Opponent preview: South Carolina looks to keep climbing in Gator Bowl

No. 19 South Carolina will take the field for the final time in 2022 when it plays No. 21 Notre Dame in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Friday afternoon.

It’s been a busy past few weeks since the Gamecocks last played. They’ll be without some players who left for the transfer portal or declared for the NFL Draft. Regardless, Shane Beamer remains confident in his group.

“You’ve got to be creative. We were in a bind last year as well in that bowl game and didn’t have a couple running backs and didn’t have a couple quarterbacks and had some guys out with COVID,” Beamer said. “I mean, it was all kinds of stuff going on last year. So find a way.”

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After learning of his team’s fate, Beamer said it will be an exciting opportunity for the players to play in the bowl game against Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish got off to a rough 0-2 start with losses to Ohio State and Marshall. They improved down the stretch, winning five of their final six games to get to 8-4.

“I know this one’s going to be right at the top as far as excitement about the game,” Beamer said. “Two nationally ranked teams that have had really great moments throughout the season, as well.”

Just as most teams have, the Irish have lost some talent. They’ll notably be on offense without starting quarterback Drew Pyne and star tight end, Michael Mayer. Head coach Marcus Freeman named sophomore quarterback Tyler Buchner as the team’s starter. Buchner started the first two games but missed the rest of the regular season with a shoulder injury.

While Buchner wasn’t expected to return to action until January, he healed faster than expected.

“He’s done great,” Freeman said. “He’s progressing from not playing football for so many weeks. Every day he gets better and better. His decision-making, just getting back there and having live reps. Obviously, he’s not getting hit, he’s in the red … but to have him out there getting live reps has been good.”

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Despite Buchner’s small sample size this season, Beamer knows he’s not some slouch. He said he dug into his high school game tape to get an in-depth look.

“You’re not named the starting quarterback at Notre Dame for game one if you’re not a talented quarterback,” Beamer said. “You see his athleticism being able to run so we’ve got to do a great job with the quarterback run game. You see the athleticism in his ability to throw the football for sure.”

Buchner has never been the biggest passer, only throwing 86 passes in his career. So expect Notre Dame to run the ball at will. The Irish are averaging 182.8 rushing yards per game, which is top 50 nationally.

In Notre Dame’s eight wins, the rushing attack is averaging 218.6 yards. It’s a different story in its four losses, though, only compiling 114 rush yards per game.

“They’re going to have the prototypical size across the front at every position because of the way they’re recruiting and how they can scour and put a bow and arrow on certain guys on the United States map and go get them — at least gain their interest,” defensive coordinator Clayton White said. “That’s the advantage they do have. They do have big guys, so obviously we expect them to try to pound it and run it, play action and do what they do. They’re not going to change their entire identity because of us. Their identity is to definitely try and run the ball first.”

Similarly to Notre Dame, the Gamecocks’ offensive personnel will look a little different. Spencer Rattler and Juice Wells will play and determine their futures after the season. Others such as Marshawn Lloyd, Jaheim Bell and Austin Stogner all entered the transfer portal.

Wells’ decision to play was simple: finish what he started.

“I just feel like it would put an exclamation point on the season,” Wells said. “Just go out there and play another game with my guys. I love those guys. I don’t want to leave them high and dry.”

Wells, South Carolina’s leading receiver, will have a lot of weight on his shoulders. Especially with Josh Vann and Jalen Brooks both unable to play in the game.

“Vets have to step up. If we have to take the reps, we’ll take the reps,” Wells said. “Get an IV before the game or something. It’s a big game so guys like me, Xavier (Legette) and (Ahmarean Brown) have to step up.” 

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It’s going to be the same case for the running back room without Lloyd. Juju McDowell shapes up to be the lead back with Christian Beal-Smith making his return to action.

Beal-Smith said he would love to be a Gator Bowl champion again after winning with Wake Forest last year.

“This will be my last college game so just giving it all I got, and I just want to get another win,” he said.

Together, McDowell and Beal-Smith have rushed for 339 yards and seven touchdowns. While some key pieces are gone, McDowell feels good about what they can do in the backfield.

“We’re going to be a great little one-two-punch,” McDowell said. “We ain’t lose too much from the run game.”

Notre Dame’s defense has been solid at stopping the run this season. It has held opponents to roughly 136 rushing yards per game, 45th-best in the country. Opponents have only averaged 3.97 yards per carry. South Carolina averages 3.8 yards per attempt.

“They’re really well fitting the run. They got two really good linebackers and a good front four,” Beal-Smith said. “It’s going to be a trenches game really, just getting the o-line up to the linebackers, and we’re going to have to make one guy miss.”

South Carolina takes on Notre Dame at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville on Friday at 3:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN, with Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Alyssa Lang on the call.

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