Tuimoloau picks up Buckeyes
For the final act in a spectacular performance, J.T. Tuimoloau kept a blocker from cutting his legs, reached up and grabbed a pass intended for a receiver a few yards behind him and casually cruised into the end zone to seal a 44-31 victory by No. 2 Ohio State over No. 13 Penn State on Saturday in State College, Pennsylvania.
The interception was the second of the day for the Buckeyes’ defensive end to go along with two sacks, a fumble caused and recovered, and a tipped pass that a teammate came down with for another takeaway.
“This is kind of his coming out party today,” said Ohio State coach Ryan Day, underselling the sophomore’s breakout game.
Tuimoloau’s strip sack and pick-six in the fourth quarter helped the Buckeyes erase a deficit. The former five-star recruit from Seattle said the last time he intercepted a pass was as a sophomore in high school and he never remembered getting two in one game.
“I mean, it hasn’t hit yet,” Tuimoloau said about having an all-time great game on such a big stage. “I just take it as a great team win right now.”
The 6-4, 270 pounder’s first interception of his career came in the first quarter on a play in which he dropped into coverage and broke quickly on a sideline throw to a running back.
“Brother’s an athlete, you can’t teach that,” said defensive end Zach Harrison, who had the interception on Tuimoloau’s tipped pass.
Tuimoloau said the tipped pass to Harrison was his favorite of the game-changing plays.
C.J. Stroud passed for 354 yards and the Buckeyes ran their winning streak in the rivalry to six — none by more than 13 points.
Michigan 29, Michigan State 7
Blake Corum ran for 177 yards and scored twice, and Jake Moody made five field goals to help the No. 4 Wolverines remain unbeaten with a victory over the visiting Spartans.
Michigan scored 26 consecutive points after falling behind briefly late in the first quarter. Michigan State went 0-for-2 on fourth down in the first half.
Minnesota 31, Rutgers 0
Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 159 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries to lead the Gophers to their first win in four weeks.
After grinding his way back from a torn Achilles tendon in the 2021 season opener and playing through an ankle injury earlier this month, Ibrahim turned in some of his finest work to date against a Scarlet Knights team that entered the game ranked sixth in the FBS and third in the Big Ten in rushing defense. The sixth-year star extended his streak of 100-yard games to 16.
“I feel good,” Ibrahim said. “I do my best throughout the whole week just to get better and better each day.”