Tag: Gator Bowl

Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) rushes for yards during the second quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

No. 14 Ole Miss makes statement in routing Duke in Gator Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jaxson Dart threw four touchdown passes and Ulysses Bentley IV ran for a pair of scores as No. 14 Mississippi overwhelmed Duke in a 52-20 Gator Bowl romp Thursday night in Jacksonville, Fla.

Coach Lane Kiffin, who expressed his displeasure regarding the College Football Playoff selections, had his team out to prove a point. The Rebels were clicking for much of the game, and they held Duke’s revamped offense in check.

Dart, who’s expected to declare for the NFL draft, made a good final impression as a college player by completing 27 of 35 passes for 404 yards, including a 69-yarder to Jordan Watkins for a touchdown with 1:27 left.

Watkins caught two touchdown passes and Dae’Quan Wright and Antwane Wells Jr. each had one for Ole Miss (10-3), which won five of its last six games. Jordan Watkins was the team’s top receiver with seven receptions for 180 yards.

Duke (9-4), playing under first-year coach Manny Diaz and appearing in the Gator Bowl for the first time, turned to quarterback Henry Belin IV as the starter. Maalik Murphy had departed via the transfer portal and Grayson Loftis, who was the quarterback for Duke’s 2023 bowl victory, also exited for the transfer portal.

Belin was 25 of 44 for 236 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Sahmir Hagans posted the game’s last points on a 99-yard kickoff return.

The Blue Devils were also without running back Star Thomas, who rushed for 871 yards during the regular season before entering the transfer portal.

Duke’s Terry Moore snatched his fourth interception of the season, making a 59-yard return after picking off kicker Caden Davis’ pass on a failed fake to end the game’s opening possession.

But Ole Miss stopped Duke on fourth down on the other side of the field. The Rebels needed just four plays to go 68 yards for the game’s first points on Dart’s 32-yard pass play to Wells.

Duke had a total of 36 yards on 11 first-quarter plays. But trailing 17-0, the Blue Devils marched 75 yards on eight plays to score on Belin’s 16-yard pass to Javon Harvey.

The Rebels scored with 1:52 left in the half on Dart’s 21-yard pass to Wright for a 24-7 halftime lead.

The second-half scoring began on Isaiah Hamilton’s 50-yard interception return for a touchdown as Ole Miss led 31-7.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin in the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mississippi won 63-31. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

No. 14 Ole Miss has something to prove in Gator Bowl vs. Duke

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There’s no shortage of motivation for No. 14 Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl.

The incentive for Duke might be a bit different, but the Blue Devils will be out to prove something as well Thursday night in Jacksonville, Fla.

Both teams hold 9-3 records but arrived at this point in different ways.

Ole Miss was a contender for a spot in the College Football Playoff, while Duke was under the radar for most of the season. It will be the first meeting between the teams.

“We have a chance to get 10 wins,” Ole Miss tight end Caden Prieskorn said. “… A lot of us know this is our last time really getting to throw an Ole Miss jersey on.”

Ole Miss appears to be fired up for this matchup. Quarterback Jaxson Dart, considered an NFL prospect, has thrown for 3,875 yards and 25 touchdowns. He will play in the game before focusing on draft preparation. Tre Harris had a team-high 1,030 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, though he could be limited by injuries.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin has made comments disparaging other conferences in connection to the CFP committee’s selections for the 12-team tournament. So he’s bound to be determined to make a point on behalf of the Southeastern Conference against an Atlantic Coast Conference team.

The Rebels are on board.

“Everybody on this team is just so bought-in on what the coaches and Kiffin has been able to do these last couple years,” receiver Jordan Watkins said.

Duke is looking to cap another strong season with one more statement result despite some potential roster holes.

“You play to win the game and play to try to maximize all your players’ strengths,” first-year Blue Devils coach Manny Diaz said. “You have to do what is necessary to try to move the ball against a highly, highly disruptive defense.”

Duke has been decimated by defections, particularly on offense. Quarterback Maalik Murphy entered the transfer portal early in the process, while running back Star Thomas, who compiled a team-high 871 rushing yards, announced following Christmas that he was leaving. Murphy set the school’s single-season record with 26 touchdown passes.

The QB position for the bowl was further dinged because Grayson Loftis, who started several games late in the 2023 season, entered the portal as well. That leaves starting quarterback duties in the hands of Henry Belin IV.

“Henry is a guy who has won a game as a starter here a year ago,” Diaz said. “It’s a great lesson for everybody in the program that perseverance pays off, and he has a chance now to perform on an outstanding stage against a terrific opponent.”

Diaz said it will be important “to get our timing down for the passing offense.”

Belin will have receiver Eli Pancol, who is wrapping up his college career. Pancol has a team-high nine touchdown receptions.

Duke’s defense will have to rely on cornerback Chandler Rivers, who has been tabbed for several postseason honors. He had three interceptions and caused two fumbles during the regular season. He also notched 7 1/2 tackles for loss.

Duke, which will make its first appearance in the Gator Bowl, ranks second in the country with 14 fumble recoveries and 9.2 tackles for loss per game.

Ole Miss’ opt-out list includes linebacker Chris Paul and safety Jadon Canady.

The Rebels defeated five bowl-eligible teams this year, while Duke topped four.

Duke and Ole Miss have a common opponent in Wake Forest, which was drubbed by Ole Miss in September. It was later revealed the Demon Deacons had pulled out of next season’s game at Ole Miss. That rankled Kiffin and might further fuel his motivation against an ACC foe. Duke rallied to win at Wake Forest in the regular-season finale on a TD pass as time expired.

Duke is 8-8 all-time in bowls, though the Blue Devils have a five-game bowl winning streak. The last four of those victories have come against opponents outside of power conferences.

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2023; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers running back Phil Mafah (7) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second quarter during the Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Phil Mafah (4 TDs), Clemson topple Kentucky late in Gator Bowl

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Phil Mafah rushed for a Gator Bowl-record four touchdowns, including the decisive score with 17 seconds left, to help Clemson post a come-from-behind 38-35 victory over Kentucky on Friday at Jacksonville, Fla.

Mafah scored three touchdowns in the final quarter as the Tigers tallied 28 points to overcome an 11-point deficit. Kentucky committed four turnovers in the final quarter with Clemson’s Shelton Lewis making the game-sealing interception with nine seconds left.

Barrett Carter had two key fourth-quarter takeaways for Clemson (9-4), which won its fifth straight game. Cade Klubnik was 30-of-41 passing for 264 yards and one interception. Mafah rushed for 71 yards for the Tigers.

Barion Brown accounted for three scores, including a kickoff return, for Kentucky (7-6), which lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Ray Davis rushed 1 yard for a touchdown to give Kentucky a 35-30 lead with 2:39 remaining. Davis rushed for 63 yards and stretched his single-season school record to 21 total touchdowns.

But the lead didn’t hold up as the Tigers drove 68 yards on 12 plays for Mafah’s go-ahead score prior to a two-point conversion throw.

Devin Leary completed 16 of 27 passes for 306 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Kentucky. Brown also rushed for a score and caught one, while Dane Key also had a scoring reception.

Kentucky led 21-10 after Brown returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It was Brown’s third kickoff return score of the season.

But the Wildcats committed three turnovers in the first eight-plus minutes of the fourth quarter to help the Tigers rally.

Clemson moved within five on the first play of the quarter when Mafah scored on a 1-yard run. A two-point conversion pass was incomplete.

Jonathan Weitz booted a 28-yard field goal as the Tigers cut their deficit to 21-19 with seven minutes remaining. The Field goal was set up by Carter’s interception that gave Clemson the ball at the Kentucky 37-yard line.

On Kentucky’s next offensive play, Brown fumbled and Carter returned it to the Wildcats’ 29. On the following play, Mafah raced 29 yards to put Clemson ahead and Klubnik tossed a two-point conversion pass to Tyler Brown to give the Tigers a 27-21 lead with 6:45 left in the game.

Three plays later, Kentucky was back ahead at 28-27. Leary threw deep to a wide-open Brown, who finished a 60-yard pass play.

Clemson opened the scoring on Weitz’s 39-yard field goal, but the Wildcats took a 7-3 lead when Brown raced 22 yards for a score with five minutes left in the opening quarter.

The Tigers regained the lead when Mafah scored from the 1 with 10:17 left in the first half.

Kentucky took a 14-10 lead on Leary’s 5-yard scoring pass to Key with 7:44 remaining in the half.

–Field Level Media

Kentucky Wildcats running back Ray Davis (1) reacts after scoring in the third quarter at Louisville on Nov. 25, 2023.

Clemson streaks into Gator Bowl clash with Kentucky

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Clemson is accustomed to playing on big stages, but falling short of double-digit victories for the first time since 2010 has ramifications.

The Tigers weren’t in the College Football Playoff mix nor were they a candidate for one of the major bowls, yet they do get the opportunity to finish the season with a fifth consecutive victory when they battle Kentucky in the Gator Bowl on Friday in Jacksonville, Fla.

Clemson (8-4) was sitting at .500 before a 31-23 home win over Notre Dame became the first of four straight November triumphs to save a seemingly lost season.

“To be 4-4, everybody had a decision to make,” Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said. “Our team chose to believe that it was still half-full and kept a great attitude and just kept finding a way. …

“They’ve done a great job. They’ve won four in a row, they went from 4-4 to the Gator Bowl and this is a great opportunity to finish our season on a really positive note.”

The bowl game will be the 50th in program history — Clemson is 26-23 — and the 10th time that the Tigers have played in the Gator Bowl. Clemson is 4-5 in the Gator Bowl.

Kentucky (7-5) has taken the opposite path to northeast Florida. The Wildcats started 5-0 and then dropped five of six games before posting a solid victory over then-No. 10 Louisville.

That Nov. 25 win over their in-state rivals lifted the Wildcats into the Gator Bowl for the third time. They split the first two trips. Overall, Kentucky is 12-10 in bowl games.

“There’s been some ups and downs through this season,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “I like this football team. They’ve stayed with it all year. Things haven’t always been pretty … but I like the way they fought and hung tough.”

Wildcats star running back Ray Davis declared for the NFL draft and later indicated on social media that he will play in the Gator Bowl.

Davis has set a school record with 20 total touchdowns (13 rushing, seven receiving) and his 1,066 rushing yards rank 13th on the school’s single-season list.

“I’ve been really pleased with him making that decision to come (play) when he doesn’t really have to,” Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen said. “It gives us another playmaker to get the ball in his hands and go win this football game.”

Wildcats quarterback Devin Leary will be playing against Clemson for the fourth time in his career. During his time at North Carolina State, he went 1-2 against the Tigers with losses in 2019 and 2022.

But in 2021, he passed for 238 yards and four touchdowns as the Wolfpack upset No. 9 Clemson 27-21 in double overtime.

“It’s kind of ironic to see them again,” Leary said. “They’re a great team. We know it’s going to be a good challenge.”

Leary will see some unfamiliar players as six key Clemson defenders have opted out of the game. First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (team-high 88 tackles), first-team All-ACC cornerback Nate Wiggins and third-team All-ACC defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro are preparing for the NFL draft while safety Andrew Mukuba, cornerback Toriano Pride and defensive end David Ojiegbe entered the transfer portal.

The carnage could have been worse, but second-team All-ACC linebacker Barrett Carter and safety R.J. Mickens announced they were returning for the 2024 season.

“You have a tough decision to make, but you have to really weigh out the pros and cons,” Carter said. “So I felt like I had some unfinished business here.”

The Clemson offense lost a starter in wideout Beaux Collins, who entered the portal and transferred to Notre Dame.

This will be the 14th meeting between the schools. Kentucky leads the series 8-5 but Clemson won the most recent meeting, 21-13, in the 2009 Music City Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Dec 30, 2022; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) throws the ball under pressure from South Carolina Gamecocks defensive lineman Tonka Hemingway (91) and defensive lineman T.J. Sanders (90) during the first half in the 2022 Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Buchner rallies Notre Dame to thrilling Gator Bowl win

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Tyler Buchner passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more while connecting with Mitchell Evans for a go-ahead, 16-yard TD pass with 1:38 left to boost Notre Dame to a 45-38 victory against South Carolina on Friday at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.

No. 21 Notre Dame outgained No. 19 South Carolina 558-352, establishing a program bowl record for yardage in the highest-scoring Gator Bowl in history. The Fighting Irish (9-4) erased a two-touchdown deficit to close the season with six wins in their final seven games.

South Carolina (8-5) was forced to punt on five of its first six second-half possessions, but those struggles were rendered moot when the Gamecocks’ O’Donnell Fortune returned a Buchner interception 100 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 38 with 7:42 to play.

Making his first start since sustaining a shoulder injury in the second game of the season, Buchner led the Fighting Irish on a 12-play, 80-yard drive in 6:01 as Notre Dame took the lead for good. Buchner was 18-for-33 passing for 274 yards and three interceptions while gaining 61 yards on 12 carries.

South Carolina counterpart Spencer Rattler led the Gamecocks into Notre Dame territory in the final minute, but penalties pushed the team back. Rattler was 29-for-44 for 246 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Rattler also rushed seven times for 27 yards.

Xavier Legette had seven catches for 78 yards and two scores, while Nate Adkins had five catches for 78 yards.

Notre Dame’s Braden Lenzy had four catches for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Audric Estime rushed 14 times for 95 yards to lead Notre Dame, while Logan Diggs ran for 89 yards and a score on 13 carries.

South Carolina visited the end zone on the game’s opening possession, covering 75 yards in 10 plays and 3:12 of clock time. Rattler punctuated the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Legette.

Notre Dame answered with 5:54 remaining in the quarter as Buchner ran 15 yards for a score.

The Gamecocks followed with another 10-play, 75-yard drive, but this time benefited from some special-teams trickery. With South Carolina seemingly lined up for a field-goal attempt, holder/punter Kai Kroeger came up from his crouch and passed to long snapper Hunter Rogers for a 23-yard touchdown.

Less than two minutes later, DQ Smith intercepted Buchner and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown for a 21-7 South Carolina lead.

Notre Dame trailed 24-17 at the half, and eventually outscored South Carolina in each of the game’s final three quarters.

–Field Level Media

Sep 10, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) celebrates with wide receiver Matt Salerno (29) after running for a two point conversation in the fourth quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Gator Bowl a springboard into ’23 for Notre Dame, S. Carolina

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Tyler Buchner opened the season as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback. Then an injury in early September forced him from the role.

A speedy recovery coupled with the transfer of replacement Drew Pyne — who steered the team to an 8-2 record — now have Buchner prepared to lead the No. 21 Fighting Irish into the Gator Bowl against No. 19 South Carolina on Dec. 30 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Talk about a whirlwind, right?

“You never really envision it going this way,” Buchner said. “When you’re announced as the starter and then you’re hurt (in) Week 2, you lose two games. It’s never the way you picture it. But you learn a lot through that.

“I feel like getting hurt wasn’t the worst thing that could have ever happened to me.”

Notre Dame (8-4) entered the fall with a No. 5 ranking but started the season with losses to eventual College Football Playoff entrant Ohio State and unranked Marshall. Buchner went 28-for-50 for 378 yards and two interceptions while rushing for two touchdowns before injuring the AC joint in his non-throwing shoulder.

While watching games in the press box alongside offensive coordinator Tommy Rees brought Buchner valuable seasoning, the Fighting Irish know there may be some bumps, especially early in the game.

It won’t be Notre Dame’s lone obstacle. Tight end Michael Mayer and defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey, both team captains, announced this month their intent to forego the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Mayer had 67 catches for 809 yards and nine touchdowns, while Foskey’s 11 sacks helped him close his career as the program’s all-time sacks leader. Meanwhile, cornerback Cam Hart (shoulder) will be out for the game.

The Notre Dame defense will need all the playmaking it can muster against South Carolina (8-4). Quarterback Spencer Rattler sparkled down the stretch, helping the Gamecocks close the season with a 7-2 flourish. The run included throwing for a combined 798 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions in consecutive wins against then-Top 5 foes Tennessee and Clemson.

South Carolina relies on the pass amid a rushing attack that averaged just 3.8 yards per carry. Rattler, an Oklahoma transfer, connected with Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. for six of his 16 touchdowns and 898 of his 2,780 yards this season.

Rattler, who also is mulling whether to enter the NFL Draft, cited a loyalty to Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer and the program for cementing his participation in the Gator Bowl.

“The least I could do is play in the bowl game, so I had to do it for him, the coaching staff and obviously the players, as well,” Rattler said. “All we got is all we need, and we’ve got some young guys that are hungry to make plays. We’ve got guys that are experienced here that wanted to finish this thing out right.”

As with the Fighting Irish, the Gamecocks also will lean on their depth. Starting offensive lineman Dylan Wonnum and safety Devonni Reed won’t play in the bowl game as they pursue professional careers.

Running backs Marshawn Lloyd (nine touchdowns) and tight end Jaheim Bell (two) entered the transfer portal.

Notre Dame and South Carolina are meeting for the first time since Oct. 20, 1984, a 36-32 Gamecocks victory.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Michael Mayer (87) scores a touchdown against Southern California Trojans defensive back Max Williams (4) during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame standout TE Michael Mayer to enter draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer said Wednesday he will enter the 2023 NFL Draft, in which he’s projected to be a first-round draft pick.

He revealed his decision in an interview with ESPN and added he won’t play in the upcoming Gator Bowl.

Mayer spent three seasons at Notre Dame and leaves with three school career records for tight ends — yards (2,009), catches (180) and touchdowns (18). He set the season record for touchdowns by a tight end (nine) this year. He is third on Notre Dame’s all-time receptions list, regardless of position.

“I’ve really enjoyed my experience at Notre Dame,” Mayer told ESPN. “The first reason I picked Notre Dame was the NFL; it was on my mind a very, very long time. I saw a lot of good tight ends in the NFL from Notre Dame. That was one of the main reasons I went there.”

Mayer was a five-star recruit from Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky, ranked as the No. 2 tight end in the Class of 2020 by the 247Sports composite.

The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Mayer had at least one reception in all 36 games he played at Notre Dame. This season, he had 67 catches and 809 yards.

When No. 21 Notre Dame (8-4) meets No. 19 South Carolina (8-4) in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 30, the Irish also will be without starting quarterback Drew Pyne, who entered the transfer portal.

–Field Level Media

Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman (10) is pressured in the pocket during the second quarter Friday, Dec. 31, 2021 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights faced each other in the 2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

No. 17 Wake Forest pulls away from Rutgers in 38-10 Gator Bowl win

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Sam Hartman passed for 304 yards and three touchdowns as No. 17 Wake Forest dominated the final two and a half quarters on the way to an easy 38-10 win over Rutgers on Friday afternoon in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.

The victory allowed the Demon Deacons (11-3) to match their most wins in a single season, last achieved in 2006.

Ten of Hartman’s passes were caught by A.T. Perry for 127 yards. The Demon Deacons outgained Rutgers 452 to 271 yards and outrushed the Scarlet Knights 148 to 106.

Noah Vedral led Rutgers (5-8) with 87 yards passing before being replaced at quarterback by Gavin Wimsatt. Five players threw passes for the Scarlet Knights in the loss.

Wake Forest was set to play No. 25 Texas A&M in the bowl game, but the Aggies pulled out of the contest on Dec. 22 because a combination of season-ending injuries and COVID-19 within the program. Rutgers was chosen to fill the vacancy because it had the highest academic progress rate score among the nation’s teams with 5-7 records.

The Scarlet Knights are the bowl team that entered the postseason with a losing record.

The Demon Deacons took the opening kickoff and drove 84 yards in nine plays, culminating with Hartman’s 4-yard TD pass to Brandon Chapman. Rutgers responded on its initial possession and tied the score on Aaron Young’s 12-yard scoring run at the 5:11 mark of the first quarter.

Hartman immediately marched Wake Forest back into the lead, hitting Perry for a 29-yard catch-and-run touchdown. The Scarlet Knights cut their deficit to 14-10 via Valentino Ambrosio’s 28-yard field goal three minutes into the second quarter.

Nick Sciba added to the Demon Deacons’ lead with field goals from 37 and 29 yards — the latter on the final snap of the first half — and then a 23-yarder with 6:37 to play in the third quarter.

Hartman found Chapman again with a 1-yard TD pass early in the fourth quarter. Justice Ellison then capped the scoring with a 27-yard touchdown run with 4:15 remaining.

–Field Level Media

Nov 13, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; The Rutgers Scarlet Knights celebrate a touchdown by running back Aaron Young (4) during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. The Scarlet Knights won 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Rutgers replaces Texas A&M in Gator Bowl

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Rutgers will replace Texas A&M and take on No. 17 Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 31 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Thursday’s announcement came one day after the 25th-ranked Aggies withdrew due to COVID-19 issues and injuries.

“Better late than never,” the Rutgers football program tweeted. “The Scarlet Knights are going BOWLING.”

The Scarlet Knights (5-7) will be appearing in their first bowl game since winning the 2014 Quick Lane Bowl. It was the second-longest postseason drought among Power 5 programs behind Kansas (2008 Insight Bowl).

Wake Forest (10-3) is 2-0 all-time against Rutgers, winning matchups in 1997 and 1999.

Generally, a team must win six games to be considered bowl-eligible. But if there are no available six-win teams for an empty bowl slot, the five-win program with the highest Academic Progress Rate (APR) can fill the opening.

–Field Level Media