Live: Notre Dame faces South Carolina in TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in Jacksonville

The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl returns to Jacksonville on Friday, December 30, 2022, with the annual college football tradition matching the nationally-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the South Carolina Gamecocks at TIAA Bank Field. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. and the television broadcast will be on ESPN.

Notre Dame enters with an 8-4 record, although the Fighting Irish lost the last time out against USC. With quarterback Drew Pyne entering the transfer portal, Notre Dame is expected to return the starting job to Tyler Buchner, who had been out of action since suffering a shoulder injury in September against Marshall. This will be Notre Dame's fourth visit to the Gator Bowl and the first since Jan. 1, 2003, when they lost 28-6 to N.C. State.

South Carolina, also 8-4, enters on a high note after back-to-back victories over top-10 teams, scoring 63 points against Tennessee and then edging traditional rival Clemson 31-30. Quarterback Spencer Rattler, an Oklahoma transfer, threw for nearly 800 yards in those wins. The Gamecocks have played four previous Gator Bowls, three in the 1980s, but haven't taken the field in Jacksonville since a 30-13 loss to LSU on Dec. 31, 1987.

Beamer Ball in action:Gator Bowl: Kai Kroeger's TD pass latest highlight for South Carolina's Beamer Ball

Gator Bowl notebook: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl notebook: Carolina coach Shane Beamer unhappy with blindside block penalty

Answering the bell:Gator Bowl: How did Notre Dame handle the most important drive of its season? Nailed it

Rusty no more:In Gator Bowl classic, Notre Dame's Tyler Buchner shakes off rust and talks like a winner

Big hit for the First Coast:78th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl matches Notre Dame vs. South Carolina

Beamer Ball, second generation: South Carolina coach Shane Beamer isn't afraid to roll the dice

Inside the Fighting Irish:Practice notes: Tyler Buchner set to reclaim starting QB role for Notre Dame in Gator Bowl

Instant Classic: Notre Dame rallies from early deficit to stun South Carolina in TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

7:25 p.m. | FINAL: Notre Dame 45, South Carolina 38

This one is in the books. A memorable one for Notre Dame, with 559 total yards.e

7:24 p.m. | Last South Carolina drive falls shor

South Carolina falls short.

A Spencer Rattler run, plus a 15-yard penalty on the Fighting Irish, advanced South Carolina inside the Notre Dame 35. But Rattler threw incomplete on first down and got flagged for intentional grounding, under heavy pressure from Notre Dame defensive end Rylie Mills, on second down. Ten Rattler missed on third down and Juju McDowell was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, setting up a fourth and 36.

Incomplete. Notre Dame survives.

7:12 p.m. | Touchdown Notre Dame: Mitchell Evans catches TD pass from Tyler Buchner

That could be the winning score... maybe?

Mitchell Evans catches a TD pass from Tyler Buchner. He steps into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. After zero catches all year, he comes up with a huge one there. The only down side for the Fighting Irish, though... instead of draining the clock, they will give South Carolina the ball back with a little time.

Notre Dame 45, South Carolina 38, 1:38 4th.

7:08 p.m. | Notre Dame driving inside 20

The Fighting Irish are marching. A big third-down conversion from Tyler Buchner to Chris Tyree advanced the football inside the 20. Just 2:13 left in a Gator Bowl classic that's tied 38-38.

6:57 p.m. | Pick-six! O'Donnell Fortune with a record-breaker for Gamecocks

That is a record-setter. For 77 years, South Carolina's Charlie Brembs held the record for longest interception return at the Gator Bowl. Not anymore.

Tyler Buchner forces a pass into pressure around the goal line and O'Donnell Fortune is there, taking it back 100 yards to the house. That was just at the moment when Notre Dame, which has been running wild on the ground, looked set to punch the ball in for a clinching score. It's also the highest-scoring Gator Bowl ever.

Notre Dame 38, South Carolina 38, 7:42 4th.

6:49 p.m. | Gator Bowl attendance: 67,383, largest since 2011

The Gator Bowl, as expected, has drawn a big crowd: 67,383, the largest for the game in Jacksonville since Mississippi State defeated Michigan in the 2011 edition.

6:48 p.m. | South Carolina again goes three-and-out

The South Carolina offense has gone ice-cold.

An end-around failed on first down, and Spencer Rattler continues to struggle mightily in the passing game. The quarterback misfired badly on third down and the South Carolina offense punted again after moving five yards on three plays. All Fighting Irish at the moment.

Notre Dame takes over on their own 40.

6:40 p.m. | Touchdown Notre Dame: Logan Diggs puts Fighting Irish in front

This game has turned around fast.

Logan Diggs takes a handoff, skips to the outside along the right and scoots 42 yards to the end zone. That drive was kept alive by a fake punt by Notre Dame's Braden Lenzy, who converted to get across the midfield line.

Notre Dame 38, South Carolina 31, 12:41 4th.

6:30 p.m. | End of third quarter: Notre Dame 31, South Carolina 31

South Carolina goes three and out, ending with Jordan Botelho's sack on Spencer Rattler. Botelho has provided a nice pass rush off the edge today for the Fighting Irish. Nothing is going right at the moment for the Gamecocks QB.

When play resumes, South Carolina will be punting the football away.

6:27 p.m. | Touchdown Notre Dame: Braden Lenzy ties game for Notre Dame

Once again, it's a one-play, one-score drive for the Fighting Irish.

Braden Lenzy got open deep and Tyler Buchner found him with what might have been his best throw of the day, a 45-yard strike. Tied up again at TIAA Bank Field.

Notre Dame 31, South Carolina 31, 0:31 3rd.

6:24 p.m. | Gamecocks go three and out

That was a dangerous one. Spencer Rattler threw behind Xavier Legette on second down and nearly threw a pick on third down. His sideline pass just missed Notre Dame DB D.J. Brown.

That's going to mean a South Carolina punt. The Fighting Irish will end up taking over at the Gamecock 44 after a short punt.

6:21 p.m. | South Carolina stops Fighting Irish near midfield

Add another play to Alex Huntley's highlight reel. The lineman chased back to down Jayden Thomas on a third-down pass. Once again, Notre Dame QB Tyler Buchner absorbed a pretty heavy hit.

Notre Dame punted for a touchback and the Gamecocks take over late in the third quarter at their own 20.

6:15 p.m. | South Carolina goes three and out

The Gamecocks weren't able to convert the turnover into points. Spencer Rattler threw incomplete on third down to halt the drive.

After a rare penalty, in which South Carolina was flagged for having two players with the same number on the field at the same time, the Gamecocks' Kai Kroeger punted to the Notre Dame 13.

6:11 p.m.| Interception! Gamecocks pick off deflected ball

That was seriously dangerous. The Gamecocks made Notre Dame pay.

Scrambling away from traffic, Tyler Buchner flipped a backhand pass toward Jayden Thomas, but the ball got tipped and bounced into the hands of Nick Barrett. The Gamecocks take over in Notre Dame territory.

6:06 p.m. | Touchdown South Carolina: Xavier Legette comes down with stunning catch from Spencer Rattler pass

How did he stay in bounds? It's not clear... but officials ruled that Xavier Legette did, and that's the important thing.

The receiver twisted and turned to grab the 42-yard pass from Spencer Rattler along the sideline in the end zone, landing right along the chalk. After a review, officials ruled that Legette had stayed in bounds, which originally looked like a near-impossibility. A catch that will be discussed for a long time to come in the Gator Bowl history books.

Key in that drive was a shovel pass to Nate Adkins, back in the game, to convert a third down. He's back in action for the Gamecocks.

South Carolina 31, Notre Dame 24, 8:31 3rd.

5:52 p.m. | Touchdown Notre Dame: Tyler Buchner ties game with TD rush

Tyler Buchner is playing with confidence now. The quarterback lofted a deep pass to Jayden Thomas down inside the 30 for the Gamecocks, sandwiched in between first-down rushes by Audric Estime. Estime had runs of 12 and 19 yards on that possession.

Then, it's Buchner time again, bouncing the ball outside and around the left end, juking past a couple of tackles for an 11-yard touchdown run. That's his second of the night. This game is tied up.

Notre Dame 24, South Carolina 24, 10:28 3rd.

5:44 p.m. | Gamecocks also go three-and-out

Crunch. That's an effective but painful three-and-out for the Notre Dame defense. Spencer Rattler threw his third-down pass into dangerous traffic with three Fighting Irish defenders in the neighborhood, but two crashed into each other and the pass fell incomplete.

Kai Kroeger narrowly avoided the punt rush and booted the football to the Notre Dame 32.

5:42 p.m. | Quick three-and-out for Notre Dame

Not an impressive start for Notre Dame in the third quarter in Jacksonville. Tyler Buchner missed low on second down, and his sky-high third down pass appeared to get lost in the lights. Neither receiver Tobias Merriweather nor Gamecocks defender Brad Johnson seemed to locate that one.

It's a punt, and South Carolina takes over on its own 25.

5:38 p.m. | Second-half kickoff time

The second half is kicking off. South Carolina, up 24-17 in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, will boot the ball away to the Fighting Irish.

5:30 p.m. | Gator Bowl Halftime Stats

Time for the halftime statistics for Notre Dame and South Carolina.

5:17 p.m. | HALFTIME: South Carolina 24, Notre Dame 17

That's the end of an entertaining first half at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

5:15 p.m. | Interception: Benjamin Morrison picks off Gamecocks

No more points for South Carolina before the half. Benjamin Morrison grabbed a deep pass from Spencer Rattler to deny the Gamecocks before the break.

That drive included a genuine weird moment when Spencer Rattler extended the football and ended up flipping it to himself in the open field, averting a potentially disastrous fumble. Not at all clear what the Gamecocks QB was thinking there, but he avoided a turnover - at least for three more plays.

5:12 p.m. | Penalties mount on South Carolina; head coach Shane Beamer flagged

Fans are booing. A 15-yard penalty on D.K. Joyner on the punt return for an illegal blindside block, then a 15-yard penalty on Shane Beamer for unsportsmanlike conduct for arguing from the bench. Don't see that every day. South Carolina will begin this drive from their own 20.

5:09 p.m. | Gamecocks drive Notre Dame backward on drive

Gobbled up. Sherrod Greene sacks Tyler Buchner back at the Notre Dame 4. That pins the Fighting Irish back with nightmarish field position for the ensuing punt.

5:04 p.m. | Notre Dame stops South Carolina drive shy of midfield

For the first time in a long time, Notre Dame keeps South Carolina off the scoreboard. Jaden Mickey brought down receiver O'Mega Blake short of the line to gain on third and 5, stopping the Gamecocks at the 42. The key play was on first down, when South Carolina set up Xavier Legette for a pass on an end-around but the receiver slipped before he could throw the pass.

Kai Kroeger punted inside the 15 and Notre Dame will start 88 yards from the goal line.

5:02 p.m. | Notes on that Notre Dame TD

A lot of notable numbers on that Logan Diggs touchdown.

4:57 p.m. | Touchdown Notre Dame: Fighting Irish strike back on Logan Diggs TD

That didn't take long.

Starting from the Notre Dame 25, Tyler Buchner passed to Logan Diggs at the line of scrimmage and the sophomore running back did the rest, zooming 75 yards up the right sideline to the end zone. Easily the biggest play for Notre Dame on offense today, and their longest touchdown on offense this year. They're back in this one at the Gator Bowl.

South Carolina 24, Notre Dame 17, 5:06 2nd.

4:52 p.m. | Field goal: Mitch Jeter kick stretches South Carolina lead to 14 points

Sometimes D.K. Joyner is throwing passes. Sometimes, he's catching them.

Joyner grabbed a bullet pass from Spencer Rattler on the post pattern over the middle to convert a third-and-long play inside the Notre Dame 40. He almost hauled in a diving pass on Rattler's throw to the corner but couldn't quite hang on.

Rattler then overthrew Antwane Wells Jr. on third down, leading to a field goal attempt for Mitch Jeter. No trickery this time: The Gamecocks' kicker booted this one straight through from 45 yards.

South Carolina 24, Notre Dame 10, 5:18 2nd.

4:39 p.m. | Field goal Notre Dame: Blake Grupe gives Fighting Irish three after long drive

Not every play is pretty (6 of 14, 72 yards, 1 INT in the passing game), but Tyler Buchner kept the Notre Dame offense moving up the field on a crucial possession. The sophomore QB stood firm in the pocket and absorbed a hard shot from the South Carolina defense before finding Jayden Thomas for a third-down conversion. Then, Buchner rolled around the left end for a 21-yard gain to the Gamecock 9.

But Alex Huntley, having a very nice game for the Gamecocks, added to his solid performance on the day (he tipped the pass leading to the first-quarter interception) with a third-down sack that pushed Buchner backward 12 yards. After a drive that chewed up 7:08 on the clock, Notre Dame had to settle for a 37-yard field goal by Blake Grupe.

South Carolina 21, Notre Dame 10, 8:36 1st.

4:26 p.m. | END OF FIRST QUARTER: South Carolina 21, Notre Dame 7

It's a solid start for South Carolina at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. That was the highest-scoring first quarter in Gator Bowl history.

4:22 p.m. | Touchdown Gamecocks: South Carolina scores on pick-six

South Carolina has scored a TD pass from a QB. They've scored a TD pass from a punter. And now, in this first quarter, they've scored a TD pass from Notre Dame.

Tyler Buchner tried to throw over the middle but Alex Huntley of South Carolina had other ideas, tipping the football at the line and knocking it into the hands of D.Q. Smith. The freshman took the ball 53 yards the other way to the end zone. It's getting better for the Gamecocks. That's the first pick-six in the Gator Bowl since Texas A&M's Tyrel Dodson four years ago.

South Carolina 21, Notre Dame 7, 0:44 1st.

4:17 p.m. | Touchdown Gamecocks: Beamer Ball touchdown from punter Kai Kroeger restores lead

It's Beamer Ball time in Jacksonville, and that means shaking things up. Dakereon Joyner came in at QB for Spencer Rattler for one play and found tight end Nate Adkins across midfield. Then, after a flea flicker that included a pitch , Rattler again passed to Adkins to advance to the Notre Dame 33. Adkins, up to four catches on the day, went to the sidelines with an apparent injury.

Then... fourth down, and South Carolina snapped to punter Kai Kroeger, who threw to long snapper Hunter Rogers, split off the right side. The result: A touchdown, the second of the year for Kroeger as a passer (he's 4 for 4 on the season). Three Gamecocks have now thrown passes in this game.

South Carolina 14, Notre Dame 7, 2:27 1st.

4:03 p.m. | Touchdown Notre Dame: Tyler Buchner scores up the middle on QB draw

Mitchell Evans didn't have a catch all season for Notre Dame. He's got one now, converting third-and-15 to keep the Fighting Irish drive alive.

Tyler Buchner made sure it paid off, too, taking a third-down quarterback draw up the middle 15 yards to the house, untouched. That's the third rushing TD of the season for the sophomore, who's been less than perfect with his passing so far (3 of 8, 31 yards).

Notre Dame 7, South Carolina 7, 5:54 1st.

3:54 p.m. | Fumble! Ramon Henderson recovers after South Carolina loses handle

Notre Dame needed that.

The Gamecocks drove to midfield, but receiver Ahmarean Brown lost the ball on a pass to the right sideline and Ramon Henderson pounced on the loose ball at the midfield stripe. That's where Tyler Buchner and the Fighting Irish offense will take over. Not clear whether Houston Griffith of Notre Dame made contact with the football to jar it loose.

3:52 p.m. | Notre Dame goes three and out

Not a great start for the Fighting Irish on O. Lorenzo Styles couldn't come up with a first-down pass and a third-down attempt glanced off the hands of Jayden Thomas. Notre Dame punts and South Carolina will take over at its own 31.

3:50 p.m. | Gator Bowl milestone for South Carolina

That touchdown represents a welcome start for the Gamecocks in Jacksonville.

3:46 p.m. | Touchdown South Carolina: Xavier Legette finds end zone after long opening Gamecock drive

Can Notre Dame slow down this Gamecocks offense? So far, it looks advantage South Carolina when it's the garnet and black side with the football.

The big plays came one after another: Juju McDowell rounded left end for 13 yards and Spencer Rattler completed a pass to tight end Nate Adkins just short of midfield. Then a short toss to Antwane Wells Jr. picked up another first down across the 40, and on third-and-long, Rattler spun away from pressure and found Adkins for a completion inside the red zone.

Then, a pass into the left flat and Xavier Legette took it the rest of the way. That was a 75-yard march over 10 plays in 3:12, and aside from a Jordan Botelho sack on Rattler, South Carolina didn't have a lot of trouble on that drive.

South Carolina 7, Notre Dame 0, 11:48 1st.

3:40 p.m. | It's kickoff time!

Notre Dame kicks for a touchback. South Carolina takes the ball at its 25.

3:38 p.m. | South Carolina wins toss and will receive

It'll be Gamecocks football first at TIAA Bank Field.

3:35 p.m. | South Carolina players enter field

It's noisy at TIAA Bank Field as the Gamecocks arrive.

3:33 p.m. | Notre Dame players enter field

The Fighting Irish are on the field. A mixed reception from what is undoubtedly a pro-Gamecock crowd.

3:25 p.m. | Inside the South Carolina fan scene at Gator Bowl

It's an enthusiastic Gamecocks crowd here in Jacksonville.

3:20 p.m. | Several Notre Dame players out of action

In addition to players already known to be exiting the program for the draft or the transfer portal, Notre Dame will be without a few more players Friday.

3:10 p.m. | Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner embraces new competition

QB Tyler Buchner knows head coach Marcus Freeman is lining up new talent at the position, but ahead of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, he's ready for the challenge. | Read more --Mike Berardino

3 p.m. | Gator Bowl owes big thank-you to Utah for delivering Notre Dame-South Carolina matchup

When Utah knocked off Southern Cal in the Pac-12, it delivered an ideal Notre Dame-South Carolina matchup for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. | Read more --Gene Frenette

2:50 p.m. | After opt-outs, opportunity knocks at TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

For every player who elects to opt out of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, there's always another one who gets a chance to remember. | Read more --Garry Smits

2:45 p.m. | Fight song time at Gator Bowl

2:40 p.m. | 'Super Senior' linebacker Sherrod Greene has remained loyal to Gamecocks

The transfer portal. Opting out. Longtime Gamecocks linebacker Sherrod Greene had plenty of ways to step away from South Carolina football. Once again, he elected to stick with the team. | Read more --Garry Smits

2:30 p.m. | South Carolina football's Spencer Rattler evasive about future ahead of Gator Bowl

 South Carolina football will have to wait until after the Gator Bowl for its two biggest offensive weapons to announce decisions about their NFL futures. | Read more --Emily Adams

2:20 p.m. | Gator Bowl: Player-led meetings allow Notre Dame football to bring young talents along faster

For Notre Dame entering the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, even the rawest of young talents feel empowered enough to speak up. | Read more --Mike Berardino

2:15 p.m. | The Notre Dame fan scene at TIAA Bank Field

Excitement is building for the Fighting Irish.

2:10 p.m. | Gator Bowl: Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison knows South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler from back home

During his breakout November, Notre Dame freshman cornerback Benjamin Morrison intercepted five passes from a trio of well-regarded quarterbacks: Clemson’s DJ Uiagalelei and Cade Klubnik and Emmett Morehead of Boston College. Grabbing interception No. 6 of the year against South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler in Friday’s Gator Bowl would come with bragging rights back home in Scottsdale, Ariz.  | Read more --Mike Berardino

2 p.m. | Gator Bowl: Jaylen Sneed, pride of the Palmetto State, looks forward to 'great experience'

Notre Dame’s five-star freshman linebacker from Hilton Head Island, S.C., isn’t just looking forward to an expanded role on Friday afternoon at TIAA Bank Field. When he goes to work against No. 21 South Carolina, he’ll be trying to silence certain family members intent on rooting for the Gamecocks. | Read more --Mike Berardino

1:50 p.m. | Gamecocks All-SEC punter Kai Kroeger a Gator Bowl threat with leg or arm

South Carolina punter Kai Kroeger is among the best in the nation, on a special teams unit that also ranks among the best in NCAA Division I. | Read more --Garry Smits

1:40 p.m. | Entering 78th year, Jacksonville's Gator Bowl holds rich history

From Lamar Jackson to Bobby Bowden to Pat Sullivan, here's what you need to know about Jacksonville's Gator Bowl tradition through more than three-quarters of a century. | Read more --Garry Smits

1:30 p.m. | With large crowd on way, officials stress patience for South Carolina, Notre Dame fans at TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

With a near-sellout crowd anticipated for South Carolina and Notre Dame at Friday's Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, local officials are urging fans to arrive early and be patient. | Read more --Garry Smits

1:10 p.m. | Beamer Ball, part II: Inside South Carolina's unpredictable style entering Gator Bowl

South Carolina has been unconventional already under head coach Shane Beamer, and after the Gamecocks' moves in the transfer portal fans should expect the unexpected. | Read more --Garry Smits

1 p.m. | Big hit for the First Coast: Notre Dame, South Carolina set to face off

The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl is back in a big way this year.

After snaring one of the best bowl matchups outside the New Year's Day Six games, the expected crowd at TIAA Bank Field on Friday is likely to surpass the combined attendance of the previous two games. | Read more --Garry Smits

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Gator Bowl 2022: Notre Dame-South Carolina in Jacksonville