The 2022 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, began on August 31 and ended on December 17 with the Division II championship at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas. Ferris State defeated Colorado Mines, 41–14, for its second consecutive championship.
D-II team wins over FCS teams September 10: Missouri S&T 17, Drake 14 OT September 17: Delta State 28, Mississippi Valley State 17 October 1: Lane 28, Tennessee State 27 OT
Conference changes and new programs Conference changes Prior to the start of the season, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced that it would cease sponsorship of football. The GNAC previously sponsored football in two stints: 2001 to 2006 and 2008 to 2021. The three remaining members, Central Washington, Simon Fraser, and Western Oregon, subsequently joined the Lone Star Conference as football-only affiliated members.
Membership changes School Former conference New conference Barton Bulldogs Independent (D-II) SAC Central Washington Wildcats GNAC Lone Star Emory & Henry Wasps Independent (D-II) SAC Erskine Flying Fleet Independent (D-II) SAC Lindenwood Lions GLVC Ohio Valley (D-I FCS) Northwood Timberwolves GLIAC G-MAC Post Eagles New program Independent Simon Fraser Red Leafs GNAC Lone Star Stonehill Skyhawks Northeast-10 Northeast (D-I FCS) Texas A&M–Commerce Lions Lone Star Southland (D-I FCS) Western Oregon Wolves GNAC Lone Star
Headlines On October 27, 2022, the D-II Presidents Council voted to support a change to redshirt rules that had been proposed by six D-II conferences. Under the proposal, players in their first season of college attendance can play up to three games before losing redshirt status. The proposal will be voted on by the entire D-II football membership at the 2023 NCAA Convention.
Rankings
The top 25 from the AFCA Coaches' Poll.
Preseason Poll AFCARankingTeam 1 Ferris State (30) 2 NW Missouri State 3 Valdosta State 4 Colorado Mines 5 Grand Valley State 6 Shepherd 7 Angelo State 8 Bowie State 9 Harding 10 Notre Dame (OH) 11 West Florida 12 West Georgia 13 Kutztown 14 Nebraska–Kearney 15 Newberry 16 New Haven 17 Western Colorado 18 Albany State 19т Lenoir–Rhyne 19т Ouachita Baptist 21 California (PA) 22 Bemidji State 23 Slippery Rock 24 Midwestern State 25 Augustana (SD)
Conference standings Super Region 1
Super Region 2
Super Region 3
Super Region 4
Postseason
Teams
Playoff teams Super Region School Conference Record Appearance Last bid Super Region 1 IUP PSAC 9–1 19th 2019 Shepherd PSAC 10–1 14th 2021 Assumption Northeast-10 8–2 4th 2017 Ashland GMAC 9–1 8th 2017 Notre Dame (OH) Mountain East 9–2 4th 2021 Slippery Rock PSAC 9–2 10th 2021 New Haven Northeast-10 8–2 8th 2021Super Region 2 Benedict SIAC 10–0 1st — Delta State GSC 10–1 10th 2017 West Florida GSC 9–1 4th 2021 Virginia Union CIAA 9–1 10th 2015 Wingate SAC 9–2 5th 2019 Limestone SAC 8–3 1st — Fayetteville State CIAA 9–2 4th 2009Super Region 3 Grand Valley State GLIAC 11–0 21st 2021 Ferris State GLIAC 9–1 13th 2021 Pittsburg State MIAA 11–0 19th 2014 Ouachita Baptist GAC 11–0 5th 2019 NW Missouri State MIAA 9–2 26th 2021 Indianapolis GLVC 9–1 7th 2019 Davenport GLIAC 8–2 1st —Super Region 4 Angelo State Lone Star 11–0 8th 2021 Colorado Mines RMAC 9–2 8th 2021 Minnesota State NSIC 9–2 13th 2019 Bemidji State NSIC 9–2 2nd 2021 Winona State NSIC 8–3 7th 2017 Wayne State (NE) NSIC 9–2 2nd 1982 CSU Pueblo RMAC 8–3 9th 2019
Bracket Super Region 1
Super Region 2
Super Region 3
Super Region 4
* - Host school
National semifinals Teams that advanced to the semifinals were re-seeded.
Coaching changes End of season This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season. School Outgoing coach Date Reason Replacement Previous positionTuskegeeReginald RuffinJune 2, 2022 (effective at season's end)RetiredAaron JamesTuskegee offensive coordinator (2022)MorehouseRich FreemanNovember 9, 2022ResignedGerard WilcherRice defensive backs (2018–2022)Missouri WesternMatt WilliamsonNovember 13, 2022FiredTyler FenwickSoutheastern Oklahoma State head coach (2019–2022)UNC PembrokeShane RichardsonNovember 13, 2022FiredMark HallChowan head coach (2019–2022)CatawbaCurtis WalkerNovember 14, 2022ResignedTyler HainesShepherd offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2022)Sioux FallsJon AndersonNovember 14, 2022FiredJim GlogowskiMinnesota State defensive coordinator (2016–2022)Northern MichiganKyle NystromNovember 15, 2022ResignedShane RichardsonUNC Pembroke head coach (2014–2022) Northwestern Oklahoma StateMatt WalterNovember 16, 2022ResignedRonnie JonesEmerson High School defensive coordinator (2021–2022)West Texas A&MHunter HughesNovember 21, 2022FiredJosh LynnNebraska–Kearney head coach (2017–2022)Texas–Permian BasinJustin CarriganNovember 28, 2022Accepted administrative positionKris McCulloughEast Central head coach (2022)Michigan TechSteve OlsonNovember 29, 2022Contract expiredDan MettlachMichigan Tech assistant head coach (2019–2022)Albany StateGabe GiardinaNovember 30, 2022Hired by Charleston SouthernQuinn GrayAlcorn State quarterbacks coach (2020–2022)AshlandLee OwensDecember 2, 2022RetiredDoug GeiserAshland assistant head coach, offensive line coach, and running game coordinator (2004–2022)Minot StateMike AldrichDecember 2, 2022Contract expiredIan ShieldsUNLV offensive assistant (2020–2022)NorthwoodLeonard HaynesDecember 5, 2022Became a part of school's facultyDustin BeurerAlbion head coach (2019–2022)Southeastern Oklahoma StateTyler FenwickDecember 6, 2022Hired by Missouri WesternBo AtterberrySoutheastern Oklahoma State head coach (2014–2018)Wayne State (MI)Paul WintersDecember 9, 2022FiredTyrone WheatleyDenver Broncos running backs coach (2022)West FloridaPete ShinnickDecember 11, 2022Hired by TowsonKaleb NoblesClemson director of offensive player development (2022)CSU PuebloJohn WristenDecember 13, 2022RetiredPhil VigilWestern New Mexico head coach (2021–2022)Nebraska–KearneyJosh LynnDecember 13, 2022Hired by West Texas A&MRyan HeldNorth Alabama interim head coach (2022) ChowanMark HallDecember 14, 2022Hired by UNC PembrokePaul JohnsonBloomsburg offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach, and tight ends coach (2021–2022)Eastern New MexicoTye HiattDecember 21, 2022Hired by Southern UtahKelley LeeVeterans Memorial Early College High School head coach (2021–2022) East CentralKris McCulloughDecember 22, 2022Hired by Texas–Permian BasinJohn LitrentaEast Central defensive coordinator (2020–2022)Western New MexicoPhil VigilDecember 23, 2022Hired by CSU PuebloBill HickmanWestern New Mexico offensive coordinator (2021–2022)Southwestern Oklahoma StateJosh KirklandJanuary 9, 2023Hired by North TexasRuzell McCoy (interim)Southwestern Oklahoma State defensive coordinator (2021–2022)American InternationalKris KulzerBefore January 11, 2023Resigned or firedLou ConteThe Citadel offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and fullbacks coach (2016–2022)St. Augustine'sDavid BowserJanuary 11, 2023ResignedHoward FegginsFayetteville State offensive coordinator (2018–2022)Grand Valley StateMatt MitchellJanuary 15, 2023Hired by WisconsinScott WoosterGrand Valley State offensive line coach and tight ends coach (2020–2022)MaryCraig BagnellFebruary 14, 2023Hired by South DakotaShann SchillingerMississippi State defensive analyst (2022)Kentucky StatePaul Hamilton (interim)February 20, 2023Full-time coach hiredFelton HugginsMcNeese wide receivers coach (2022)BentleyAlvin ReynoldsApril 6, 2023ResignedSaj ThakkarHarvard running backs coach (2018–2022) Colorado MinesBrandon MooreApril 19, 2023Hired by San DiegoPete SterbickColorado Mines offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2019–2022)William JewellMike McGlinchey Jr.April 24, 2023ResignedNeil Linhart (interim)William Jewell offensive coordinator (2020–2022)ConcordDave WalkerMay 12, 2023ResignedBrian FergusonConcord offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2020–2022)Lincoln (PA)Josh DeanJune 23, 2023Accepted administrative positionFrank TurnerLincoln (PA) assistant head coach and defensive coordinator (2022)
See also 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season 2022 NCAA Division III football season 2022 NAIA football season 2022 U Sports football season 2022 junior college football season
References