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Ohio State relying on Jim Knowles' defense to get Buckeyes back to College Football Playoff

Before Ohio State's spring football game in mid-April, first-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles took a walk around the field to soak in the atmosphere of his first time inside Ohio Stadium. As he made his way throughout the Shoe, where there was an announced crowd of 60,000 for a glorified scrimmage, Knowles said he heard fans yelling to him, "We love you, Knowles! You're the best!"

"The thought crossed my mind -- we haven't even given up a first down yet, or a point," he said with a chuckle. "But then I made a conscious decision: You know what?