Notre Dame football: 3 takeaways from thrilling win over South Carolina
![Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) high steps it into the end zone for a late first quarter touchdown, The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish took on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game in Jacksonville, Florida's TIAA Bank Field Friday, December 30, 2022. The first half ended with South Carolina holding a 24 to 17 lead. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]Jki 123022 Bs Gatorbowl 04Syndication Florida Times UnionSyndication Notre Dame Insider](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F4c980506a7dbb8163e031b66939d520e4331baea55993a89b93e058cfb7f210a.jpg "Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) high steps it into the end zone for a late first quarter touchdown, The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish took on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game in Jacksonville, Florida's TIAA Bank Field Friday, December 30, 2022. The first half ended with South Carolina holding a 24 to 17 lead. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]Jki 123022 Bs Gatorbowl 04Syndication Florida Times UnionSyndication Notre Dame Insider")
Notre Dame football was looking to end the year on the right note and hand Marcus Freeman his first bowl win as a head coach.
The Irish did just that, beating South Carolina in thrilling fashion in a fun Gator Bowl that went back and forth and looked like the Gamecocks would run away with it. Notre Dame battled back, overcame a late pick-six and picked up a big win to prove some doubters wrong.
The future seems to be bright in South Bend and Freeman rebounded nicely from a nightmare start to his coaching tenure with the Irish.
What’d we learn from this Gator Bowl win?
3. Defense was optional
This is a takeaway for both sides here. Neither Notre Dame nor South Carolina wanted to play much defense which is kind of surprising.
Notre Dame was without star tight end Michael Mayer who was sitting out the bowl and South Carolina lost a starting-caliber running back to the portal which should have made both offenses slow down a bit, but there were over 80 points scored in this surprising shootout.
Tyler Buchner started his first game in months and looked solid and the Notre Dame run game stole the show while Spencer Rattler had himself a game as well.
If you were looking for good defensive play, you probably should have just tuned in to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl earlier in the day.