Athlon: College Football Top 131 Team Rankings for 2022

[meangreenfaninno]

106. North Texas
The Mean Green overcame a 1-6 start by winning their last five regular-season games (including a win over undefeated UTSA) to earn the program’s fifth bowl trip in six years under coach Seth Littrell. But after an 18-9 mark from 2017-18, North Texas is only 14-21 over the last three seasons and the pressure is building on Littrell. A step forward in ’22 will require more consistency out of the passing game (197.1 yards a contest last fall), which could come in the form of Memphis/Arizona transfer Grant Gunnell after he joined the mix to push Austin Aune after spring ball. The Mean Green are deep at running back – a unit bolstered by promising sophomore Oscar Adaway III returning from an ACL tear to join Ikaika Ragsdale and Ayo Adeyi. Players returning from ailments also boost the receiving corps with Tommy Bush and Jyaire Shorter joining Damon Ward and Roderic Burns to form a standout receiving corps. Four starters return along an offensive line that should rank among the best in the conference. The hire of veteran play-caller Phil Bennett had a massive impact on North Texas’ defense last fall. In 2020, this unit surrendered 6.94 yards per snap and 42.8 points a game but cut those totals to 27.5 a contest and 5.7 yards a play. Improving on those numbers will require replacing ends Grayson and Gabriel Murphy (transferred to UCLA) and tackle Dion Novil. Linebacker KD Davis is among Conference USA’s top returning defenders for '22. Key swing games against Louisiana Tech, FAU and Rice take place in Denton.

[DeepGreen]

Nice.

[southsideguy]

over the century mark, not a good look.

[NT93]

I was thinking we’d be somewhere in the 80’s…and I thought that was bad.

[NorthTexasWeLove]

12 minutes ago, NT93 said:

I was thinking we’d be somewhere in the 80’s…and I thought that was bad.

80s? That would make us a top 20 "G5" team. As it's shaping up, we might be a top 10 CUSA team. 

[LongJim]

Hill of beans.

[UNT Texas Hooligan]

Year 7. Lol

[Mike Jackson]

6 hours ago, UNT Texas Hooligan said:

Year 7. Lol

Sad but it isn't about year 7 it's about 2023 in AAC and being set up to enter the conference with positive momentum in Football.  We have lottery ticket odds of that happening especially with Aune the likely starter all season if we have a great one and Seth returns.  Replacing a QB or a good team doesn't. Seem to be in Seth's wheelhouse if strengths.  

[wardly]

I remember when DD was coach the were in high 60'or mid 70's one year which is highest I can remember since we returned to D1A football. We may have bee ranked higher in one of Mason Fine's years but i don't remember. Historically we get a 3 digit pre season ranking and play to it.

[NorthTexasWeLove]

8 hours ago, wardly said:

I remember when DD was coach the were in high 60'or mid 70's one year which is highest I can remember since we returned to D1A football. We may have bee ranked higher in one of Mason Fine's years but i don't remember. Historically we get a 3 digit pre season ranking and play to it.

In 2013 and one of MF's year we received top 25 votes, so safe assumption we were in the 30s both years. 

[greenminer]

8 hours ago, wardly said:

Historically we get a 3 digit pre season ranking and play to it.

we as a fanbase, as a program, and the AD should be sick and tired of this.

[Wag Tag]

You really have to wonder, by not winning bowl games does to outside perception. Does the W/L record matter when you lose to OHIO?