This article covers five more storylines from the 2022 season that you may have forgotten about. To catch up, you can view the first three parts of this season here: part one, part two, and part three.
Georgia Southern’s First Season Without the Triple Option
Georgia Southern had a roller coaster of a season. 2022 was their first year switching from the triple option, but it didn’t show in their games against Nebraska (409 yards and a 45-42 road win which got Scott Frost fired) and against James Madison (578 yards and a 45-38 victory). While the Eagles couldn’t win the Camellia Bowl against Buffalo, they still won three more games than their three-win campaign in 2021.
Wake Forest’s Collapse
2022 was supposed to be Wake Forest’s best chance to win the ACC for the first time since 2006 after winning eleven games and the Atlantic division in 2021. The Demon Deacons’ season-defining game would be week three when they hosted Clemson, an early must-win if they wanted to win the conference. However, Wake Forest couldn’t do it and lost in overtime 51-45, but Wake Forest bounced back and got to a 6-1 record. Their next game against Louisville basically ended their season in a ten-turnover outing and a 48-21 loss. Wake Forest would then lose three of their next four but would finish the season 8-5 with a Gasparilla Bowl win over Missouri.
East Carolina’s Roller Coaster Season
The Pirates had a very interesting season in 2022, which started by nearly upsetting North Carolina State 21-20 in week one. Six weeks into the season, they were a respectable 3-3 but would explode in the three games after. East Carolina would beat Memphis, and UCF 34-13, then travel to Provo to beat BYU and become bowl eligible. However, that stretch was the highlight of the regular season, as they would lose to Cincinnati and then Houston 42-3 on Senior Day. East Carolina would finish the season 8-5 with a 53-29 win over Coastal Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl, their first bowl game since 2014 and bowl win since 2013.
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Nevada’s Disappointing Season
From 2018 to 2021 under coach Jay Norvell Nevada won seven or more games in each season, with the last three seasons being led by the talented duo Carson Strong and Romeo Doubs. Despite all three leaving for Colorado State and the NFL, Nevada started the season 2-0 and it didn’t seem the departures mattered. Well, they did, and coach Ken Wilson would see his team get dominated in their next ten games, being outscored 165-345 in the process and only playing in two one-possession games. In only one year, Nevada went from a good, respectable program to one in the dumpster.
Final: UNLV 27, Nevada 22
Nevada fails to score on first-and-goal from the 3 in the final seconds. The Fremont Cannon turns red. After a 2-0 start, Nevada loses 10 straight games to end season. A lot of growth required as Nevada heads into its first offseason under Ken Wilson.
— Chris Murray (@ByChrisMurray) November 27, 2022
Boise State’s Bounce Back
The Broncos have been a powerhouse in the Mountain West, making a bowl game in every season with the exception of 2020 since 2002 with fifteen ten-win seasons over the time period. However, they started 2022 with an uncharacteristic 2-2 start and a 27-10 loss to UTEP. Following the loss, Boise State made a quarterback change with Taylen Green taking over which immediately worked. Boise State would win seven of their next eight and win the Mountain division. While the Broncos fell to Fresno State 16-28, they would bounce back by beating North Texas 35-32 to win the Frisco Bowl and finish their 10-4 season.
