What they’re saying about Notre Dame’s 45-38 Gator Bowl win against South Carolina
No. 21 Notre Dame came away with an impressive win Friday night in the Gator Bowl over No. 19 South Carolina in a wild 45-38 contest.
In this article, we’ll take a look around at what the media is saying about Notre Dame’s victory over the Gamecocks, including Blue & Gold’s Mike Singer and Tim Hyde giving their instant reaction in a postgame YouTube live show.
Make sure to subscribe to the Blue & Gold YouTube channel here and tune in to The Mike Goolsby Show, which will be live on the page Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.
Patrick Engel, Blue & Gold: How Notre Dame’s OL and run game became the steadying presence amid Gator Bowl chaos
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Logan Diggs could sense it. Tyler Buchner too. The Irish’s running back and quarterback could take one glance at Notre Dame’s five offensive linemen in the huddle and know they smelled blood.
It was evident to the Irish’s running back and quarterback in the extra ferocity with which those five tightened their gloves before each play. In the way they stared at South Carolina’s defense when breaking the huddle. In what they said during the huddle. One big running lane or sealed edge after another will evoke those feelings – from linemen and backs alike.
“I go to the O-line and look at them, and they’ve got the same look in their eye that I have,” Diggs said. “So we know what time it is.”
Time to run to win.
Notre Dame (9-4) doesn’t beat No. 19 South Carolina 45-38 in the Gator Bowl without three touchdown tosses and 274 passing yards from Buchner in his first start since Sept. 10. It doesn’t get in position to tie the score without a 20-yard catch-and-run by receiver Braden Lenzy on a fake punt from its own 33-yard line.
But when assigning credit for the reasons the Irish grabbed control of a wonky game in the second half, the run game’s awakening should be the first reason listed.
The Irish hung 210 of their 264 rushing yards on South Carolina in final two quarters, averaging 7.2 yards per carry in that span. Take out a kneel-down, and the second-half yards per rush jumps to 7.5. None of the 28 second-half carries before taking a knee lost yardage. All told, they had 11 runs of at least 10 yards – three of which gained at least 20. If you count sacks as passing play calls, South Carolina did not have a tackle for loss on a run.
Tyler Horka, Blue & Gold: Grading Notre Dame football in Gator Bowl win over South Carolina
Notre Dame Passing Offense: C+
Where do we begin – with the 3 passing touchdowns or with the 3 interceptions, 2 of which were returned for South Carolina touchdowns?
Playing in his first game since injuring his shoulder on Sept. 10, sophomore Tyler Buchner admitted he did not play to the standard he sets out for himself. But he still threw for the game-winning score with less than two minutes left and made good on a variety of throws throughout the game.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
March Madness
NCAA Top 16 seeds revealed
- 2
Brad Stevens
Makes Indiana intentions clear
- 3
Auburn vs. Alabama odds
Point spread released
- 4
Dawn Staley
Admonishes rev-share reversal
- 5Trending
Joel Klatt
NFL Mock Draft
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
His 44-yard touchdown to graduate student wide receiver Braden Lenzy was dropped in a bucket. He showed a solid rapport with sophomore wideout Jayden Thomas in connecting 5 times on 8 targets for 67 yards. Four of Thomas’ catches moved the chains.
The pass protection could have been better, and Buchner needed to do a better job of taking care of the ball, but overall there were plenty of positives.
Pete Sampson, The Athletic: How Notre Dame rediscovered its identity within the chaos of a Gator Bowl close-out
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Marcus Freeman and Tyler Buchner had been pulled on stage, working through the postgame obligations that come with being the head coach or the quarterback. One got a trophy. The other got MVP honors. Fifteen yards away, still down on the field, Notre Dame’s offensive line came together with fist bumps for graduate assistant Chris Watt and hugs for O-line coach Harry Hiestand. Then the entire group posed for a photo, commemorating the latest night on which Notre Dame’s best position on the field was the one that has driven so much of the program’s recent success, a run now spanning head coaches, quarterbacks and coordinators.
The characters change. The formula does not.
When Notre Dame’s offensive line can carry a game plan while taking away an opponent’s will, almost anything is possible. That includes a mind-bending 45-38 win in the Gator Bowl against South Carolina, which Notre Dame pulled off without two All-Americans, its former starting quarterback and three other starters on defense. The Irish could survive all those absences because their line landed body blow after body blow on the Gamecocks, four quarters of tolls South Carolina couldn’t pay.
Ben Portnoy, The Island Packet: Shane Beamer, South Carolina have set a foundation for future despite Gator Bowl loss
Shane Beamer’s eyes welled as he stood behind the interview podium in the underbelly of TIAA Bank Field.
He clutched either side of his perch, pushed back the lump in his throat and fought through the disappointment that shone on his face and the faces of his players and staffers scattered throughout the facility.
“For us to be down (12) players and for those guys to play their butts off like they did,” Beamer said, pausing for four seconds to hold back tears, “and leave everything out there like they did, I’m really, really, really proud to be their coach.”
That Beamer’s emotions showed in the moments following No. 19 South Carolina’s 45-38 loss to No. 21 Notre Dame in Friday’s Gator Bowl isn’t a surprise. He’s never one to fear showing his softer or fiery sides. He loves on his players. He fires back at detractors.
