The Frisco Bowl is a college football bowl game that has been played annually since 2017 in Frisco, Texas. The game pits teams from the American Athletic Conference against teams from the Mid-American Conference. The Frisco Bowl has become an exciting new bowl tradition, featuring high-scoring, competitive matchups between up-and-coming teams from two of the leading conferences in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Fans eagerly anticipate the release of the Frisco Bowl matchup and results each year.
2022 Frisco Bowl Matchup
The 2022 Frisco Bowl featured an intriguing matchup between the North Texas Mean Green from Conference USA and the Boise State Broncos from the Mountain West Conference. This was the first time these two teams had ever met on the football field.
North Texas came into the game with a 7-5 overall record and 5-3 conference record. The Mean Green were co-champions of the West Division of Conference USA. North Texas started the season strong with a 5-0 record before hitting a rough patch and losing 3 games in a row. The team rebounded at the end of the season to secure bowl eligibility.
Boise State entered the game with a 9-3 overall record and 7-1 conference record. The Broncos finished 2nd in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference. Boise State was ranked for part of the season before losing 2 close games down the stretch. Still, the Broncos came into the bowl looking to cap off the season on a high note.
With both teams having impressive resumes, the table was set for an exciting showdown in Frisco.
Game Summary
The 2022 Frisco Bowl kicked off on Tuesday, December 20 at 6:30 PM local time at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. From the opening whistle, it was a back-and-forth affair between North Texas and Boise State.
North Texas struck first late in the first quarter. After driving deep into Boise State territory, Mean Green quarterback Austin Aune found receiver Roderic Burns for a 16-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was good, giving North Texas an early 7-0 lead.
Early in the second quarter, the Broncos responded. Running back George Holani ripped off a 36-yard touchdown run, powering through the Mean Green defense into the end zone. The extra point tied the game 7-7.
North Texas wasted no time answering right back. Aune led the Mean Green down the field again, connecting with Burns for a second touchdown from 14 yards out. The extra point made it 14-7 North Texas.
As halftime approached, Boise State put together one last drive. Quarterback Taylen Green completed 5 straight passes to get the Broncos into field goal range before halftime. Jonah Dalmas nailed a 45-yard field goal to trim North Texas’s lead to 14-10 at the half.
In the second half, the Mean Green began to open things up. Midway through the third quarter, Aune dropped a perfect pass into the hands of receiver Jyaire Shorter for a 59-yard bomb touchdown. North Texas extended its lead to 21-10 after the PAT.
The Broncos did not fade, though. Early in the fourth quarter, George Holani powered in his second rushing touchdown of the game from 3 yards out. The score cut North Texas’s lead to 21-17 after the extra point.
From there on out, it was all North Texas. Mean Green running back Oscar Adaway III scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with just over 2 minutes left to extend the lead to 28-17. Then the North Texas defense came up with a pivotal stop on 4th down to get the ball back. Aune knelt out the clock, sealing the exciting 28-17 Mean Green victory.
Game Statistics
The final statistics show just how evenly matched these two teams were in the 2022 Frisco Bowl:
| Team | 1st Downs | Rushing Yards | Passing Yards | Total Yards | Turnovers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Texas | 19 | 84 | 303 | 387 | 0 |
| Boise State | 17 | 138 | 267 | 405 | 1 |
– North Texas had 19 first downs to Boise State’s 17. The Mean Green had the slight edge in moving the chains.
– On the ground, Boise State rushed for 138 yards while North Texas had 84 rushing yards. The Broncos had a slight advantage running the football.
– Through the air, North Texas passed for 303 yards compared to 267 for Boise State. The Mean Green were more productive passing.
– Overall, Boise State outgained North Texas in total yards 405 to 387. However, the Mean Green made more big plays when they needed them.
– Turnovers made a difference. Boise State gave up the ball once on an interception while North Texas had no turnovers. Protecting the football helped the Mean Green secure the win.
Individual Statistics
– North Texas QB Austin Aune: 26/40, 303 yards, 3 TDs
– North Texas WR Roderic Burns: 7 catches, 92 yards, 2 TDs
– North Texas WR Jyaire Shorter: 3 catches, 74 yards, 1 TD
– Boise State QB Taylen Green: 19/32, 267 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT
– Boise State RB George Holani: 20 rushes, 97 yards, 2 TDs
Aune and Burns connected all night for North Texas, with the QB-WR duo linking up for 3 total touchdowns. Shorter added a long bomb TD as well. For Boise State, Green moved the ball through the air but could not find the end zone. Holani was a workhorse with 97 rushing yards and 2 scores on the ground.
Reaction and Analysis
The Mean Green’s exciting 28-17 victory in the 2022 Frisco Bowl capped off an up-and-down but ultimately satisfying season for North Texas. Picked to finish near the bottom of Conference USA in the preseason polls, head coach Seth Littrell’s squad defied expectations by claiming a division title and winning their bowl game. For a program on the rise, this win is something to build on going forward.
For Boise State, the loss concludes a campaign that fell a bit short of the high standards the Broncos have set over the past two decades. Still, Boise State showed their talent and heart by nearly battling back in this game. With most of their key contributors returning next season, the Broncos are primed to contend again in 2023.
Austin Aune demonstrated why he is one of the most exciting young quarterbacks in college football. His composure, accuracy, and big arm were on full display. He outdueled the talented true freshman Taylen Green in just his second career bowl start. Jyaire Shorter and Roderic Burns emerged as true game-changers at receiver.
Defensively, North Texas forced timely turnovers and held up well against the run. Boise State struggled to stretch the field in the passing game. The Mean Green got just enough stops, including the crucial 4th down late, to protect their lead.
Overall, this turned out to be a very evenly-played and entertaining Frisco Bowl. North Texas made just a few more plays and that proved to be the difference. Both programs appear to be trending upward and this game will only help raise their national profile going forward. For the Mean Green, it’s a win to build on as they try to establish themselves as the class of Conference USA.
Conclusion
The final score of the 2022 Frisco Bowl game was North Texas 28, Boise State 17. In a matchup of two closely matched teams, North Texas quarterback Austin Aune and receiver Roderic Burns connected for three touchdowns to lead the Mean Green to victory. It marked the first-ever Frisco Bowl win for North Texas. Boise State fell just short despite 138 rushing yards and two scores from running back George Holani. North Texas made the key plays down the stretch and did not turn the ball over en route to the win. The Frisco Bowl provided an entertaining game that showcased two rising programs. In the end, the Mean Green made history by becoming the first Frisco Bowl champions from Conference USA with the 11-point victory over the Mountain West’s Boise State Broncos.