Bryan Fischer
College football writer
The 2022 college football season is officially in the books.
After some wild twists and turns in a campaign dating back to August, it all came to a fitting conclusion Monday night in Los Angeles as Georgia rolled over TCU 65-7 to win the national championship.
As fun as it was for legions of Dawgs fans to see head coach Kirby Smart hold that gold trophy again, however, they weren’t the only ones celebrating this postseason with a string of excellent performances in some incredibly exciting bowl games.
While it may have only been one game, here is the 2022-23 FOX Sports All-Bowl Team, honoring the best of the best from the past month of action to cap off a fantastic season.
BACK
CJ Stroud, Ohio State (Peach Bowl vs. Georgia)
It’s not an understatement to say that Stroud led the Buckeyes to the brink of a national title with his heroics in Atlanta, coming up just short against the Bulldogs despite 348 passing yards, four touchdown passes and a surprisingly fluid 12 carries that kept OSU in the game at times. . On the biggest stage, he silenced the doubters and held a performance for eternity for the end of 2022.
Honorable Mention: Jalon Daniels, Kansas (Liberty Bowl vs. Arkansas)
He led an incredible 24–punt return for Force OT against Hogs and finished with 565 total yards and six total touchdowns.
RUNNING BACK
Frank Gore Jr., southern lady (LendingTree Bowl vs. Rice)
He ran for an FBS bowl record 329 yards (averaging 15.7 yards per carry), scored two touchdowns and threw two passes for 19 yards, including one that also found the end zone. Gore Jr. has led the Golden Eagles to success since arriving and that continued in the program’s first bowl game since 2016.
Tyjae Spears, Tulane (Cotton bowl vs. USC)
A man among boys against the Trojan defense, he rushes for 205 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Green Wave to a comeback victory and the program’s first major win since 1934.
Honorable Mention: Nicholas Singleton, Penn State (Rose Bowl vs. Utah)
He needed just seven carries to gain 120 yards against a stout Utes defense, with 87 touchdowns among his two scores.
WIDE RECEIVER
Quentin Johnston, TCU (Fiesta Bowl vs. Michigannational championship game against Georgia)
He recorded six catches for 163 yards in an all-time semifinal turnaround, with a 76-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. He had one catch in three years in the title game.
Trea Shropshire, UAB (Bahamas Bowl vs. Miami-OH)
He began the bowling season with an unstoppable performance that included 47% of the Blazers’ offensive yards (183 yards) on just six receptions, while also catching a touchdown.
Johnny Wilson, State of Florida (Cheez-It Bowl vs. Oklahoma)
They made one-handed catches look effortless with an eight-catch, 202-yard outing to beat the Sooners and give FSU its first bowl win since 2017.
Honorable Mention: Malik Nabers, LSU (Citrus Bowl vs. Purdue)
He looked the part as a No. 1 WR with 163 yards and a touchdown against the Boilermakers.
THE NIGHT END
Alex BaumanTulane (Cotton Bowl vs. USC)
He caught a key fourth-down conversion to set up his game-winning touchdown pass with nine seconds left in the win over USC.
Honorable Mention: Beau Johnson, Georgia Southern (Camellia Bowl vs. Buffalo)
A team-high five catches for 118 yards to help the Eagles hang with the Bulls.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Broderick JonesGeorgia (Peach Bowl vs. Ohio State, title game vs. TCU)
He didn’t allow a sack against a stout Buckeyes front while paving the way for 5.2 yards per carry and nearly 400 yards on a passing day in the semifinals. Jones and the line kept Stetson Bennett clean in the championship game against the Horned Frogs as well.
Prince of PinesTulane (Cotton Bowl vs. USC)
He made key blocks for Tyjae Spears and company as they ran for 305 yards with a whopping nine yards per carry.
Clark Barrington, BYU (New Mexico Bowl vs. SMU)
He kept the young quarterback upright as he helped the Cougars run 42 times for 209 yards and a one-point victory over the Mustangs.
Beaux LimmerArkansas (Liberty Bowl vs. Kansas)
He didn’t allow a sack as Hogs QB KJ Jefferson passed for more than 200 yards, ran for more than 100 and scored four total touchdowns in a wild three-overtime win.
Graham Barton, Duke (Military Bowl vs. UCF)
He helped the Blue Devils record their ninth win of the season for just the seventh time in school history while not allowing a sack and helping to rush for 4.4 yards per carry.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Dylan HortonTCU (Fiesta Bowl vs. Michigan, National Title Game vs. Georgia)
He terrorized the Wolverines to the tune of four sacks (three in the first half), plus forced a fumble and broke up a pass in the second half. He followed that up with four tackles, including one for a loss, against the Bulldogs on the big stage in LA
Jordan Ferguson, MTSU (Hawaii Bowl vs. San Diego State)
Named the MVP of the bowl game after an incredible rebounding interception, five tackles, one TFL, one pass breakup and a receiving touchdown on offense in what ended up being a two-point victory.
Richard Jibunor, Troy (Cure Bowl vs. UTSA)
The edge rusher was sacked, forced a fumble/recovery and had an interception return, and assisted on a key goal line drive against the Roadrunners.
Honorable Mention: Durrell Johnson, Liberty (Boca Raton Bowl vs. Toledo)
Despite getting hit, he tallied nine tackles, five TFLs and a sack in the close loss.
TCU upset Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl
LINEBACKER
KJ RobertsonTroy (Cure Bowl vs. UTSA)
In the conference champions’ only meeting, he helped the Trojans shut down the Roadrunners’ high-powered offense with a key interception and nine total tackles.
Kyrei Fisher-Morris, State of Oregon (Las Vegas Bowl vs. Florida)
He lived in the Gators backfield with 11 tackles (three for loss), a sack and one near interception.
Ben BywaterBYU (New Mexico Bowl vs. SMU)
He came on for Max Tooley in the starting lineup and scored 76–Yard pick-6, plus 11 tackles in limiting a typically productive Mustang offense.
Dee WintersTCU (Fiesta Bowl vs. Michigan, National Title Game vs. Georgia)
Named the semifinals Defensive MVP, he had seven tackles and a 29-yard punt return late in the third quarter to help topple the Wolverines. He had seven tackles in a loss to Georgia.
Honorable Mention: Dorian Williams, Tulane (Cotton Bowl vs. USC)
He had 17 attacks (third–most in a New Year’s Six game ever) in upsetting the Trojans.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Cooper DeJean, Iowa (Music City Bowl vs. Kentucky)
He nearly finished tied for the lead in touchdown receptions … with his third pick-six of the season (fifth overall) on a kickoff against the Wildcats.
Xavier NwankpaIowa (Music City Bowl vs. Kentucky)
In his first start replacing an All-American-caliber player, he drew a thrilling six, had eight tackles and threw another pass.
Brian Branch, Alabama (A bowl of sugar vs. Kansas State)
He was all over New Orleans to give the Wildcats a long day, including 14 tackles (four for loss), an interception, a pass breakup and a sack.
Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State (Rose Bowl vs. Utah)
Named the Rose Bowl Defensive MVP after an interception, eight tackles and a sack and a half to close out his PSU career in style.
Honorable Mention: O’Donnell Fortune, South Carolina (Gator Bowl vs. Notre Dame)
He had a 100-yard pick-six against the Irish to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
PUNTER
Caleb Junko, Pitt (Sun Bowl vs. UCLA)
Recorded a program record 85 yard punt… while in the rough.
REBEL
Ben SaulsPitt (Sun Bowl vs. UCLA)
He capped a second-half comeback with a 47-yard field goal with a couple of field goals left to give the Panthers a two-point victory.
HEAD COACH
Willie Fritz, Tulane
Set a new FBS record with a 10-win improvement from a year ago, including the school’s first major scoring victory in nearly a century after coming back from a 15-point deficit in the final five minutes.
Bryan Fischer is a football writer for FOX Sports. He has covered college athletics for nearly two decades at places like NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and NFL.com among others. Follow him on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
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