Notre Dame defeated South Carolina 45-38 to win the 2022 Gator Bowl on Friday. Here’s what you need to know:
- The Fighting Irish scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:38 remaining when quarterback Tyler Buchner connected with Mitchell Evans for a 16-yard touchdown pass.
- The Gamecocks recorded two pick-sixes, courtesy of DQ Smith for 47 yards and O’Donnell Fortune for 100 yards.
- Notre Dame ends its 2022 season with a 9-4 record while South Carolina finishes 8-5.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Evaluating Notre Dame’s performance
For a game that didn’t get much national notice going in, Notre Dame should take plenty from its comeback win over South Carolina, a game where the Irish felt like they were getting blown out in the first half, only to take control in the second, then give it back on Buchner’s second pick-six of the game, before finally leaning on the offensive line to put the Gamecocks down for good.
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For Freeman to get Notre Dame over the line without All-Americans Michael Mayer and Isaiah Foskey while also replacing quarterback Drew Pyne was a strong moment of program management for the first-year head coach. The Gator Bowl could have spiraled on Notre Dame. Freeman didn’t let it. The fact the Irish rallied to win while leaning on the offensive line was exactly the performance Freeman wanted, even if the game itself felt like madness most of the night. — Sampson
Highlights of the game
Buchner to Evans
Back up 7️⃣#GoIrish
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) December 31, 2022
PICK 6⃣!!!!
O'Donnell Fortune runs it back 100-YARDS to the endzone!
📺 ESPN
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) December 30, 2022
Key stat
Friday’s win is Notre Dame’s 19th bowl victory in program history. The Fighting Irish are 2-2 in their history at the Gator Bowl.
Required reading
(Photo: Matt Pendleton / USA Today)
