Penn State has made a massive splash by hiring Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to take the same job with the Nittany Lions. He replaces Tom Allen, who left PSU to become Clemson’s defensive coordinator. Here are three thoughts on what Penn State hiring Knowles means moving forward.

Julian Peterson (2) of Winslow catches a pass and would score on the play during the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 4 football semifinal between Winslow and Manalapan at Winslow Township High School in Atco, NJ on 11/9/24. Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Barkley entered the NFC Championship against the Washington Commanders needing just 147 rushing yards to surpass Terrell Davis' record of 2,476 yards (including regular season and playoffs). The Eagles star made a serious push to break that record after scoring a 60-yard touchdown on the team's first play of the game.

The Philadelphia Eagles aim to punch a ticket to the Super Bowl but first must overcome the Washington Commanders in the NFC championship on Sunday. Washington has been on fire in the postseason while Philly has been largely dominant throughout the entire season.

In a visit back to his alma mater, Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik told Penn State students about his “unbelievable” past six months.

A win over Shawver would be a season-builder for Davis, the Penn State sophomore. Davis last week gave up an early seven-point move to Nebraska’s Jacob Van Dee and lost 14-7. Shawver won 27 bouts last season en route to his B1G title and seventh-place NCAA finish.

Penn State has two high-profile draft prospects in the 2025 NFL draft, and draft expert Daniel Jeremiah had high praise for them in his first mock draft of the year.

Sauber: This begins the steamrolling for Penn State in this dual. Van Ness fell to Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett, 10-2, and is in need of a win to get himself back on track. Unfortunately for Clark, he’s in the way of that this week. It would be a surprise if the Nittany Lion doesn’t rack up bonus points in this one. Prediction: Van Ness by fall.

Sophomore middle distance phenom Tinoda Matsatsa shattered his own NCAA Indoor Track and Field record in the men’s 1000 meters, clocking a time of 2:16.84, to cap a successful day of competition for the Georgetown University track and field team at the Nittany Lion Challenge on Satur 18.

The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team improved to 9-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten Friday night, thanks to a 35-3 win over Rutgers. Penn State rode the wave of four technical falls and won nine of the dual’s 10 bouts to sail to victory.

Tate plays a lead role for Michigan State (16-3, 6-2 Big Ten), which has won four straight. The former Bowling Green transfer who followed coach Robyn Fralick to East Lansing last season said the ideal range to turn in is 7 to 10 p.m.

Penn State announces Jim Knowles as its new defensive coordinator, one week after Knowles helped Ohio State to the national championship.