Sports

Irish drop to 1-7 in ACC with loss to Seminoles

It was a Tuesday night must-win game for Notre Dame men’s basketball. But as has become a recurring theme this season, the Irish failed to deliver. After falling to 1-6 in conference play following a deflating road loss to Syracuse, the Irish needed to turn things around against a struggling Florida State team in front of a packed student section back from winter break.

Notre Dame seeks breakout weekend against No. 2 Minnesota

For the first time in five weeks, Big Ten hockey returns to Compton Family Ice Arena this weekend. Notre Dame, unranked for the first time this year, will host conference frontrunner Minnesota in a key two-game series. The Fighting Irish (10-10-2, 4-6-1-1) sit in fifth place with 15 points, while the Golden Gophers (16-6-0, 10-2-0-0) hold a comfortable lead with 30 points. No. 5 Penn State and No. 8 Ohio State currently trail by eight and nine points, respectively. Minnesota previously handed Notre Dame its only sweep of the season back in early November.

Irish score six in game two, salvage series split with Wisconsin

After splitting a home series with Alaska last weekend, the Notre Dame Men’s hockey team went on the road, resuming conference play against the University of Wisconsin Badgers. The Irish tread water, splitting with the cellar-dwelling Badgers. They dropped game one, 2-0, and they won game two, 6-4.

Irish come up short on the road against North Carolina

A string of narrow losses left Notre Dame men’s basketball winless in ACC play entering a critical game at North Carolina on Saturday morning. Despite a worthy effort from the Irish on both ends of the floor, they continue to seek their first conference victory. The Tar Heels pulled away down the stretch en route to an 81-64 win.

Wake Forest quarterback announces transfer to Notre Dame

Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman announced Thursday afternoon he’d be transferring to Notre Dame for the 2023 football season.

On the Ground: My Jacksonville Gator Bowl experience, brought to you by Southwest Airlines

Editor’s note: All four Observer staff members on this trip were 21.

Thomas: Five potential 2023 stars emerge from Gator Bowl performance

The 2022 season is in the books for Notre Dame, punctuated by their wild 45-38 win over South Carolina in the Gator Bowl. The Irish will replace four offensive starters (five if you count the quarterback) and up to five defensive starters, depending on a few pending decisions. In particular, the defensive line loses All-American Isaiah Foskey along with the highly productive Jayson Ademilola. In the secondary, cornerback TaRiq Bracy and safety Houston Griffith are out of eligibility. Senior safety Brandon Joseph is headed to the NFL Draft and another senior safety DJ Brown may depart as well.

Gator Bowl grades: Buchner delivers rollercoaster effort amidst transfer rumors

Tyler Buchner entered the 2022 season with a lot of hype. With the offensive line and run game struggling, Buchner’s inexperience as a passer shone through in a rough, 0-2 start to the season. In the second loss, Buchner suffered an injury that sidelined him until Friday’s bowl game.

Gator bowl grades: Irish defensive line flashes sneak peak of 2023

While on the offensive side of the ball, Notre Dame looked to replace All-American junior Michael Mayer at tight end, they had a couple of major holes on the defensive side as well. The Irish were missing four defensive starters during Friday’s Gator Bowl, including two on the defensive line.

‘Meant for Mitch’: With Mayer out, Evans steps up in tight end role

On Friday afternoon, the Notre Dame football tight end room was tasked with filling an All-American-sized hole that Michael Mayer left in the Irish offense. Mayer declared for the 2023 NFL Draft after serving as the offensive crutch for the Irish throughout the 2022 season. 

Gameday Gallery: Notre Dame vs. South Carolina in the Gator Bowl

‘The third and fourth quarters are our quarters’: Irish run game executes monster second half to beat South Carolina

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In Notre Dame’s 45-38 Gator Bowl win over South Carolina, the Irish run game paved the way to victory with 264 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. 

‘What a great feeling’: Irish take home first bowl win of the Freeman era, 45-38

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Last year, the Irish came out of the gate with a 21-point lead in the Fiesta Bowl but lost in the second half to Oklahoma State, 37-35. After making it back to a bowl game this year, the Irish were behind South Carolina at the half, 24-17, but turned the game around to win 45-38. This matchup became the highest-scoring game in Gator Bowl history.

How it happened: Five key moments of Notre Dame’s 45-38 Gator Bowl victory

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Notre Dame battled South Carolina in a back-and-forth Gator Bowl that saw the Irish erase an early 14-point deficit to secure a victory and finish the season 9-4. Here are the five key moments from the Irish’s Gator Bowl win.

Irish Insider: Notre Dame v. South Carolina in Gator Bowl

Freeman, Irish captains discuss leadership, team culture ahead of Gator Bowl

Freeman, Irish captains discuss leadership, team culture ahead of Gator Bowl

With Isaiah Foskey and Michael Mayer moving onto the NFL, the Irish locker room is left with four official captains. Graduate student offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson leads the offense with wide receiver Avery Davis, while senior linebackers JD Bertrand and Bo Bauer represent the defense.

Gator Bowl: Everything Freeman said as Irish seek win to end season

With the Irish set to face the South Carolina Gamecocks tomorrow afternoon in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, head coach Marcus Freeman discussed his team’s experience so far in Jacksonville

‘You want to take every opportunity you can’: Buchner prepares to start in Gator Bowl

Arguably the biggest question mark in determining Friday’s bowl game outcome, sophomore quarterback Tyler Buchner will take the field as the starter for the first time since his injury against Marshall. With the transfer of former starting quarterback Drew Pyne and the accelerated healing of Buchner’s shoulder, head coach Marcus Freeman chose Buchner to take the field on Friday. However, Buchner has not played since the Irish loss to Marshall. On top of that, he has only started two games in his entire career.

Next man up: Mitchell Evans steps into larger role after Mayer’s departure

With projected first-round NFL Draft pick Michael Mayer officially out of the Irish tight end room, the remaining members of this position group have big shoes to fill in this 6-foot-5 offensive hole. One player shouldering that responsibility is Mitchell Evans, who notched a touchdown for Notre Dame against UNLV earlier this season. The sophomore has emerged as a valuable member of the developing offensive makeup and already has the next-man-up mentality intact. This mindset will come in handy with the recent changeover in the Irish’s roster.

Observer Sports Staff predicts the Gator Bowl: Notre Dame v. South Carolina

Bowl games are a bit of a battle of attrition with all the opt-outs, and Notre Dame loses two All-Americans for this battle with South Carolina. However, the Gamecocks will be down about half-a-dozen starters, so it feels like, while lacking their star power, Notre Dame might have an edge in player availability. Quarterback is obviously the big question mark, and we’ll see if Tyler Buchner made much progress since completing 56% of his passes for no scores, two interceptions and a 54.0 quarterback rating in seven quarters earlier this season. He’ll have his opportunities against a Gamecocks’ defense that has struggled in all phases of the game of the year.