Buchner totals 5 TDs, Notre Dame wins Gator Bowl

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. >> Tyler Buchner accounted for five touchdowns to help offset two interceptions returned for TDs, and No. 19 Notre Dame beat 20th-ranked South Carolina 45-38 in a wild TaxSlayer Bowl on Friday.

The highest-scoring game in Gator Bowl history was filled with big plays and memorable moments. But Buchner delivered the knockout blow when he found tight end Mitchell Evans wide open for a 16-yard touchdown on a third-and-7 play with 1:38 remaining.

Buchner, who regained the starting job after Drew Pyne entered the transfer portal following the regular-season finale, threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 61 yards and two scores.

But his three interceptions nearly proved too much to overcome.

O’Donnell Fortune returned one of them 100 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and DQ Smith returned another 47 yards for a score in the first. But Buchner bounced back from both miscues to earn his first victory in three career starts.

Orange Bowl

NO. 6 TENNESSEE 31, NO. 10

CLEMSON 14 >> Joe Milton completed 19 of 28 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, and Tennessee finished off its best season in more than two decades by topping Clemson in the Orange Bowl.

Squirrel White, Bru McCoy and Ramel Keyton had the scoring catches for the Volunteers (11-2), who matched their best record since 2001. Jaylen Wright rushed for 89 yards and Jabari Small had a touchdown run for Tennessee.

Cade Klubnik, making his first start for Clemson, completed 30 of 54 passes for 320 yards with two interceptions. But Clemson (11-3) just kept coming up empty on chances; the Tigers got into Tennessee territory on nine of their first 10 possessions — and turned those trips into only two field goals.

Klubnik ran in from 4 yards out to get Clemson within 21-14 with 10:01 left, but Milton connected with Keyton for a 46-yard score on the next Tennessee possession. The Volunteers intercepted Klubnik on a desperation fourth-down heave about a minute later.

Sun Bowl

PITT 37, NO. 18 UCLA 35 >> Ben Sauls booted five field goals, including a 47-yarder with seconds to play, to lift Pitt to a win over No. 18 UCLA in a back-and-forth Sun Bowl.

The Panthers (9-4), playing without five starters who opted out of the game, took advantage of five UCLA turnovers, including four interceptions.

UCLA (9-4) scored what appeared to be the gamewinning touchdown on an 8-yard run by T.J. Harden with 34 seconds remaining. That capped a drive that started at the UCLA 25yard line with less than two minutes left, and was keyed by a 34-yard run by Harden.

Mayo Bowl

MARYLAND 16, NO. 25 NC STATE 12 >> Taulia Tagovailoa threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Octavian Smith, Chad Ryland kicked three field goals and Maryland outlasted No. 25 North Carolina State to win the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Tagovailoa finished 19 of 37 for 221 yards with two interceptions. Roman Hemby ran for 65 yards rushing on 24 carries for Maryland (85), which won its second straight bowl game.

Arizona Bowl

OHIO 30, WYOMING 27 (OT)

>> C.J. Harris hit Tyler Foster on a 10-yard touchdown pass in overtime, lifting Ohio to a win over Wyoming in the Arizona Bowl.

The Cowboys (7-6) labored offensively after the first quarter. Andrew Peasley sparked Wyoming’s offense, orchestrating a sixplay, 75-yard drive capped by Jordan Vaughn’s 5-yard TD run with 2:08 left in regulation.