Franklin and Knowles previously had discussed a job at Penn State. An early morning call two days after Ohio State's national championship began the process.

In the days after the Orange Bowl, Penn State’s players gathered on campus for a team meeting. At that point in January, they found out defensive coordinator Tom Allen was leaving for Clemson and that James Franklin would do his part to hire the best candidate he could.

Penn State head coach James Franklin met with the media Tuesday afternoon to preview the 2025 offseason and winter updates. Franklin discussed several topics, including the Super Bowl, hiring Jim Knowles, winter conditioning, Ja'Juan Seider's departure and much more.

Knowles had options, and Penn State had to open up the checkbook to get the well-regarded coach to Happy Valley.

Seider is expected to make a lateral move and join Notre Dame's football staff as their new running backs coach, according to on3Sports' Pete Nakos.

Franklin had talked to Knowles in December 2021 shortly after defensive coordinator Brent Pry, one of his longtime assistants, left Penn State to become head coach at Virginia Tech. Knowles wound up going to Ohio State and the Lions ended up hiring Manny Diaz, who enjoyed two very successful seasons before he became head coach at Duke.

James Franklin reportedly must hire yet another top assistant coach. Here are possible candidates to replace longtime running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider.

Notre Dame is set to hire Ja’Juan Seider from Penn State as its new running backs coach, according to reports. Seider will be replacing Deland McCullough, who departed Notre Dame to accept a similar role with the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.