Ohio State returned a Heisman finalist at quarterback, a loaded cast of skill players, and two NFL-caliber tackles on offense. All they needed was for their counterparts on defense to NOT be a total mess, as had been the case in 2021.
This wasn't asking a lot, after all. Rarely had championship teams featured elite units on both sides of the ball, and the defense simply needed to be good enough to let those superstars on offense shine brightly.
Enter Jim Knowles. The veteran coach emerged from anonymity after turning Oklahoma State into one of the nation's best defenses one year ago, instantly making him the biggest fish in a pond of defensive coordinator candidates.