TaxSlayer Gator Bowl keys to the game: Notre Dame vs. South Carolina
No. 21 Notre Dame (8-4) is playing in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against No. 19 South Carolina (9-3). Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.
South Carolina is without their leading rusher MarShawn Lloyd, Josh Vann, Jalen Brooks and Austin Stogner. The Irish will be without Isaiah Foskey, who opted out of the bowl game and decaled for the NFL Draft.
Tyler Buchner is back from injury and will start for Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl. Bucher will play at quarterback for the Irish. The team is looking for a new quarterback. South Carolina has allowed more than 200 rushing yards in three of its four losses this season. Michael Mayer, a future NFL first-round pick, opted out of the game.
South Carolina's secondary will be missing some players for the Gator Bowl. Darius Rush and Cam Smith have already declared for NFL Draft. David Spaulding's availability is unclear. Notre Dame has thrown eight interceptions this season, but only two came from Buchner.
South Carolina's quarterback Spencer Rattler has been playing well recently. The team is thin with its starting running back and three of its top receivers gone. South Carolina has struggled to protect Rattlers in recent games.
The Irish led college football with seven blocked punts. South Carolina is tied for second with Rutgers and Bowling Green with five blocked Punts this season.
