Dark Days for Big 12 and ACC as Jim Knowles’ Penn State Move Sets Off Ominous Domino Effect Amid $250M Loss Controversy

NIL money and overflowing coffers dominate college football headlines these days. But legal battles are quietly brewing too. The Clemson and Florida State lawsuit against the ACC over revenue sharing is creating major tremors. Amidst this chaos, Penn State’s splashy acquisition of Jim Knowles, complete with a hefty payday, has sent shockwaves through other conferences. This big-money move has other programs scrambling, wondering if they need to play the same game. Could this be the start of a coaching free agency frenzy, with coaches chasing the cash flow, setting off a domino effect across the landscape of college football?

The harsh reality is that Penn State is shelling out a hefty sum to bring Jim Knowles to their program, which is creating problems for the Big 12 and other conferences. His deal? A 3-year, $3.1 million contract with bonuses that could make it worth around $10 million. Even John Kurtz pointed out in his latest YouTube video, “That’s a lot of money. It set the market now on coordinators.” He added, “Wink Martindale at Michigan was getting paid 2.75 million. This [Knowles] is now your highest-paid assistant in college football, not a defensive assistant in college football, and it’s raising the bar. It’s pushing those salaries higher, and that is the bad news for everybody else.”

Cash is king, and it is making a strong statement! Knowles’ move between Big Ten rivals has sent shockwaves through college football, forcing other conferences, especially the ACC and Big 12, to scramble to keep pace. Remember when Oklahoma State (Big 12) lost Knowles to Ohio State (Big Ten)? That was a perfect example of the changing dynamics in college football. It’s like the programs now highly seek coordinators, and retaining them is increasingly challenging.

You know what’s hitting the bar even more is the kind of shift programs are seeing. Ironically, coordinators are no less than coaches now, and even John Kurtz highlights the same thing: “God, we gotta pay $3 million for a defensive coordinator? Ten years ago, that was head coach money. Great perspective: Brent Brennan, Arizona’s head coach, made $3.1 million this year, while Jim Knowles will get the same next year as Penn State’s defensive coordinator.”

Now, the Big 12 did hold on to their head coaches, but the same cannot be said for their coordinators. Remember when Andy Kotelnicki left Kansas State to join Penn State? They not only lost their offensive coordinator to them, but the whole team’s alignment took a hit. All in all, money is the only thing that’s creating a major setback for ACC and Big 12 programs.

Moreover, let’s not get started on ACC’s treading a delicate line. Clemson and Florida State have been expressing their dissatisfaction, demanding a larger share of the revenue pie. Fortunately, through some intense negotiations, the ACC managed to avoid a $250 million blow that would have left them in a state of disarray. However, the signs are clear: as teams push for more financial gains, the pressure continues to mount. The conference has survived, at least for now.

With the SEC and Big Ten already reaping the benefits of lucrative media deals, the ACC’s financial troubles are becoming more evident. The recent six-year CFP agreement (until 2031) amongst the nine FBS leagues will likely see other conferences’ payouts double that of the ACC, creating immense financial pressure on Florida State.

With all the money flying around in college football, if Jim Knowles can’t make Penn State a winner despite his big salary, then it’s all been for nothing.

Big bucks, big pressure for Penn State

“Can’t win big games.” The phrase perfectly summarizes James Franklin’s tenure at Penn State. Despite their close proximity to a national championship since 2022, they have consistently fallen short. This disappointing 4-20 record against top-tier teams like Ohio State and Michigan casts a shadow over Franklin’s coaching brilliance.

To establish himself as a true contender, Franklin recognizes the importance of winning these crucial matchups rather than solely focusing on victories against lower-tier teams. So, what’s the solution?

Franklin makes a bold move by appointing the top-ranked defensive coordinator in the country. This decision elevates the coaching staff’s reputation to unprecedented levels. Having already gone through two previous defensive coordinators, the pressure on Franklin to succeed becomes even more intense. The expectations are now sky-high, and one mistake can cost them big time.

Now, with the addition of Jim Knowles from Ohio State, expectations are through the roof. If he replicates his stellar defensive performance from OSU in Happy Valley, fans will go wild. But only if that happens!

Even the Until Saturday podcast highlighted the same thing a week ago—“They’re going to come in with the pressure and expectation… Now it’s like if you don’t get to the National Championship game or even the final four like there’s no coloring that season other than a failure.” It’s like watching the Chiefs get Patrick Mahomes but then go 2-15. The question is not just about the big win anymore; it’s also about living up to everyone’s expectations.

 

This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.