The common season is over and the bowl schedule is ready, so it is time to look again on the groups and other people that may keep on with us from the 2022 faculty football season. If there’s one factor we realized this 12 months — heck, if there’s one factor we be taught yearly — it is that so little of what we count on to occur really involves fruition.
Take the College Football Playoff race. A brand new period emerged as Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma all missed the lower. Ohio State, which did not even win the Big Ten East for the second straight 12 months, backed its means in because the No. 4 seed. Conversely, Michigan and Georgia clinched back-to-back spots, whereas TCU grew to become simply the second Big 12 faculty to earn a visit to the playoff.
Looking again on the preseason AP Top 25 looks like a time machine. Notre Dame and Texas A&M ranked No. 5 and 6, respectively. Baylor and Oklahoma have been top-10 groups, and Miami, Wisconsin and Arkansas weren’t far behind. Now, as many as 16 groups from that preseason ballot might discover themselves out of the ultimate ballot after a tumultuous season. That simply created much more alternatives for the remaining of the game to rise.
Here are the largest winners and losers of the 2022 faculty football season.
Winners
TCU: When TCU moved on from Gary Patterson after greater than 20 years, bringing Power Five retread Sonny Dykes from cross-town rival SMU did not garner a lot pleasure. One 12 months later, Dykes has to go down as one of the neatest hires in current reminiscence as he grew to become the primary exterior teaching rent to guide his program to the College Football Playoff in his first season — and he did it at TCU. The Frogs additionally grew to become the primary faculty from Texas to make the sector — and second from the Big 12 — beating flagships Texas and Texas A&M to the ultimate 4. Quarterback Max Duggan went from backup quarterback to Heisman finalist in a single season. It was a Cinderella season for the ages.
Tennessee: Expectations have been excessive heading into Josh Heupel’s second season, however the Volunteers blasted by means of the ceiling. The offense hit the stratosphere behind quarterback Hendon Hooker, who completed as one of the best gamers within the nation. The headliner is clear: The Vols knocked off Alabama for the primary time in the course of the Nick Saban period and pulled the aim posts to the bottom. If not for a horrific November evening at South Carolina, Tennessee could be within the College Football Playoff proper now. Regardless, the vibes in Knoxville are impeccable.
The Pac-12: Though it missed the College Football Playoff for the sixth straight season, the state of West Coast football hasn’t regarded this good in years. Six groups completed within the last regular-season CFP Rankings, probably the most of any convention. Lincoln Riley’s ascent at USC will get probably the most consideration, however do not sleep on Jonathan Smith at Oregon State, Jake Dickert at Washington State and even what Jedd Fisch is doing at Arizona. If resurgent Washington had not stumbled towards Arizona State, the Pac-12 Championship Game would have been a playoff play-in between the Huskies and USC. USC and UCLA will go away the convention in 2024, creating an enormous gap, however the remaining of the league continues to be in stable form with Utah main the best way. Oh, and we have not even talked about Deion Sanders at Colorado.
Kansas: There’s virtually no stat that may contextualize how deep a gap the Jayhawks have been in in the course of the 2010s. Kansas had not reached a bowl sport since 2008 — which just about marked the final time it had even two convention victories. From 2010-2020, Kansas went a cool 21-108. Give Lance Leipold a billion {dollars}; he acquired Kansas to a bowl sport in his second season! The Jayhawks put collectively one of probably the most dynamic offenses within the nation behind star quarterback Jalon Daniels, beginning 5-0 earlier than Daniels missed a while with an harm.. With Leipold locked right into a long-term contract, the long run in Lawrence has by no means been brighter.
Duke: Don’t look now, however Blue Devils coach Mike Elko constructed a contender in Durham very quickly flat. Duke received extra video games in Elko’s first season (8) than the final two seasons mixed (5). Every single loss got here by one rating, together with three losses by eight complete factors in ACC play. Quarterback Riley Leonard jumped off the web page with almost 2,800 yards and 20 touchdowns as a first-year starter. if Elko beats UCF within the Military Bowl, he’ll be part of David Cutcliffe as the one coach since World War II to win 9 video games in Durham. It’s extremely tough to win on the main tutorial colleges. Duke hit a house run.
Troy: The Trojans did not make the flashiest rent by bringing in Kentucky linebackers coach Jon Sumrall — a former Neal Brown affiliate head coach — to guide this system. But after a three-year slog under Chip Lindsey, Troy was again to enterprise with an enormous 11-2 season and Sun Belt championship in Sumrall’s first 12 months in cost. The Trojans can be a drive to take care of within the Sun Belt for years to come back. Don’t be shocked to see them enter the New Year’s Six dialog in 2023.
Losers
Texas A&M: The Aggies aren’t simply the largest loser of 2022; fairly, they rank as one of probably the most disappointing groups in trendy faculty football historical past. Texas A&M got here into the season ranked No. 6 within the Preseason AP Top 25, however grew to become the primary squad since 2010 to go from the highest six to lacking a bowl sport. The program had not missed a bowl sport in any season since 2008, however picked the season after reeling within the No. 1 recruiting class of all time to hit the brand new low. There are just a few brilliant spots. Quarterback Conner Weigman confirmed some intriguing instruments in stable performances towards then-No. 5 LSU. The disappointing season additionally means Fisher is probably going to surrender play calling duties for the primary time in his profession. Still, 2022 can be a black mark on a program that gave the impression to be on the upswing.
Miami: The darkish horse ACC championship contender was something however throughout a depressing 5-7 marketing campaign, headlined by double-digit losses to Middle Tennessee, Duke and Pitt. Budding quarterback star Tyler Van Dyke regressed under ex-Broyles Award offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, and coach Mario Cristobal complained that struggles have been the media’s fault for setting expectations too excessive. Whatever the rationale was, Miami received only one of its 9 Power Five video games by multiple rating. Cristobal will lean on a robust recruiting class in 2023, however will it’s sufficient?
Preseason Big 12 contenders: Two Big 12 packages entered the 12 months within the Preseason AP Top 10: No. 9 Oklahoma and No. 10 Baylor. Two Big 12 packages left the 12 months ranked within the prime 10 — and neither was Oklahoma nor Baylor. In truth, these groups picked No. 1 and No. 2 within the preseason Big 12 ballot mixed to complete 12-12, a surprising collapse after they mixed for a 23-4 file in 2021. Oklahoma’s protection collapsed under first-year coach Brent Venables because the Sooners completed among the many backside 15 groups within the nation in complete protection. Baylor’s shut sport luck flipped because the Bears went 2-3 in one-score video games. Some powerful questions should be requested in Norman and Waco.
Alabama: The Crimson Tide acquired 54 of the 63 first-place votes within the preseason AP Top 25 and gave the impression to be the overwhelming favourite to win the nationwide championship with the most effective offensive (Bryce Young) and defensive (Will Anderson) gamers within the nation. However, the Tide weren’t their typical selves throughout a middling 10-2 marketing campaign — a program floor by Alabama requirements. Alabama was 1-6 towards the unfold towards successful groups and wanted hectic finishes simply to beat Texas and Texas A&M. It additionally ranked 127th out of 131 groups in penalties per sport. Instead of ending with three straight SEC title, championship weekend featured Nick Saban pandering for a playoff spot. With Young, who’s the guts and soul of a flawed group, seemingly off to the NFL, there can be loads of soul-searching to do in Tuscaloosa.
Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Last season, Smith-Njigba put collectively maybe the best season by a large receiver in Ohio State historical past — and that is saying one thing. He set single-season program information for receptions and yards, and capped it off with 347 yards receiving in a Rose Bowl victory over Utah to set one other program file. With any luck, Smith-Njigba might have been the second extensive receiver in three years to win the Heisman Trophy in 2022. Unfortunately, we by no means acquired to see it. Smith-Njigba suffered a hamstring harm throughout Week 1 and solely performed in three video games. On Monday, he formally shut things down for the season and ended his collegiate profession. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka ensured Ohio State’s offense was nonetheless generational, however Smith-Njigba’s profession will make us marvel what might have been.
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