We’re just a handful of weeks away from the end of 2021, which means it’s time to look ahead to 2022. I’m sure you enjoy watching the games, but they can take up a lot of time – so, here are 22 football predictions for 2022 that will help ease your mind and feel so confident in what’s going to happen that you won’t have any need for watching the games.
22 Football Predictions for 2022
1: Michigan Wins the National Championship
Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines are riding high after winning the Big Ten title. Everything seems to be clicking for the Maize and Blue, and this is their time to take down the vaunted SEC.
2: Luke Fickell Named Bear Bryant College Coach of the Year
Cincinnati’s run has been nothing less than remarkable, and its coach deserves recognition for breaking the CFP glass ceiling by stealing a playoff spot reserved for college football bluebloods.
3: Bucs Are NFC Champs
Arizona, Green Bay, and Dallas may beg to differ, but all signs point to the ageless Tom Brady and the Buccaneers taking home another NFC title.
4: Pats Triumph in the AFC
Mac Jones and Bill Belichick are rolling, and the Patriots are right back in the conversation after a rapid rebuild. New England is gelling at the right time, and it’s primed to claim the AFC crown.
5: Tampa Bay Repeats
Tom Brady has just too many toys to play with in Tampa, and winning Super Bowls is what he does. My prediction is Brady will again be the king of football in 2022.
6: Mac Jones Wins NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
The first-year signal caller for New England has been sensational in his debut with the Patriots and has surged past previous favorite Ja’Marr Chase of the Bengals. Jones has now all but locked up the hardware.
7: Micah Parsons Wins NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
Some are projecting the rooke linebacker to surpass all defenders as the best in the league this season, and no one is even close to challenging him for Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Cowboys’ sensation slices through offenses like a hot knife through butter.
8: Jonathan Taylor Is NFL Offensive Player of the Year
Taylor continues to rack up the yards and touchdowns for the Indianapolis Colts, and no one is really close to him in this conversation.
9: NFL Defensive Player of the Year Is Myles Garrett
Although Micah Parsons is making a huge splash in his rookie year, Myles Garrett is THE established sack master in the NFL. It would be a mistake to ignore his continued dominance in Cleveland.
10: NFL MVP? Tom Brady
Surprisingly, Brady has only won league MVP three times in his incredible 22-year career. He has the stats and the wins to take home the MVP award this season, and it is far overdue for the GOAT after last winning in 2017.
11: NFL Coach of the Year? Bill Belichick
It did not take Belichick long to get his team back to the top of the AFC. The rapid improvement of the Patriots’ defense and the development of Mac Jones are not accidents – Belichick and his staff have consistently worked wonders with their roster. The New England coach will once again be recognized for his brilliance.
12: Kellen Moore Will Become an NFL Head Coach
The Boise State legend has been rapidly rising up the NFL coaching ranks since last playing quarterback for Dallas in 2017. Moore was rumored to be in the running for a head coaching position last offseason, and teams will come calling again in 2022 as Moore continues to flex his offensive acumen.
13: Aaron Rodgers Picks Pittsburgh
The veteran quarterback and insurance salesman nearly left Green Bay last offseason, and he has not been shy about expressing his admiration for Steelers’ coach Mike Tomlin. It is no secret that Rodgers is ready for a change, and the impending retirement of Big Ben leaves a void that he would be happy to fill.
14: Davante Adams Is a Raider
This is Adams’ final year of his contract in Green Bay, and he’s hinted at his interest in joining the Raiders before. He can reunite with Derek Carr and revel in Vegas, which s slightly different than Green Bay.
15: Gronk Returns to TB
Rob Gronkowski reportedly takes it “year to year” when considering retirement, but as long as he can stay healthy, Tom Brady will keep checking it down to him over and over. The Buccaneers’ staff has done an excellent job of not over-using the GOAT tight end, and Gronk will run it back with Brady and the Bucs.
16: Kayvon Thibodeaux Goes No. 1
The Oregon defensive end is a giant with freakish athletic ability. He is simply too talented for likely suitor Detroit to pass on. Thibodeaux will be selected No. 1 overall and be primed to make a serious impact in his rookie season.
17: NFL Fans Go Wild Over Alternate Throwback Helmets
The NFL rule limiting teams to one helmet will change at the start of the 2022 season, and all teams will be allowed an additional alternate helmet. The throwback options are limitless, and fans will revel in nostalgia when their favorite teams roll out with new (old) headgear.
18: College Football’s Targeting Rule Will Change … Again
The much-criticized rule designed to protect players from head injuries will undergo another transformation to address the perception that players committing the targeting foul are being unfairly ejected. No doubt, ejection will still be on the table for egregious offenses, but my prediction is that the powers that be in college football are starting to realize there are some cases of “targeting” that can be handled differently.
19: Auburn Fires Bryan Harsin
The expectations are simply too great in the SEC, and Auburn coach Bryan Harsin is not up to the task. An uneasy Tiger fan base with very little patience for mediocrity has been clamoring for the ouster of Harsin for several months now, and Harsin will be out at some point next fall.
20: LSU Wins the SEC Under Brian Kelly
There were no predictions that Brian Kelly would leave Notre Dame for LSU, and his move shocked the college football world. In 2022, he will shock everyone again by leading the Tigers to the SEC title in 2022 one year after they finished last in the SEC West.
21: Brent Venables Leads Oklahoma to Big 12 Title
The departure of Lincoln Riley for USC surprised everyone, but Oklahoma fans should see this as a win for the program. New head coach Brent Venables returns to Norman with massive experience, energy, enthusiasm, and intelligence. Venables will make Oklahoma a serious contender again in 2022 and the champion of the Big 12.
22: Big 12 Invites Four Mountain West Teams
The Big 12 must continue to make preemptive moves to stay relevant with the expected departures of Texas and Oklahoma. Colorado State, Air Force, San Diego State, and Boise State are the most likely candidates to join during the Big 12’s westward expansion.
