2022 New Mexico Bowl

2022 New Mexico Bowl
17th New Mexico Bowl
SMU Mustangs BYU Cougars
(7–5) (7–5)
The American Independent
23 24
Head coach: 
Rhett Lashlee		 Head coach: 
Kalani Sitake
1234 Total
SMU 100013 23
BYU 73140 24
DateDecember 17, 2022
Season2022
StadiumUniversity Stadium
LocationAlbuquerque, New Mexico
MVPOffense: Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters (QB, BYU)[1]
Defense: Ben Bywater (LB, BYU)[2]
FavoriteSMU by 4.5[3]
RefereeTed Pitts (Sun Belt)[4]
Attendance22,209
PayoutUS$1,050,000[5]
United States TV coverage
NetworkABC
AnnouncersTom Hart (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline)
International TV coverage
NetworkESPN Deportes and ESPN Brazil
AnnouncersESPN Deportes: Kenneth Garay (play-by-play) and Pablo Viruega (analyst)
ESPN Brazil: Matheus Pinheiro (play-by-play) and Weinny Eirado (analyst)
New Mexico Bowl
 < 2021  2023 > 

The 2022 New Mexico Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 17, 2022, at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 17th annual New Mexico Bowl, the game featured the SMU Mustangs from the American Athletic Conference (The American) and the BYU Cougars, an FBS independent. The game began at 5:37 p.m. MST[6] and aired on ABC;[7] this time was switched with that of the Las Vegas Bowl due to an NFL scheduling decision. It was one of the 2022–23 bowl games concluding the 2022 FBS football season.

Both teams entered the game with momentum, as SMU concluded the regular season having won four of their final five games, and BYU finished with three consecutive victories of their own. Both teams entered with identical records, with seven wins and five losses. Both teams were missing several players due to injuries, draft opt-outs, and the NCAA transfer portal; these included SMU wide receiver Rashee Rice, who was nursing a toe injury and decided to begin draft preparations, and BYU linebacker Keenan Pili, who entered the transfer portal after the Cougars' regular season concluded.

  1. ^ "Termination of independence: BYU holds off SMU for 24–23 New Mexico Bowl victory". BYU.edu. December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  2. ^ @NMBowl (December 17, 2022). "Ben Bywater being presented his Defense MVP award" (Tweet). Retrieved December 22, 2022 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Taddeo, Frankie (December 8, 2022). "Odds for every college football bowl game in 2022–23". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  4. ^ Austro, Ben (December 4, 2022). "2022–23 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  5. ^ "2022 Bowl Schedule". College Football Poll. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference finalstats was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "2022 College Football Bowl Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved November 1, 2022.