The 2022 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the seven member schools of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) as part of the 2022 NCAA Division II football season.
Grand Valley State compiled a perfect 11–0 regular-season record, won the GLIAC championship, and was ranked No. 3 in the final NCAA Division II poll. The team advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they lost in the second round to Ferris State. Ferris State quarterback Cade Peterson won GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year honors.
Ferris State compiled a 10–1 record in the regular season, losing a close game to Grand Valley State, and were ranked No. 1 in the final NCAA Division II poll. However, the Bulldogs later defeated Grand Valley State when they met for a second time at the Super Regional Final stage of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Grand Valley State defensive back Caleb Murphy won GLIAC Player of the Year honors. Ferris went on to win the 2022 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game on December 17, 2022, with a 14–1 overall record.
Davenport compiled an 8–3 record and was the third GLIAC team to advance to the Division II playoffs, losing to Ferris State in the first round. Davenport head coach Sparky McEwen won GLIAC Coach of the Year honors.
Conference overview
All-GLIAC honors
Players of the year honors
On November 17, 2022, the conference coaches selected the following players for player of the year honors:
Player of the Year - Caleb Murphy, defensive end, Ferris State
Offensive Back of the Year - Cade Peterson, quarterback, Grand Valley State
Offensive Lineman of the Year - Quinton Barrow, offensive tackle, Grand Valley State Defensive Lineman of the Year - Christian McCarroll, defensive end, Grand Valley State Defensive Back of the Year - Abe Swanson, linebacker, Grand Valley State Freshman of the Year - Carson Gulker, quarterback, Ferris State Coach of the Year - Sparky McEwen, Davenport
All-GLIAC teams
The coaches also named the following players as first-team players on the 2022 All-GLIAC football team:
Offense
Quarterback - Cade Peterson, Grand Valley State
Running backs - Tariq Reid, Grand Valley State; Tyshon King, Northern Michigan; Kendall Wiliams, Wayne State Halfback - CJ Jefferson, Ferris State Wide receivers - Jahdae Walker, Grand Valley State; Tyrese Hunt-Thompson, Ferris State; Sy Barnett, Davenport; Darius Willis, Michigan Tech Offensive linemen - Quinton Barrow, Grand Valley State; Adam Sieler, Ferris State; Hayden Huttula, Michigan Tecch; Jordan Davis, Grand Valley State; Garrett Carroll, Grand Valley State; Blake Bustard, Wayne State Place kicker - Brandon Gielow, Davenport
Defense
Defensive linemen - Caleb Murphy, Ferris State; Christian McCarroll, Grand Valley State; Jordan Jones, Ferris State; Victor Nelson, Saginaw Valley State; Austin Alward, Davenport Linebackers - Abe Swanson, Grand Valley State; Trevor Nowaske, Saginaw Valley State; Marc Sippel, Michigan Tech; Konnor Near, Ferris State; Damon Wesley, Grand Valley State Defensive backs - Nick Whiteside, Saginaw Valley State; Sidney McCloud, Ferris State; Shaq Floyd, Davenport; Nyzier Fourqurean, Grand Valley State; Cyntell Williams, Ferris State SP - Marcus Taylor, Ferris State Punter - Trace Hrgich, Grand Valley State
Teams
Grand Valley State
The 2022 Grand Valley State Lakers football team represented Grand Valley State University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2022 NCAA Division II football season. In their 12th year under head coach Matt Mitchell, the Lakers compiled a 12–1 record (6–0 against conference opponents), won the GLIAC championship, and were ranked No. 1 nationally at the end of the regular season. The Lakers would defeat five ranked teams during the regular season, including a 25–22 victory over No. 4 Colorado Mines in the season opener and rivalry game victories over No. 1 Ferris State and No. 17 .
In the playoffs, the Lakers received a bye in the first round and won in the second round, before losing in the quarterfinals against rival Ferris State.
The team was led on offense by junior quarterback Cade Peterson. Peterson completed 159 of 273 passes for 2,439 yards with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. Junior running back Tariq Reid was the team's leading rusher with 1,027 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on 161 carries for an average of 6.4 yards per carry.