However, Knowles wasn’t in attendance. About an hour later, reports surfaced that Knowles is leaving Ohio State to serve as Penn State’s next defensive coordinator. The move leaves Day searching for a replacement. Here’s who he might consider as he enters his seventh season as the Buckeyes' head coach.

Without defensive coordinator Jim Knowles in attendance on a day sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel he was finalizing a deal to join Penn State, Ohio State celebrated its national championship with 30,000 Buckeyes fans on Sunday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

The departure of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles adds a challenge for Ohio State, which was already dealing with heavy roster turnover on defense.