STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — A few days before the first College Football Playoff rankings are released, the Buckeyes faced their toughest test of the season so far — by far — and passed.
Only a major upset over the next three weeks will keep the Buckeyes from rolling into the season finale against No. 4 Michigan unbeaten.
Tennessee moved into a tie with Ohio State for No. 2 in The Associated Press college football poll, setting up a 1 vs. 2 matchup next week between the Volunteers and top-ranked Georgia.
J.T. Tuimoloau had a strip sack that set up No. 2 Ohio State for a separation-score in the fourth quarter and then a pick-6 to cap a spectacular performance by the defensive end as the Buckeyes beat No. 13 Penn State 44-31.
C.J. Stroud passed for 354 yards and the Buckeyes (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) extended their winning streak in the rivalry to six in a row.
The Nittany Lions (6-2, 3-2) went up 21-16 with 9:26 remaining in the fourth quarter on a tough 1-yard touchdown run by Kaytron Allen on fourth down.
Ohio State outscored Penn State 28-3 the rest of the way with Tuimoloau in the center of the rally.
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 24-yard touchdown to make it 30-21.
Tuimoloau’s 14-yard interception return touchdown made it 44-24 with 2:42 left.
“We knew we were going to have to play four quarters today,” Day said.
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 7-yard touchdown run with 2:52 left to make the score 37-24.
JT is POW
Tuimoloau was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the game. He was also named Bednarik Award Player of the Week and the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week.
The sophomore from Edgewood, Wash., finished with six tackles, three tackles for loss, including two sacks, two interceptions, one pass breakup, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
All told, Tuimoloau helped force four takeaways which led to 21 Ohio State points.