2022 Gator Bowl
Game nameGator Bowl
Subheader78th Gator Bowl
Title sponsorTaxSlayer
Date game playedDecember 30
Year game played2022
Football season2022
StadiumTIAA Bank Field
CityJacksonville, Florida
Visitor schoolUniversity of Notre Dame
Visitor name shortNotre Dame
Visitor nicknameFighting Irish
Visitor record8–4
Visitor conferenceIndependent
Visitor rank ap19
Visitor rank coaches20
Visitor rank cfp21
Visitor coachMarcus Freeman
Visitor 1q7
Visitor 2q10
Visitor 3q14
Visitor 4q14
Home schoolUniversity of South Carolina
Home name shortSouth Carolina
Home nicknameGamecocks
Home record8–4
Home conferenceSEC
Home rank ap20
Home rank coaches19
Home rank cfp19
Home coachShane Beamer
Home 1q21
Home 2q3
Home 3q7
Home 4q7
MvpTyler Buchner (QB, Notre Dame)[1]
OddsNotre Dame by 5.5
RefereeMike Cannon (Big Ten)[2]
Attendance67,383
Payout5,350,000[3]
Us networkESPN
Us announcersTaylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), and Alyssa Lang (sideline)
Intl networkESPN Deportes
Different previous2021 (Dec.)

The 2022 Gator Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 30, 2022, at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The 78th annual Gator Bowl, the game featured Notre Dame, an FBS Independent, and South Carolina of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The game began at 3:40 p.m. EST[4] and was aired on ESPN.[5] It was one of the 2022–23 bowl games concluding the 2022 FBS football season. Sponsored by financial technology company TaxSlayer, the game was officially known as the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Notre Dame defeated South Carolina with a final score of 45–38.

With 5.766 million viewers, the 2022 Gator Bowl was the highest rated non-New Year’s Six bowl game of the 2022–23 season.[6] It was also the highest-scoring Gator Bowl in history, with a combined 83 points.[7]

Teams

Based on conference tie-ins, the game was expected to feature teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Big Ten Conference, or the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Selected to the bowl were South Carolina of the SEC and Notre Dame, who compete as an FBS Independent.

This was the fifth meeting between Notre Dame and South Carolina; the Fighting Irish lead the all-time series, 3–1.[8]

Notre Dame

Main article: 2022 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

Notre Dame compiled an 8–4 record during their regular season. They opened their season with two losses, then won eight of their next nine games, before closing with a loss at USC. The Fighting Irish faced five ranked opponents, defeating BYU, Syracuse, and Clemson while losing to Ohio State and USC. Notre Dame entered the bowl 21st in the College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking.

South Carolina

Main article: 2022 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

South Carolina went 8–4 during the regular season, 4–4 in conference play. They also faced five ranked opponents, defeating Kentucky, Tennessee, and Clemson while losing to Arkansas and Georgia. The Gamecocks entered the bowl 19th in the CFP ranking.

Statistics

Team statistical comparison[4]
StatisticNotre DameSouth Carolina
First downs2720
First downs rushing145
First downs passing1313
First downs penalty02
Third down efficiency11–195–15
Fourth down efficiency1–11–2
Total plays–net yards80–55872–352
Rushing attempts–net yards46–26422–65
Yards per rush5.73.0
Yards passing294287
Pass completions–attempts19–3431–50
Interceptions thrown31
Punt returns–total yards1–72–7
Kickoff returns–total yards1–182–64
Punts–average yardage4–50.06–40.0
Fumbles–lost0–01–1
Penalties–yards4–408–68
Time of possession36:3923:21
Notre Dame statistics[4]
Fighting Irish passing
C–AYdsTD–INT
Tyler Buchner18–332743–3
Davis Sherwood1–1200–0
Fighting Irish rushing
CarYdsTD
Audric Estimé14950
Logan Diggs13891
Tyler Buchner12612
Chris Tyree5210
TEAM2−20
Fighting Irish receiving
RecYdsTD
Braden Lenzy4891
Logan Diggs2811
Jayden Thomas5670
Mitchell Evans3391
Chris Tyree4100
Audric Estimé180
South Carolina statistics[4]
Gamecocks passing
C–AYdsTD–INT
Spencer Rattler29–462462–1
Kai Kroeger1–1231–0
Dakereon Joyner1–1180–0
Gamecocks rushing
CarYdsTD
Juju McDowell6280
Spencer Rattler7270
Dakereon Joyner180
Christian Beal-Smith380
Ahmarean Brown120
Rashad Amos1−20
Antwane Wells Jr.1−20
Xavier Legette2−40
Gamecocks receiving
RecYdsTD
Xavier Legette7782
Nate Adkins5780
Dakereon Joyner3350
Antwane Wells Jr.5300
Hunter Rogers1231
Ahmarean Brown4220
Juju McDowell3130
Christian Beal-Smith270
O'Mega Blake110

References

  1. ^ "The Tyler Buchner experience tonight was WILD:". No. 1608984752534720513. December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  2. ^ Austro, Ben (December 4, 2022). "2022–23 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  3. ^ "2022 Bowl Schedule". College Football Poll. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  4. ^ "2022 Gator Bowl Final Stats". Statbroadcast. December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  5. ^ "2022 College Football Bowl Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "South Carolina 2022 Football Season Highlights". University of South Carolina Athletics. 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  7. ^ "Irish top S.C. in historic Gator Bowl barnburner". ESPN.com. 2022-12-31. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  8. ^ "Winsipedia – Notre Dame vs. South Carolina". Winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 4, 2022.