Ohio State closes fast behind tough defense

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 an Ohio State victory.

The interception was the second of the day for the Buckeyes’ defensive end — yes, 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 No. 2 Buckeyes erase a deficit and pull away from No. 13 Penn State 44-31 on Saturday at State College, Pa.

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.”

C.J. Stroud passed for 354 yards and the Buckeyes (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) ran their winning streak in the rivalry to six in a row — none by more than 13 points.

As has often been the case when these teams play lately, the Buckeyes were a double-digit favorite and the Nittany Lions (6-2, 3-2) played them tough.

In this case, though, Penn State didn’t just hang around. The Nittany Lions went up 21-16 with 9:26 left in the fourth quarter on a tough one-yard touchdown run by Kaytron Allen on fourth down.

Ohio State then went on a 28-3 run, with Tuimoloau providing the key plays after the Buckeyes went up 23-21.

Tuimoloau recovered the fumble after swiping the ball from Sean Clifford with 8:26 left in the fourth quarter. One play later, Stroud connected with Cade Stover, who rumbled through the Penn State defense for a 24yard touchdown to make it 30-21.

TreVeyon Henderson scored twice in Ohio State’s fourth-quarter outburst, including a 41-yard run 35 seconds after Penn State took the lead.

He added a seven-yard touchdown run with 2:52 left to make it 37-24.

at Central Florida 25, No. 20 Cincinnati 21

: RJ Harvey had a 17-yard touchdown run with 48 seconds left, sending the Knights (6-2, 3-1 American Athletic Conference) over the Bearcats (6-2, 3-1) at Orlando.

Harvey’s go-ahead touchdown capped a sevenplay, 75-yard march directed by Mikey Keene. The backup quarterback was four for four for 57 yards on the drive.

Cincinnati (6-2, 3-1 American Athletic Conference) took a 21-18 lead with 3:04 remaining. Ryan Montgomery scored on a 39-yard touchdown run, and the Bearcats added the twopoint conversion on a Ben Bryant pass to Tyler Scott.

Cincinnati had won six in a row since a season-opening loss to Arkansas. Bryant passed for 298 yards and a touchdown, and Montgomery had a team-high 40 yards rushing in three carries.