The 2022 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the seven member schools of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) as part of the 2022 NCAA Division II football season.
Grand Valley State compiled a perfect 11âÂÂ0 regular-season record, won the GLIAC championship, and was ranked No. 3 in the final NCAA Division II poll. The team advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they lost in the second round to Ferris State. Grand Valley State defensive back Caleb Murphy won GLIAC Player of the Year honors.
Ferris State compiled a 10âÂÂ1 record in the regular season, losing a close game to Grand Valley State. The Bulldogs later defeated Grand Valley State when they met for a second time at the Super Regional Final stage of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Ferris went on to win the 2022 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game on December 17, 2022, and finished the season with a 14âÂÂ1 overall record. Ferris State quarterback Cade Peterson won GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year honors.
Davenport compiled an 8âÂÂ3 record and was the third GLIAC team to advance to the Division II playoffs, losing to Ferris State in the first round. Davenport head coach Sparky McEwen won GLIAC Coach of the Year honors.
On November 17, 2022, the conference coaches selected the following players for player of the year honors:
The coaches also named the following players as first-team players on the 2022 All-GLIAC football team:
Offense
Defense
The 2022 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2022 NCAA Division II football season. In their 12th year under head coach Matt Mitchell, the Lakers compiled a 12âÂÂ1 record (6âÂÂ0 against conference opponents), won the GLIAC championship, and were ranked No. 1 nationally at the end of the regular season. The Lakers would defeat five ranked teams during the regular season, including a 25âÂÂ22 victory over No. 4 Colorado Mines in the season opener and rivalry game victories over No. 1 Ferris State and No. 17 Saginaw Valley State.
In the playoffs, the Lakers received a bye in the first round and won in the second round, before losing in the quarterfinals against rival Ferris State.
The 2022 Ferris State Bulldogs football team represented Ferris State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2022 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 11th-year head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 14âÂÂ1 with a mark of 5âÂÂ1 in conference play, placing second in the GLIAC. Ferris State received an at-large bid for the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs, beating Davenport in the first round, in the second round, Grand Valley State in the quarterfinals, West Florida in the semifinals, Colorado Mines in the NCAA Division II Championship Game to repeat as NCAA Division II champions. The team played home games at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Michigan.
The 2022 Davenport Panthers football team represented Davenport University of Caledonia Township, Kent County, Michigan in the GLIAC during the 2022 NCAA Division II season. In their sixth year under head coach Sparky McEwen, the Panthers compiled an 8âÂÂ3 record (4âÂÂ2 against conference opponents), were ranked No. 21 in the final Division II poll, and finished third in the GLIAC. They advanced to the Division II playoffs where they lost to Ferris State in the first round.
The 2022 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals football team represented Saginaw Valley State University in the GLIAC during the 2022 NCAA Division II season. Under head coach Ryan Brady, the Cardinals compiled an 8âÂÂ3 record (3âÂÂ3 against conference opponents) and finished fourth in the GLIAC.
The 2022 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Tech University in the GLIAC during the 2022 NCAA Division II football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Steve Olson, the Huskies compiled a 4âÂÂ7 record (2âÂÂ4 in conference play), placing fifth in the GLIAC. Michigan Tech played home games at Kearly Stadium in Houghton, Michigan.
The 2022 Northern Michigan Wildcats football team represented Northern Michigan University in the GLIAC during the 2022 NCAA Division II season. Under head coach Kyle Nystrom, the Wildcats compiled a 4âÂÂ7 record (1âÂÂ5 against conference opponents) and finished sixth in the GLIAC.
The 2022 Wayne State Warriors football team represented Wayne State University in the GLIAC during the 2022 NCAA Division II season. The Warriors compiled a 1âÂÂ9 record (0âÂÂ6 against conference opponents) and finished last in the GLIAC.