FOOTBALL

Everything you need to know: Notre Dame vs. South Carolina in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

South Bend Tribune

Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner looks to throw during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Setting the table for No. 21 Notre Dame and No. 19 South Carolina in the 78th Annual TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 30.

South Bend Tribune writers Mike Berardino and Michael Wanbaugh are in Jacksonville covering the game. Follow them on Twitter for in-game updates.

No. 21 Notre Dame (8-4) vs. No. 19 South Carolina (8-4)

What: 78^th Annual TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
When: Friday, Dec. 30 at 3:30 p.m. EST
Where: TIAA Bank Field (67,164), Jacksonville, Fla.
TV/Radio: ESPN, WSBT Radio (960 AM), WNSN (101.5 FM)
Line: Notre Dame opens as a 4.5 -point favorite
Series: Notre Dame leads 3-1
Last meeting: South Carolina won 36-32 in South Bend in 1984.

Pregaming

▶ Tyler Buchner set to reclaim starting QB role for Notre Dame in Gator Bowl

No. 12 QB Tyler Buchner practice at Fernandina Beach High School in Amelia Island on Monday, Nov.26th, 2022.

▶ Player-led meetings allow Notre Dame football to bring young talents along faster

Nov 26, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Tahj Washington (16) scores a touchdown against Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker JD Bertrand (27) during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

▶ Keys to the game: How No. 21 Notre Dame can beat No. 19 South Carolina in the Gator Bowl

Nov 5, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Prince Kollie (10) returns a blocked punt for a touchdown against the Clemson Tigers in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

▶ Notre Dame must take needed step toward future success in Friday's Gator Bowl

Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman, left, along with players and staff, take a look at TIAA Bank Field Thursday morning. The Irish play South Carolina Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Irish items

☘ Friday will be the fifth meeting between Notre Dame and South Carolina and first since a 36-32 Gamecocks win in 1984 at Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish lead the series 3-1.

☘ The 2022 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl will mark Notre Dame’s 41^st bowl appearance and sixth straight. The Irish are 19-21 all-time in bowl games and 6-15 since 1995. Notre Dame’s longest bowl winning streak is five games (1973-79) while its longest losing streak is nine (1995-2007).

☘ South Carolina will be the sixth Southeastern Conference opponent Notre Dame has faced in a bowl game this century. The Irish are 2-3 in those games, losing to Alabama twice and LSU once. Both Notre Dame wins came against the Tigers in the Music City Bowl and Citrus Bowl, respectively.

☘ Notre Dame will be without quarterback Drew Pyne (transfer portal) who started 10 games, consensus All-American tight end Michael Mayer (NFL Draft) who owns every major program record at the position, and all-time sack leader Isaiah Foskey (NFL Draft) who is also a consensus All-American.

Notre Dame running back Logan Diggs (3) is tackled by Boston College linebacker Bryce Steele during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame won 44-0. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

☘ In all eight of their wins, the Irish have possessed the ball for mor than 30 minutes. They lost all four games they failed to hit that mark.

☘ All-American cornerback Benjamin Morrison leads the Irish with five interceptions, which is tied for second in the nation and first among freshman. It’s also the most for a Notre Dame defender since Manti Te'o picked off seven in 2012.

More:Ben Morrison knows South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler from back home

☘ South Carolina and Notre Dame have one common opponent in 2022, handing Clemson its only two losses of the season. The Irish beat the Tigers 35-14 in South Bend Nov. 5 while the Gamecocks bested their in-state rival 31-30 in the annual Palmetto Bowl to close the regular season.

☘ The two team also share a common former coach. Lou Holtz led Notre Dame to its most recent national championship in 1988 while accumulating a 100-30-2 record from 1986-96. Holtz left retirement in 1999 to coach the Gamecocks. Including a winless first season Holtz compiled a 33-37 record in Columbia through 2004 and earned National Coach of the Year honors for an 8-4 campaign in 2000 that ended with an Outback Bowl win over Ohio State.

In this Jan 2, 1989 file photo, Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz is raised up to be carried off the field after Norte Dame defeated West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl to win the National College championship in Tempe, Ariz. Holtz will be honored with the dedication of a statue at a reunion with about 70 members from that national championship team, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008. The statue depicts him calling a play on the sidelines with two players beside him.

Schedules

NOTRE DAME (8-4)

Sept. 3 — @ Ohio State — L, 21-10

Sept. 10 — vs. MARSHALL — L, 25-21

Sept. 17 — vs. CALIFORNIA — W, 24-17

Sept. 24 — @ North Carolina — W, 45-32

Oct. 8 — Shamrock Series vs. BYU @ Las Vegas — W, 28-20

Oct. 15 — vs. STANFORD — L, 16-14

Oct. 22 — vs. UNLV — W, 44-21

Oct. 29 — @ Syracuse — W, 41-24

Nov. 5 — vs. CLEMSON — W, 35-14

Nov. 12 — @ Navy (Baltimore) — W, 35-32

Nov. 19 — vs. BOSTON COLLEGE — W, 44-0

Nov. 26 — @ Southern Cal — W, 38-27

Dec. 30 — vs. South Carolina @ TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, Fla.), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

SOUTH CAROLINA (8-4)

Sept. 3 — vs. GEORGIA STATE — W, 35-14

Sept. 10 — @ Arkansas — L, 44-30

Sept. 17 — vs. GEORGIA — L, 48-7

Sept. 24 — vs. CHARLOTTE — W, 56-20

Sept. 29 — vs. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE — W, 50-10

Oct. 8 — @ Kentucky — W, 24-14

Oct. 22 — vs. TEXAS A&M — W, 30-24

Oct. 29 — vs. MISSOURI — L, 23-10

Nov. 5 — @ Vanderbilt, — W, 38-27

Nov. 12 — @ Florida — L, 38-6

Nov. 19 — vs. TENNESSEE — W, 63-38

Nov. 26 — @ Clemson — W, 31-30

Dec. 30 — vs. Notre Dame @ TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, Fla.), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

More:Keep an eye on these guys when Notre Dame plays South Carolina in the Gator Bowl

Notre Dame two-deep depth chart

OFFENSE

WIDE RECEIVER

4 | Lorenzo Styles | 6-1, 195 | Soph.

16 | Deion Colzie | 6-5, 211 | Soph.

WIDE RECEIVER

83 | Jayden Thomas | 6-2, 215 | Soph.

29 | Matt Salerno | 6-1, 195 | Gr.

LEFT TACKLE

76 | Joe Alt | 6-8, 317 | Soph.

79 | Tosh Baker | 6-8, 310 | Jr.

LEFT GUARD

55 | Jarrett Patterson | 6-5, 310 | Gr.

73 | Andew Kristofic | 6-4, 300 | Sr.

CENTER

52 | Zeke Correll | 6-3, 308 | Sr.

78 | Pat Coogan | 6-5, 309 | Soph.

RIGHT GUARD

75 | Josh Lugg | 6-7, 316 | Gr.

50 | Rocco Spindler | 6-5, 315 | Soph.

RIGHT TACKLE

54 | Blake Fisher | 6-6, 327 | So.

68 | Michael Carmody | 6-6, 280 | Jr.

TIGHT END

88 | Mitchell Evans | 6-5, 255 | Soph.

85 | Holden Staes | 6-5, 226 | Fr.

WIDE RECEIVER

0 | Braden Lenzy | 6-0, 182 | Gr.

15 | Tobias Merriweather | 6-4, 198 | Fr.

QUARTERBACK

12 | Tyler Buchner | 6-1, 215 | Soph.

OR 18 | Steve Angeli | 6-2, 211 | Fr.

RUNNING BACK

25 | Chris Tyree | 5-10, 197 | Jr.

OR 3 | Logan Diggs | 6-0, 214 | Soph.

OR 7 | Audric Estime | 6-0, 229 | Soph.

DEFENSE

VYPER DEFENSIVE END

9 | Justin Ademilola | 6-2, 253 | Gr.

OR 12 | Jordan Botelho | 6-3, 250 | Jr.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

57 | Jayson Ademilola | 6-3, 285 | Gr.

65 | Chris Smith | 6-2, 310 | Sr.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

56 | Howard Cross III | 6-1, 310 | Gr.

97 | Gabriel Rubio | 6-5, 295 | Soph.

DEFENSIVE END

99 | Rylie Mills | 6-5, 292 | Jr.

31 | Nana Osafo-Mensah | 6-3, 250 | Sr.

WILL LINEBACKER

8 | Marist Liufau | 6-2, 235 | Sr.

24 | Jack Kiser | 6-2, 223 | Sr.

OR 10 | Prince Kollie | 6-3, 220 | Soph.

MIKE LINEBACKER

27 | JD Bertrand | 6-1, 230 | Sr.

44 | Junior Tuihalamaka | 6-2, 240 | Fr.

ROVER

24 | Jack Kiser | 6-2, 223 | Sr.

27 | JD Bertrand | 6-1, 230 | Sr.

CORNERBACK

28 | TaRiq Bracy | 5-10, 185 | Gr.

21 | Jaden Mickey | 6-0, 176 | Fr.

LEFT SAFETY

2 | DJ Brown | 6-1, 200 | Gr.

OR 3 | Houston Griffith | 6-0, 205 | Gr.

RIGHT SAFETY

16 | Brandon Joseph | 6-1, 196 | Sr.

OR 11 | Ramon Henderson | 6-1, 190 | Jr.

CORNERBACK

20 | Benjamin Morrison | 6-0, 179 | Fr.

6 | Clarence Lewis | 6-0, 203 | Jr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

KICKOFFS

92 | Zac Yoakam | 5-8, 180 | Fr.

14 | Bryce McFerson | 6-2, 190 | Fr.

PLACEKICKER

99 | Blake Grupe | 5-8, 156 | Gr.

92 | Zac Yoakam | 5-8, 180 | Fr.

PUNTER

39 | Jon Sot | 5-11, 198 | Gr.

14 | Bryce McFerson | 6-2, 190 | Fr.

LONG SNAPPER

65 | Michael Vinson | 6-2, 228 | Gr.

44 | Alex Peitsch | 6-1, 215 | Jr.

HOLDER

39 | Jon Sot | 5-11, 198 | Gr.

14 | Bryce McFerson | 6-2, 190 | Fr.

PUNT RETURNS

16 | Brandon Joseph | 6-1, 196 | Sr.

OR 29 | Matt Salerno | 6-1, 195

KICKOFF RETURNS

25 | Chris Tyree | 5-10, 190 | Soph.

0 | Braden Lenzy | 6-0, 182 | Gr.

South Carolina two-deep depth chart

OFFENSE

WIDE RECEIVER

3 | Antwane Wells Jr. | 6-1, 207 | Jr.

17 | Xavier Legette | 6-3, 220 | Sr.

WIDE RECEIVER

10 | Ahmarean Brown | 5-9, 167 | Sr.

OR 5 | Dakereon Joyner | 6-1, 215 | Sr.

WIDE RECEIVER

6 | Josh Vann | 5-11, 192 | Sr.

OR 5 | Dakereon Joyner | 6-1, 215 | Sr.

LEFT TACKLE

52 | Jaylen Nichols | 6-5, 322 | Sr.

55 | Jakai Moore | 6-6, 305 | Jr.

LEFT GUARD

55 | Jakai Moore | 6-6, 305 | Jr.

53 | Vershon Lee | 6-4, 308 | Jr.

OR 72 | Trai Jones | 6-2, 308 | Soph.

CENTER

71 | Eric Douglas | 6-4, 297 | Sr.

70 | Hank Manos | 6-4, 303 | Sr.

RIGHT GUARD

54 | Jovaughn Gwyn | 6-3, 300 | Sr.

68 | Wyatt Campbell | 6-6, 310 | Sr.

RIGHT TACKLE

62 | Tyshawn Wannamaker | 6-3, 308 | Soph.

75 | Cason Henry | 6-6, 300 | Fr.

TIGHT END

44 | Nate Adkins | 6-3, 252 | Gr.

QUARTERBACK

7 | Spencer Rattler | 6-1, 215 | Jr.

9 | Luke Doty | 6-1, 210 | Jr.

RUNNING BACK

0 | Juju McDowell | 5-9, 180 | Soph.

OR 8 | Christian Beal-Smith | 5-9, 205 | Gr.

DEFENSE

EDGE

5 | Jordan Burch | 6-6, 275 | Jr.

10 | Tyreek Johnson | 6-3, 265 | Jr.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

94 | M.J. Webb | 6-3, 313 | Sr.

90 | T.J. Sanders | 6-5, 300 | Fr.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

91 | Tonka Hemingway | 6-3, 295 | Jr.

95 | Alex Huntley | 6-4, 305 | Soph.

EDGE

46 | Bryan Thomas Jr. | 6-2, 230 | Fr.

16 | Hot Rod Fitten | 6-2, 250 | Jr.

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

44 | Sherrod Greene | 6-1, 233 | Sr.

52 | Stone Blanton | 6-2, 235 | Fr.

WEAKSIDE LINEBACKER

19 | Brad Johnson | 6-2, 238 | Sr.

0 | Debo Williams | 6-1, 237 | Soph.

NICKLEBACK

1 | DQ Smith | 6-1, 212 | Fr.

OR 18 | Keenan Nelson Jr. | 6-1, 200 | Fr.

CORNERBACK

24 | Marcellas Dial | 6-0, 192 | Jr.

33 | Kajuan Banks | 5-10, 185 | Fr.

STRONG SAFETY

21 | Nick Emmanwori | 6-4, 218 | Fr.

31 | Peyton Williams | 6-0, 200 | Fr.

FREE SAFETY

1 | DQ Smith | 6-1, 212 | Fr.

OR 36 | B.J. Gibson | 6-4, 215 | Jr.

CORNERBACK

25 | O’Donnell Fortune | 6-1, 185 | Soph.

11 | Emory Floyd | 6-1, 185 | Fr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

PLACEKICKER

98 | Mitch Jeter | 5-10, 195 | Jr.

40 | Alex Herrera | 6-0, 195 | Jr.

KICKOFFS

98 | Mitch Jeter | 5-10, 195 | Jr.

40 | Alex Herrera | 6-0, 195 | Jr.

PUNTER

39 | Kai Kroeger | 6-4, 207 | Jr.

40 | Alex Herrera | 6-0, 195 | Jr.

LONG SNAPPER

36 | Hunter Rogers | 6-1, 205 | Soph.

34 | Matthew Bailey | 6-2, 215 | Jr.

HOLDER

39 | Kai Kroeger | 6-4, 207 | Jr.

45 | William Joyce | 6-3, 215 | Fr.

KICKOFF RETURN

17 | Xavier Legette | 6-3, 220 | Sr.

0 | Juju McDowell | 5-9, 180 | Soph.

PUNT RETURN

6 | Josh Vann | 5-11, 192 | Sr.

OR 10 | Ahmarean Brown | 5-9, 167 | Sr.