Ohio State coach Ryan Day called Knowles' departure in January 'abrupt.' The Nittany Lions' defensive coordinator returns to Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day has delivered some intriguing comments on former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who is now with the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Are the former Buckeyes co-workers interacting with one another? Especially before Ohio State takes on Penn State?

Joel Klatt previewed the Big Noon Kickoff game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Ohio State Buckeyes. He explained why this matchup is going to be interesting between the Penn State DC Jim Knowles and Ohio State HC Ryan Day.

Jim Knowles won a national championship with Ohio State last season, but the Buckeyes defense is even better this year.

Ryan Day said “there really hasn’t been much communication” with Jim Knowles since Knowles left for Penn State, but “we certainly respect the work that he did when he was here.”

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Ryan Day Discusses Relationship With Ex-Ohio State DC Jim Knowles Ahead of Penn State Game. No. 1 Ohio State takes on unranked, interim coach-led Penn State this weekend in a matchup that is far from the expectations that most had for the contest before the season.

Jim Knowles left Ohio State football for Penn State in January. Here's what coach Ryan Day said about the "abrupt" departure.

Six days after scarlet and gray confetti drifted through the air at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the celebration came home to Columbus. Inside Ohio Stadium, 30,000 fans packed the Horseshoe on Jan. 26 to honor Ohio State’s ninth national championships in a day filled with speeches,

Penn State football interim coach Terry Smith meet with reporters during the off week and touched on Ohio State and the Jim Knowles defense.