The 2023 Gator Bowl, officially the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, was a postseason college football bowl game played on January 2, 2023 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The game featured the Notre Dame Fighting Irish of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Key details
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | January 2, 2023 |
| Venue | TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida |
| Attendance | Approximately 35,219 spectators |
| Broadcast | ESPN (television) and ESPN Radio |
| Title sponsor | TaxSlayer |
| Teams | Notre Dame Fighting Irish (independent) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (SEC) |
| Final score | Notre Dame 45, South Carolina 38 |
| Scoring summary | Notre Dame led 31–17 at halftime, extended the lead in the third quarter, and held off a late South Carolina rally. |
| MVPs | Graham Mertz (quarterback, Notre Dame) – offensive MVP; Jermaine Carter II (linebacker, South Carolina) – defensive MVP |
| Notable statistics | - Notre Dame total offense: 531 yards (381 passing, 150 rushing) - South Carolina total offense: 453 yards (321 passing, 132 rushing) |
| Historical context | This was the 79th edition of the Gator Bowl, one of the oldest college bowl games in the United States. It marked Notre Dame’s first bowl victory since the 2020 Rose Bowl. |
Background
The Gator Bowl, established in 1946, is traditionally held in Jacksonville and has featured teams from the ACC, SEC, and other conferences. The 2023 edition continued a partnership with TaxSlayer as the title sponsor, a relationship that began in 2020.
Aftermath
Following the victory, Notre Dame finished the 2022 season with a 9–4 record, while South Carolina concluded at 8–5. Both programs used the result as a springboard for recruiting and preparation for the 2023 regular season.
