The 2022 Quick Lane Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 26, 2022, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The eighth annual Quick Lane Bowl, the bowl featured New Mexico State, an FBS Independent, and Bowling Green of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The game began at 2:34 p.m. EST and aired on ESPN. It was one of the 2022–23 bowl games concluding the 2022 FBS football season. The game's title sponsor was automotive chain Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center.
New Mexico State started the game the better team as their defense made the first big play, an interception of quarterback Matt McDonald by Trevor Brohard on Bowling Green's first drive. New Mexico State scored the game's first points in response, with a 15-yard pass thrown by Diego Pavia caught by Star Thomas for a touchdown. Bowling Green missed a field goal on their second drive and punted on their third, while New Mexico State's third drive resulted in another touchdown that stretched their lead to 14 points. Another missed field goal for the Falcons and an interception thrown by Pavia ended the half, and the Aggies made a field goal to increase their lead on their first drive of the second half. Bowling Green's first score came on the ensuing kickoff, which was returned for a touchdown by Ta'Ron Keith. The teams then traded punts and then scores, as New Mexico State scored a touchdown and Bowling Green made their first field goal. Bowling Green inched closer with a safety resulting from a punt block several drives later and a touchdown on their next possession, which brought them within five points, but the Aggies were able to pick up enough first downs and run out the clock on their final possession to win the game 24–19.
Teams
Based on conference tie-ins, the game typically features teams from the Big Ten Conference and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). However, with the Big Ten securing two spots in the College Football Playoff, there were not enough additional bowl eligible teams in the conference to fulfill the obligation for this game, allowing for a replacement team. The game pitted the New Mexico State Aggies and the Bowling Green Falcons; this was their first meeting.
New Mexico State Aggies
The Aggies, an FBS independent, finished the regular season with a record of 6–6. Under normal circumstances, a 6–6 team with two wins over Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams would be bowl-ineligible, however, the Aggies' circumstances were anything but normal. The Aggies' scheduled game against San Jose State was cancelled in the wake of the death of Spartans freshman running back Camdan McWright. With a 5–6 record heading into the last week of the season, the Aggies applied for a waiver with the NCAA to allow them to play in a bowl game, which was granted.
This was the fifth overall bowl game in New Mexico State history; they had compiled a 3–0–1 record in prior bowls, most recently appearing in and winning the 2017 Arizona Bowl. The Aggies entered the game as the only active FBS team to have appeared in one or more bowl games in their program's history without sustaining a loss.
This was New Mexico State's first appearance in a game played outside the Southwestern United States. It was also their final game as an FBS independent, as the Aggies will compete as a member of Conference USA beginning in 2023.
Bowling Green Falcons
Bowling Green finished their regular season with a 6–6 record, 5–3 in conference play. They began with three losses in their first four games, but became bowl eligible after winning four of five games from mid-October to mid-November. One of their losses, to FCS team Eastern Kentucky on September 10, took seven overtimes to decide. The Falcons did not face any ranked teams during the season.
This was Bowling Green's 14th all-time bowl game appearance and their first Quick Lane Bowl appearance. Their last appearance in a bowl game was in the December 2015 GoDaddy Bowl, when they lost to Georgia Southern.
Game summary
The game was televised on ESPN, with a commentary team of John Schriffen, Rene Ingoglia, and Tera Talmadge. The game's officiating crew, representing the Pac-12 Conference, was to be led by referee Michael Mothershed, though he encountered travel issues and was not able to make the game; Big Ten Conference referee Jeff Servinski was named as a replacement. The game was played indoors at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.