JT Tuimoloau returned for the second half of the Cotton Bowl after missing the end of the first half with an ankle injury.
At the 8:31 mark of the second quarter, JT Tuimoloau suffered a left ankle injury when Eddrick Houston rolled up on him while engaging a Texas defender at the line of scrimmage.
The defensive end immediately entered the medical tent and underwent an examination with Ohio State's medical staff. Trainers heavily taped his ankle before he started running sprints on the sideline, and he was cleared to return to the game as he was given his helmet and put it back on.
Tuimoloau did not play for the rest of the first half, but he returned to the game for Ohio State’s first defensive play of the second half and recorded tackles on two of his first three plays back in the game.
A first-team All-Big Ten honoree with 49 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and three pass breakups entering the College Football Playoff semifinal, Tuimoloau had two tackles with 1.5 sacks in the first quarter before leaving the game.
