2022 Air Force Falcons football team

The 2022 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season was the team's 68th overall, 24th as a member of the Mountain West Conference, and 9th in the Mountain West's Mountain Division. The team played their home games at Falcon Stadium and were led by 16th-year head coach Troy Calhoun.

2022 Air Force Falcons football
Armed Forces Bowl champion
Armed Forces Bowl, W 30–15 vs. Baylor
ConferenceMountain West Conference
Record10–3 (5–3 MW)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMike Thiessen (13th season)
Offensive schemeTriple option
Defensive coordinatorBrian Knorr (1st season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumFalcon Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 2021
2023 →
2022 Mountain West Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Mountain Division
Boise State xy   8 0     10 4  
Air Force   5 3     10 3  
Wyoming   5 3     7 6  
Utah State   5 3     6 7  
Colorado State   3 5     3 9  
New Mexico   0 8     2 10  
West Division
No. 24 Fresno State xy$   7 1     10 4  
San Diego State   5 3     7 6  
San Jose State   5 3     7 5  
UNLV   3 5     5 7  
Hawaii   2 6     3 10  
Nevada   0 8     2 10  
Championship: Fresno State 28, Boise State 16
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

Preseason

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Departures

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These players graduated at the conclusion of the 2021–22 academic year and as such left the team following the previous season.

Name Position Height (ft. & in.) Weight (lb.)
Tre Bugg III DB 6'0" 180
Jordan Jackson DT 6'4" 285
Dalton King TE 6'3" 215
Brandon Lewis WR 5'9" 175
Demonte Meeks ILB 6'1" 240
Ben Mercer C 6'0" 280
Corvan Taylor DB 6'2" 205
Hawk Wimmer OL 6'4" 330

NFL Draft

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One player from the team was selected in the NFL Draft prior to this season.

Name Position Selected by Round Pick
Jordan Jackson DT New Orleans Saints 6 194

Personnel

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Roster

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The Falcons' roster will be announced in advance of the Mountain West's media day, which will be held in July 2022.[1]

Coaching staff

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Name Position(s) Season College
Marc Bacote Tight ends coach 1st James Madison
Jake Campbell Slot backs coach 11th Air Force
Troy Calhoun Head coach 16th Air Force
Ari Confesor Wide receivers coach 4th Holy Cross
Tim Horton Running backs coach 2nd Arkansas
Special teams coordinator
Charlie Jackson Assistant head coach 1st Air Force
Defensive backs coach
Brian Knorr Defensive coordinator 11th Air Force
Inside linebackers coach
Ken Lamendola Outside linebackers coach 1st Air Force
Steed Lobotzke Offensive line coach 8th Air Force
Matt McGettigan Strength & conditioning coach 16th Luther
Alex Means Defensive line coach 5th Air Force
Brett Skene Assistant offensive line coach 2nd Air Force
Specialists coach
Mike Thiessen Offensive coordinator 16th Air Force
Quarterbacks coach
Nick Toth Safeties coach 1st Ohio
E. J. Whitlow Defensive ends coach 1st Findlay

[2]

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 311:00 a.m.No. 21 (FCS) Northern Iowa*AltitudeW 48–1731,180
September 101:30 p.m.Colorado*
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSW 41–1033,647
September 166:00 p.m.at WyomingCBSSNL 14–1718,277
September 236:00 p.m.Nevada
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
FS1W 48–2020,506
October 110:00 a.m.Navy*
CBSW 13–1036,947
October 85:00 p.m.at Utah StateFS1L 27–3419,105
October 158:30 p.m.at UNLVCBSSNW 42–723,847
October 225:00 p.m.Boise State
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSSNL 14–1925,254
November 59:30 a.m.vs. Army*
CBSW 13–733,912
November 121:30 p.m.New Mexico
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
CBSSNW 35–320,827
November 197:00 p.m.Colorado State
  • Falcon Stadium
  • Colorado Springs, CO
FS2W 24–1220,121
November 267:00 p.m.at San Diego StateCBSSNW 13-325,223
December 225:30 p.m.vs. Baylor*ESPNW 30–1543,875

[3]

Game summaries

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No. 21 (FCS) Northern Iowa

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Air Force Falcons (0–0) vs. No. 21 (FCS) Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 21 (FCS) Panthers 3 0 01417
Falcons 14 13 14748

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO

Game information
Statistics UNI AF
First downs 21 23
3rd down efficiency 2–8 7–11
4th down efficiency 0–0 0–0
Plays–yards 56–405 68–691
Rushes–yards 24–119 62–582
Passing yards 286 109
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–32–1 3–6–0
Penalties–yards 2–15 5–21
Turnovers 2 2
Time of possession 24:58 35:02

Colorado

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Air Force Falcons (1–0) vs. Colorado Buffaloes (0–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Buffaloes 0 10 0010
Falcons 13 7 71441

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO

Game information
Statistics CU AF
First downs 8 25
3rd down efficiency 1–11 4–12
4th down efficiency 0–2 1–2
Plays–yards 53–162 75–443
Rushes–yards 32–111 70–435
Passing yards 51 8
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 5–21–1 1–5–0
Penalties–yards 4–40 3–25
Turnovers 3 3
Time of possession 21:38 38:22

At Wyoming

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Air Force Falcons (2–0) at Wyoming Cowboys (2–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 0 7714
Cowboys 3 7 0717

at War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, WY

Game information
Statistics AF WYO
First downs 14 18
3rd down efficiency 6–13 6–11
4th down efficiency 1–1 0–0
Plays–yards 54–272 58–342
Rushes–yards 40–171 35–180
Passing yards 101 162
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 7–14–0 18–23–1
Penalties–yards 0–0 3–20
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 29:26 30:34

Nevada

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Air Force Falcons (2–1) vs. Nevada Wolf Pack (2–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Wolf Pack 0 7 01320
Falcons 10 14 17748

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO

Game information
Statistics NEV AF
First downs 11 30
3rd down efficiency 4–9 10–15
4th down efficiency 0–0 3–3
Plays–yards 38–242 78–541
Rushes–yards 18–112 75–461
Passing yards 130 80
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–20–0 1–3–0
Penalties–yards 4–30 5–50
Turnovers 0 0
Time of possession 16:19 43:41
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Navy Midshipmen (1–2) vs. Air Force Falcons (3–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Midshipmen 0 3 0710
Falcons 10 0 0313

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO

Game information
Statistics NAVY AF
First downs 13 16
3rd down efficiency 4–13 3–11
4th down efficiency 0–1 0–0
Plays–yards 56–243 55–356
Rushes–yards 36–114 47–200
Passing yards 129 156
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–20–0 6–8–0
Penalties–yards 5–38 5–45
Turnovers 0 2
Time of possession 27:41 32:19

At Utah State

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At UNLV

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Boise State

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Navy Midshipmen (4–2) vs. Air Force Falcons (5–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 10 9 0019
Falcons 0 7 0714

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO

Game information
Statistics BSU AF
First downs 17 14
3rd down efficiency 5–13 6–14
4th down efficiency 1–1 0–1
Plays–yards 64–342 59–271
Rushes–yards 40–115 50–175
Passing yards 227 96
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–24–1 4–9–0
Penalties–yards 9–70 4–22
Turnovers 1 1
Time of possession 33:05 26:55

Vs. Army

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Air Force Falcons (5–3) vs. Army Black Knights (3–4)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 0 7313
Black Knights 0 7 007

at Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX

Game information
Statistics AF ARMY
First downs 18 8
3rd down efficiency 6–14 4–14
4th down efficiency 0–0 1–3
Plays–yards 66–324 49–145
Rushes–yards 53–226 35–78
Passing yards 98 67
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 6–13–1 4–14–1
Penalties–yards 5–40 4–20
Turnovers 1 1
Time of possession 34:49 25:11

New Mexico

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Air Force Falcons (6–3) vs. New Mexico Lobos (2–7)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lobos 0 0 303
Falcons 14 0 14735

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO

Game information
Statistics UNM AF
First downs 8 23
3rd down efficiency 4–13 7–15
4th down efficiency 0–2 4–4
Plays–yards 46–172 72–463
Rushes–yards 25–44 70–421
Passing yards 128 42
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–21–0 2–2–0
Penalties–yards 4–27 6–40
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 22:11 37:49

Colorado State

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Air Force Falcons (7–3) vs. Colorado State Rams (2–8)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 0 6612
Falcons 7 10 7024

at Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO

Game information
Statistics CSU AF
First downs 15 22
3rd down efficiency 2–9 7–16
4th down efficiency 1–3 4–5
Plays–yards 46–244 73–359
Rushes–yards 22–65 71–359
Passing yards 179 0
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–24–0 0–2–0
Penalties–yards 3–15 4–25
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 22:31 37:29

At San Diego State

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Air Force Falcons (8–3) at San Diego State Aztecs (7–4)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 0 3313
Cowboys 0 0 303

at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA

Game information
Statistics AF SDSU
First downs 14 8
3rd down efficiency 4–17 0–10
4th down efficiency 1–2 1–1
Plays–yards 69–285 46–187
Rushes–yards 66–271 15– -1
Passing yards 14 188
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 1–3–0 16–31–1
Penalties–yards 4–30 8–49
Turnovers 0 3
Time of possession 39:13 20:47

Vs. Baylor (Armed Forces Bowl)

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Air Force Falcons (9–3) vs. Baylor Bears (6–6)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Baylor 0 7 0815
Falcons 9 0 14730

at Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX

Game information
Statistics BU AF
First downs 11 20
3rd down efficiency 0–11 8–16
4th down efficiency 3–6 2–5
Plays–yards 49–230 74–379
Rushes–yards 28–42 67–267
Passing yards 188 103
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–23–0 4–7–0
Penalties–yards 5–27 2–20
Turnovers 0 0
Time of possession 19:57 40:03

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRVRV
CoachesRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV
CFPNot releasedNot released

References

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  1. ^ "2022 Air Force Football Quick Facts" (PDF). Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  2. ^ "https://s3.amazonaws.com/goairforcefalcons.com/documents/2022/4/4/Air_Force_Football_Quick_Facts_2022.pdf". Amazonaws.com. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  3. ^ "2022 Air Force Falcons Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved May 3, 2022.[dead link]
  4. ^ "https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401415209". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  5. ^ "https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2022/northern-iowa/boxscore/14540". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  6. ^ "https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401403977". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  7. ^ "https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2022/colorado/boxscore/14541". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  8. ^ "https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401415217". Espn.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  9. ^ "https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2022/wyoming/boxscore/14542". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  10. ^ "https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401415220". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  11. ^ "https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2022/nevada/boxscore/14543". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  12. ^ "https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401415227". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  13. ^ "https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2022/navy/boxscore/14544". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  14. ^ "https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401415241". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  15. ^ "https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2022/boise-state/boxscore/14546". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  16. ^ "Air Force vs. Army – Game Summary – November 5, 2022". ESPN. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  17. ^ "Scoring Summary (Final) Air Force vs. Army West Point (Nov 5, 2022 at Arlington, Texas)". USMA Athletic Department. November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  18. ^ "Air Force vs. Army – Army Game Notes" (PDF). USMA Athletic Department. November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  19. ^ "Air Force vs. Army – Air Force Game Notes" (PDF). USAFA Athletic Department. November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  20. ^ "Football Falls to Air Force, 13–7 in Arlington". USMA Athletic Department. November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  21. ^ "https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401415256". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  22. ^ "https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2022/new-mexico/boxscore/14549". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  23. ^ "https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401415262". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  24. ^ "https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2022/colorado-state/boxscore/14550". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  25. ^ "https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401415267". Espn.com. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  26. ^ "https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2022/san-diego-state/boxscore/14551". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  27. ^ "https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401442040". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  28. ^ "https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/stats/2022/baylor-university/boxscore/15214". Goairforcefalcons.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  29. ^ "https://www.9news.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaaf/air-force-beats-baylor/73-ffaac583-ca8e-4f79-98e8-d455f0b8e425". 9news.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  30. ^ "https://baylorlariat.com/2022/12/23/frozen-in-time-2022-armed-forces-bowl-one-of-coldest-bowl-games-ever/" Baylorlariat.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.