While Ohio State’s offense has stolen plenty of the headlines for its explosive outputs in the Buckeyes first two wins of the 2024 College Football Playoff, the defense could be playing even better. That unit is led, primarily, by its veteran edge rushers, Jack Sawyer and JT Tuiamoloau, who both turned down a chance at the NFL last offseason to return to Columbus for a shot at a national championship.
However, Tuimoloau left the field in the first half of the CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl on Friday night. The senior started the game with two first-half sacks of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers as Ohio State jumped out to a 7-0 lead but was later rolled up on by a falling defender and forced to the sidelines to be evaluated in the medical tent. He emerged from the medical tent with his ankle heavily taped.
A back-to-back first-team All-Big Ten honoree, Tuimoloau entered the Cotton Bowl with 10 sacks and two forced fumbles on the season. He is second to Sawyer on the team with 45 quarterback pressures. JTT's pass rushing prowess is key in defensive coordinator Jim Knowles's pressure-heavy defense.
JT Tuimoloau Cotton Bowl injury update:
Ohio State’s star defensive end JT Tuimoloau will attempt to return to the game in the first half after getting his ankle heavily taped. He was evaluated and treated in the injury tent on the sidelines according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Ohio State star DE JT Tuimoloau exits the injury tent and just put his helmet on. Trainers looked at his left ankle, which is heavily taped. He’s taking practice reps with an OSU reserve offensive lineman and appears like he’ll attempt to go back in.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 11, 2025
Despite the positive update from Thamel, JTT has yet to return.