Three 2025 NFL Draft takeaways

2) JT Tuimoloau flashes for Buckeyes defense.

The OSU defense had some shaky moments in the second half, but its defensive front set the tone early in the night and made enough plays late to help seal the win.

In the win over Texas, Jack Sawyer was the folk hero, finishing off the victory with his strip sack and fumble return TD to ice the game. Monday night, Sawyer’s running mate, JT Tuimoloau, was the leading man.

Tuimoloau left the game against the Longhorns for a few plays with an ankle injury, and he actually came out Monday night appearing to be heavily wrapped on both feet. But you wouldn’t have known it the way he bullied Notre Dame’s replacement left tackle, Charles Jagusah.

3) Riley Leonard started fast, rallied with strong second half.

There were long stretches Monday when the Notre Dame offense went dormant, and their comeback odds looked meager at one point. But Riley Leonard turned in a mostly gutsy performance — even with some shaky moments — in giving the Irish a chance at game’s end.

Leonard opened the game leading the Irish on an 18-play drive — their longest of the season — 13 of which were runs. Using his burly frame, Leonard authored nine of those runs, including the final four plays of the drive, willing Notre Dame to a 7-0 lead. He even hit three of his first five passes and moved the chains effectively

But the Irish went three-and-out on their next two possessions in the first half and opened the third quarter with a turnover on downs, after a failed fake punt. Meanwhile, OSU built a two- and eventually a three-score lead, effectively taking much of Leonard’s strengths away from him.

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