments about “real defensive football” being played up north, the once-celebrated hire has morphed into something of a lightning rod. Ohio State didn’t just bring Knowles in to tinker — they brought him in to win The Game. And so far, that mission remains incomplete. The recent snipes, whether intentional or just collateral damage of a man speaking his mind, have added fuel to the fire of a rivalry that is once again burning red-hot. And Ryan Day, who’s coaching with the weight of history on his shoulders, knows this year’s clash could define not just the Buckeyes’ season, but his own legacy.
Knowles has been vocal about his defensive principles, especially the ones he claims have been sharpened by battles with physical Big Ten teams like Michigan. His press conferences have become must-watch affairs, not because of any charm or charisma, but because of the implicit challenges he lays down. He talks about toughness, gap discipline, and “winning in the dark alley.” Those words have not sat well with many in Columbus, particularly when the results haven’t followed suit on the scoreboard when it matters most. In both 2022 and 2023, Michigan outplayed Ohio State in the trenches, especially in the second half, turning tightly contested games into statement wins. That fact hasn’t been forgotten — not by fans, not by alumni, and certainly not by the current roster of Buckeyes gearing up for what could be the most important November showdown of their careers.
In a program where 11-1 seasons are often treated like failures if the lone loss is to Michigan, Knowles’ continued presence is both a sign of belief and a lingering source of tension. After the 2022 loss in Columbus, many expected sweeping changes. Instead, Day doubled down. He kept Knowles, reasserted his trust in the system, and promised the defense would evolve. To be fair, it did — the Buckeyes showed marked improvement throughout the 2023 season. They allowed fewer big plays, tackled better in space, and developed a more consistent pass rush. But when the time came to back up those numbers against Michigan, the defense once again faltered, giving up key third-down conversions and getting manhandled in short-yardage situations. No amount of statistical progress could hide the reality: Knowles’ defense wasn’t getting it done when it mattered most.
And now, with 2025 fully in focus, Knowles hasn’t softened his approach. If anything, he’s dug in deeper. He’s been effusive in his praise of old-school football, the kind that Michigan has embraced under Jim Harbaugh and now continues under Sherrone Moore. He’s lauded their commitment to the run, their dedication to physicality, and their consistency in execution. And every time he does, it’s as if he’s throwing a subtle jab back at his own program, at the very Buckeyes fan base that expected him to beat Michigan at their own game. Whether intentional or not, it has the effect of stoking resentment — and it’s creating a narrative that Ohio State can no longer avoid.
Players have noticed, too. Linebackers like C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles, two of the most gifted defenders on the roster, have spoken this offseason with a clear sense of purpose. They’re tired of being viewed as the unit that comes up short in the spotlight. They’re tired of having their season-long dominance wiped away by one ugly afternoon in Ann Arbor or Columbus. This offseason has been about more than schemes and drills — it’s been about reclaiming identity. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson has been hammering home fundamentals with an urgency not seen in recent years. Secondary coach Tim Walton has reportedly taken extra reps with younger defensive backs, pushing them to become more aggressive and disciplined. This isn’t just prep work. This is a crusade.
November 30, 2025, is circled in red in every Ohio State locker, dorm room, and meeting hall. It’s no longer about rankings or playoff implications — it’s about pride. About legacy. About retribution. If Jim Knowles wants to keep redefining toughness through the lens of Michigan’s success, then he must now prove that the Buckeyes can match — and exceed — that standard. No more moral victories. No more excuses. Just results.
The pressure isn’t just on Knowles, of course. Ryan Day is staring down a crossroads moment. A third straight loss to Michigan, regardless of the score, might bring seismic changes to the program. There are whispers already that athletic director Ross Bjork, new to the job but not to high-stakes football environments, has been quietly evaluating contingency plans. Day has been brilliant in many aspects — recruiting, development, offensive game planning. But as far as the fan base is concerned, everything hinges on that last Saturday in November. And in the event of another failure, the first name dragged into the line of fire will be Knowles.
And yet, despite all of this, Knowles remains unflinching. Perhaps it’s confidence. Perhaps it’s pride. Or perhaps he believes, rightly or wrongly, that he’s still the right man to lead the Silver Bullets into battle and come out victorious. His defenders will argue that he’s been handcuffed by the limitations of previous rosters — that this 2025 group, with more speed at linebacker and more depth in the secondary, is finally built in his image. They point to the defensive dominance in games against Penn State, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame. They say the foundation is now stable and the time is ripe.
But talk is cheap in Columbus. Only the result in The Game matters. Knowles’ words, provocative or not, will carry no weight if the Buckeyes are once again outmuscled in the trenches or outwitted on third down. This team has every tool necessary to win — a seasoned secondary, one of the best defensive lines in the country, and explosive talent at all three levels. What remains to be seen is whether Knowles can translate that talent into four quarters of violence, control, and brilliance in Ann Arbor.
As the summer rolls on and the pads start popping in fall camp, the Buckeyes are preparing with a singular focus. No one is looking past Indiana, or Wisconsin, or even Penn State. But everyone knows where the season truly ends — and what’s at stake when it does. November isn’t just another month on the calendar anymore. It’s a reckoning. And if Jim Knowles is still twisting the knife, he’d better be ready for what happens when the Buckeyes finally twist back.
