Will Stein meets 'elite defensive mind' Jim Knowles once again

Will Stein will coach against Jim Knowles for the fourth time over the last three seasons on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. These two are very familiar with each other.

Knowles is on this third school in three years after stops at Ohio State (2024) and Penn State (2025). Oregon split games with the Buckeyes in 2024 before winning an overtime game against the Nittany Lions last fall. Stein knows what his offense is up against this week.

“I think he’s one of the elite defensive minds in college football as well,” Stein said about Tennessee’s defensive coordinator. “This will be my fourth time going against Coach Knowles. I have all the respect in the world for him. What he’s able to do at every…