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")
1. Tyler Buchner made a strong case for QB1 in 2023
While bowl games are far too early to be naming quarterbacks for next season or even saying that a guy really put himself in the lead, Tyler Buchner still made a strong case to the staff.
Marcus Freeman has been rumored to be pushing for Wake Forest quarterback transfer Sam Hartman which wouldn’t be a bad move considering the Irish are thin at the position for 2023, but would that potentially push Buchner out? We’ll see how that situation plays out, but Friday had to make the first-year head coach feel better about the young dual-threat that he has currently.
Buchner did throw three interceptions and his accuracy wasn’t at its best, but he played very well for having missed a couple of months with an injury.
He completed 18-of-33 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 61 yards and two more scores. He was electric all game long and was the reason the Irish were able to hold on for a big win — even though he did throw a costly pick-six late.
But his short-term memory helped as he led the Irish to the game-winning score minutes later.
If I’m Freeman, I’m looking at the quarterback room for 2023 differently after this one.
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