2022 MAC Championship Game
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
| game_name = MAC Championship Game
| title_sponsor = Rocket Mortgage
| subheader = Conference championship
| image =
| pixels =
| caption =
| date_game_played = December 3
| year_game_played = 2022
| football_season = 2022
| stadium = Ford Field
| city = Detroit, Michigan
| home_school = Ohio University
| home_name_short = Ohio
| home_nickname = Bobcats
| home_record = 9–3
| home_rank_AP =
| home_rank_coaches =
| home_rank_CFP =
| home_coach = Tim Albin
| home_1q = 0
| home_2q = 7
| home_3q = 0
| home_4q = 0
| visitor_school = Toledo University
| visitor_name_short = Toledo
| visitor_nickname = Rockets
| visitor_record = 7–5
| visitor_rank_AP =
| visitor_rank_coaches =
| visitor_rank_CFP =
| visitor_coach = Jason Candle
| visitor_1q = 7
| visitor_2q = 3
| visitor_3q = 0
| visitor_4q = 7
| MVP = Offense: Dequan Finn (QB, Toledo)
Defense: Dyontae Johnson (LB, Toledo)
Special Teams: Jonathon Batzke (P, Toledo)
| odds = Toledo by 3.5
| anthem =
| referee = Tom Stapleton
| halftime =
| attendance = 15,550
| us_network = ESPN
| us_announcers = Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (Analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline reporter)
| ratings =
| intl_network =
| intl_announcers =
| different_next = 2023
}}
{{2022 Mid-American Conference football standings}}
The 2022 MAC Championship Game was a college football conference championship game played December 3, 2022, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It was the 26th edition of the MAC Football Championship Game and determined the champion of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) for the 2022 season. The game began at 12:00 p.m. EST and aired on ESPN.{{cite web |url=https://fbschedules.com/college-football-conference-championship-games/ |website=FBS Schedules |title=College Football Conference Championship Games |access-date=August 7, 2022}} The game featured the Western Division champion Toledo Rockets against the Eastern Division champion Ohio Bobcats. For sponsorship reasons, the game is officially known as the Rocket Mortgage MAC Championship.{{cite web |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2020/12/09/rocket-mortgage-sponsors-mac-championship-game-help-keep-detroit/3872613001/ |website=Detroit News |title=Rocket Mortgage sponsors MAC championship game to help keep it in Detroit |access-date=August 9, 2022}}
Toledo won their fourth championship game with a 17–7 win over the Bobcats.{{cite web|title=Toledo 17, Ohio 7|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401437033|access-date=February 26, 2023|publisher=ESPN}}
Venue
The 2022 MAC title game was held at Ford Field for the 19th consecutive season.{{cite web|title=MAC signs three-year extension to keep football title game at Ford Field|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2022/07/26/mac-signs-three-year-extension-keep-football-title-game-ford-field/10153608002/|access-date=May 31, 2023|date=July 26, 2022|publisher=Detroit News|first=Tony|last=Paul}} The venue, located in downtown Detroit at 2000 Brush St., is the home of the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) and has a seating capacity for football of 65,000.{{cite web|title=About Ford Field|url=https://www.fordfield.com/stadium-info/about-ford-field|access-date=August 8, 2022|publisher=Ford Field}}
Teams
The game featured the Ohio Bobcats, champions of the East Division, and the Toledo Rockets, champions of the West Division, of the Mid-American Conference.
=Toledo=
{{main|2022 Toledo Rockets football team}}
Toledo clinched a berth in the championship game with two weeks remaining in the schedule following their win over Ball State and a loss by Western Michigan the following night.{{cite web |title=Finn throws late TD pass to lift Toledo over Ball St. 28-21 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401416636|website=ESPN|access-date=November 9, 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Credle, Lynch help N. Illinois rally, beat W. Michigan 24-21 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401416639|website=ESPN|access-date=November 9, 2022 |language=en}} This is Toledo's seventh appearance in the championship game. They are 3–3 in prior attempts having won in their last appearance in 2017{{cite web |title=Woodside throws 4 TDs in Toledo's 45-28 MAC title game win |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=400955150|website=ESPN|access-date=November 23, 2022 |language=en}}
The Rockets were 2–2 out of conference with wins over FCS LIU and UMass and losses at Ohio State and San Diego State.{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/news/2022/9/1/football-rockets-sink-sharks-37-0-in-season-opener.aspx|title=Rockets Sink Sharks, 37-0, in Season Opener|date=September 3, 2022|accessdate=November 28, 2022|website=utrockets.com|publisher=University of Toledo Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/news/2022/9/10/football-finn-rockets-bombard-minutemen-55-10.aspx|title=Finn, Rockets Bombard Minutemen, 55-10|date=September 10, 2022|accessdate=November 28, 2022|website=utrockets.com|publisher=University of Toledo Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/news/2022/9/17/football-rockets-fall-to-no-3-buckeyes-77-21.aspx|title=Rockets Fall to No. 3 Buckeyes, 77-21|date=September 17, 2022|accessdate=November 28, 2022|website=utrockets.com|publisher=University of Toledo Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/news/2022/9/24/football-rockets-fourth-quarter-comeback-falls-short-in-17-14-loss-at-san-diego-state.aspx|title=Rockets' Fourth Quarter Comeback Falls Short in 17-14 Loss at San Diego State|date=September 24, 2022|accessdate=November 28, 2022|website=utrockets.com|publisher=University of Toledo Athletics}} They opened conference play with 3 consecutive wins over Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Kent State.{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/news/2022/10/1/football-rockets-rock-chippewas-at-homecoming-38-17.aspx|title=Rockets Rock Chippewas on Homecoming, 38-17|date=October 1, 2022|accessdate=November 28, 2022|website=utrockets.com|publisher=University of Toledo Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/news/2022/10/8/football-rockets-pick-off-northern-illinois-52-32.aspx|title=Rockets Pick Off Northern Illinois, 52-32|date=October 8, 2022|accessdate=November 28, 2022|website=utrockets.com|publisher=University of Toledo Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/news/2022/10/15/football-rockets-come-back-to-flatten-kent-state-52-31.aspx|title=Dequan Finn's Six TD Passes Leads Toledo Past Kent State, 52-31|date=October 15, 2022|accessdate=November 28, 2022|website=utrockets.com|publisher=University of Toledo Athletics}} Quarterback Dequan Finn was injured in a loss at Buffalo.{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/news/2022/10/22/football-rockets-fall-in-battle-of-mac-division-leaders-34-27.aspx|title=Rockets Fall in Battle of MAC Division Leaders, 34-27|date=October 22, 2022|accessdate=November 28, 2022|website=utrockets.com|publisher=University of Toledo Athletics}} Tucker Gleason led the Rockets to a win over Eastern Michigan and Finn returned for a win Ball State which wrapped up the division but sat out a loss to Bowling Green.{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/news/2022/10/29/football-rockets-rally-late-for-27-24-win-at-eastern-michigan.aspx|title=Rockets Rally Late for 27-24 Win at Eastern Michigan|date=October 29, 2022|accessdate=November 28, 2022|website=utrockets.com|publisher=University of Toledo Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/news/2022/11/8/football-rockets-rally-to-beat-ball-state-28-21.aspx|title=Rockets Rally to Beat Ball State, 28-21|date=November 8, 2022|accessdate=November 28, 2022|website=utrockets.com|publisher=University of Toledo Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/news/2022/11/15/football-rockets-fall-to-bowling-green-42-35.aspx|title=Rockets Fall to Bowling Green, 42-35|date=November 15, 2022|accessdate=November 28, 2022|website=utrockets.com|publisher=University of Toledo Athletics}} Toledo ended their regular season with a loss to Western Michigan in which Finn played sparingly{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/news/2022/11/25/football-rockets-comeback-falls-short-at-western-michigan-20-14.aspx|title=Rockets' Comeback Falls Short at Western Michigan, 20-14
|date=November 15, 2022|accessdate=November 28, 2022|website=utrockets.com|publisher=University of Toledo Athletics}}
=Ohio=
{{main|2022 Ohio Bobcats football team}}
Ohio clinched a berth in the championship game during the final week of the season with a 38–14 win over Bowling Green. They entered the game 9–3 with a 7–1 record in the MAC and on a seven-game winning streak.{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/11/22/football-ohio-clinches-mac-east-championship-dominates-bgsu-38-14.aspx |title=Ohio Clinches MAC East Championship; Dominates BGSU, 38-14|date=November 22, 2022|access-date=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}} This is Ohio's fifth appearance in the game and first since 2016. They are 0–4 in their previous attempts and have not won a conference championship since 1968.{{cite web |title=Bobcats clinch MAC East title with backup QB |url=https://www.nbc4i.com/sports/bobcats-clinch-mac-east-title-with-backup-qb/ |website=NBC4i.com|first=Adam|last=Conn |date=November 23, 2022|access-date=November 23, 2022}}
The Bobcats were 2–2 out of conference with wins over Florida Atlantic and FCS Fordham and losses at power conference foes Penn State and Iowa State.{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/9/3/football-ohio-football-vs-fau.aspx|title=Ohio Football Opens Season with 41-38 Victory Over FAU|date=September 3, 2022|accessdate=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/9/10/football-ohio-v-penn-state.aspx |title=Ohio Football Falls to Penn State|date=September 10, 2022|accessdate=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/9/17/ohio-football-falls-to-iowa-state.aspx |title=Ohio Football Falls to Iowa State|date=September 17, 2022|accessdate=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/9/24/rourke-and-ohio-football-offense-break-records-defeating-fordham-59-52.aspx |title=Rourke and Ohio Football Offense Break Records, Defeating Fordham 59-52|date=September 24, 2022|accessdate=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}} They opened conference play with an overtime loss to Kent State and a win over last place Akron.{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/10/1/football-ohio-v-kent-state.aspx |title=Ohio Football Falls to Kent State in Overtime|date=October 1, 2022|accessdate=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/10/8/ohio-football-secures-homecoming-victory-over-akron-55-34.aspx |title=Ohio Football Secures Homecoming Victory Over Akron, 55-34|date=October 8, 2022|accessdate=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}} Through six games Ohio was surrendering 40.6 points, 561 yards, and 387 passing yards per game but were 3–3 on the season with a prolific offense led by the passing of MAC Player of the Year Kurtis Rourke.{{Cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/11/30/ohio-football-team-cleans-up-mac-specialty-awards.aspx|title=Ohio Football Team Cleans Up MAC Specialty Awards|publisher=Ohio University Athletics|accessdate=November 30, 2022|date=November 30, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401426536|title=Ohio 41, FAU 38|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=November 4, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401405080|title=Penn St. 46, Ohio 10|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=November 4, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401404069|title=Iowa St. 43, Ohio 10|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=November 4, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401416606|title=Ohio 59, Fordham 52|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=November 4, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401416611|title=Kent St. 31, Ohio 24|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=November 4, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401416616|title=Ohio 55, Akron 34|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=November 4, 2022}}
Ohio finished the regular season with consecutive wins over Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Buffalo, Miami (OH), Ball State, and Bowling Green during which Ohio surrendered an average of only 18 points per game.{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/10/15/football-ohio-football-secures_-frst-road-victory-defeating-western-michigan-33-14.aspx |title=Ohio Football Secures First Road Victory, Defeating Western Michigan 33-14|date=October 15, 2022|accessdate=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/10/22/ohio-football-secures-senior-night-victory-defeating-niu-24-17.aspx |title=Ohio Football Secures Senior Night Victory, Defeating NIU 24-17|date=October 22, 2022|accessdate=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/11/1/ohio-football-becomes-bowl-eligible-defeating-buffalo-45-24.aspx |title=Ohio Football Becomes Bowl Eligible, Defeating Buffalo 45-24|date=November 1, 2022|accessdate=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/11/9/ohio-football-takes-the-battle-of-the-bricks-defeating-miami-37-21.aspx |title=Ohio Football Takes the Battle of the Bricks, Defeating Miami 37-21|date=November 8, 2022|accessdate=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/11/15/ohio-football-defeats-ball-state-32-18.aspx |title=Ohio Football Defeats Ball State, 32-18|date=November 15, 2022|accessdate=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://ohiobobcats.com/news/2022/11/22/football-ohio-clinches-mac-east-championship-dominates-bgsu-38-14.aspx |title=Ohio Clinches MAC East Championship; Dominates BGSU, 38-14|date=November 22, 2022|accessdate=November 23, 2022|website=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University Athletics}} Rourke suffered a season ending torn ACL against Ball State and Ohio turned to third string quarterback C.J. Harris.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3925576/2022/11/22/ohio-kurtis-rourke-acl-meniscus/|title=Ohio's Kurtis Rourke out for season after suffering torn ACL, meniscus|publisher=the Athletic|access-date=November 23, 2022}}
{{Clear}}
Game summary
{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle= {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Mid-American Conference|color=white}}; text-align:center;
|state=autocollapse
|bg=#fff
|bg2=#eee
|title=2022 MAC Championship Game
Toledo Rockets (7–5, 5–3) vs. Ohio Bobcats (9–3, 7–1)
|date= Saturday, December 3, 2022
|time= 12:00 p.m. EST
|road= Toledo
|R1=7|R2=3|R3=0|R4=7
|home= Ohio
|H1=0|H2=7|H3=0|H4=0
|stadium=Ford Field • Detroit, MI
|attendance= 15,550
|weather= N/A (game played indoors)
|referee= Tom Stapleton
|TV= ESPN
|TVAnnouncers= Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst) and Stormy Buonantony (sideline reporter)
|reference=Pregame line: Toledo −3.5 • [https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/mac-sports/documents/2022/12/3/TOL17_OHIO7.pdf box score],[https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/utrockets.com/documents/2022/11/29/13._Toledo_Game_Notes_-_MCG_Game.pdf Toledo notes], [https://s3.amazonaws.com/ohiobobcats.com/documents/2022/11/29/ohio_fb_120322_toledo.pdf Ohio notes]
|scoring=
;First Quarter
- (11:38) TOL – Jacquez Stuart 29 yard rush, Thomas Cluckey kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:22; Toledo 7–0)
;Second Quarter
- (6:47) OHIO – Sieh Bangura 2 yard rush, Nathanial Vakos kick (Drive: 14 plays, 84 yards, 7:14; Tied 7–7)
- (0:16) TOL – Thomas Cluckey 44 yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 55 yards, 4:38; Toledo 10–7)
;Third Quarter
- No scoring plays
;Fourth Quarter
- 10:36 TOL – DeMeer Blankumsee 16 yard pass from Dequan Finn, Thomas Cluckey kick (Drive: 16 plays, 90 yards, 7:15; Toledo 17–7)
}}
| class="wikitable" style="float: left;"
! Statistics !! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Toledo Rockets|border=1}}"|Toledo !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Ohio Bobcats|border=1}}"|Ohio | ||
| First downs | 20 | 14 |
| Plays–Yards | 71–390 | 60–262 |
| Rushes/yards | 46–236 | 29–99 |
| Passing yards | 154 | 163 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–25–0 | 17–31–1 |
| Time of possession | 33:00 | 27:00 |
| class="wikitable" style="float: right;"
! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics | |||
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Toledo Rockets|border=1}}; text-align:center;"|Toledo | Passing | Dequan Finn | 16/25, 154 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Jacquez Stuart | 9 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD | |
| Receiving | Jerjuan Newton | 6 receptions, 77 yards | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Ohio Bobcats|border=1}}; text-align:center;"|Ohio | Passing | CJ Harris | 17/31, 163 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Sieh Bangura | 20 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD | |
| Receiving | Will Kacmarek | 2 receptions, 39 yards |
{{Clear}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{2022 NCAA football conference championships}}
{{MAC Championship Game navbox}}
{{Toledo Rockets football navbox}}
{{Ohio Bobcats football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2022 MAC Championship Game}}
Category:MAC Championship Game
Category:American football competitions in Detroit
Category:Ohio Bobcats football games