Jim Knowles absent as Ohio State holds title celebration - ESPN

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State, the first team to run the gauntlet of four playoff games on its way to the national title, celebrated with 30,000 Buckeyes fans on Sunday at Ohio Stadium.

The Buckeyes did so without their defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, in attendance. On a day when coach Ryan Day lauded Knowles at the podium as «the defensive coordinator of the best defense in the country that was completely dominant in the playoff,» Knowles, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel, was finalizing a deal to join Penn State in the same capacity.

Indeed, the celebration marked a time of change within the program. Just after athletic director Ross Bjork said he was working on a package to make Day the Buckeyes' coach «for years to come,» news of Knowles leaving brought immediate attention to Day's staff.

Roster wise, 13 of 22 playoff starters are out of eligibility, and those seeking an NFL roster spot include quarterback Will Howard, defensive end Jack Sawyer and his fellow captains: wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson and linebacker Cody Simon.

Players leaving the team early for the draft include running back Quinshon Judkins and cornerback Jordan Hancock.

Despite all of that, fans braved 30-degree temperatures to welcome home a team that beat five top-10 rivals on its way to the title, including Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Texas in the Cotton Bowl and Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff Championship game.

«It took everybody to become national champions, and today we say thank you,» Day told the crowd.

Ohio State was the first to win the inaugural four-team playoff a decade ago and became the first to win the 12-team version.

It did so in dominating fashion, trailing for just 6 minutes, 5 seconds