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6 (10-win) college football teams that are flying under the radar in 2022

By John Scimeca

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Chris Rodriguez Jr. #24 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs the ball during the first quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Chris Rodriguez Jr. #24 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs the ball during the first quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 18: Baylor Romney #16 hands off the ball to Tyler Allgeier #25 of the BYU Cougars during a game against the UAB Blazers during the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Blazers defeated the Cougars 31-28. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 18: Baylor Romney #16 hands off the ball to Tyler Allgeier #25 of the BYU Cougars during a game against the UAB Blazers during the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Shreveport, Louisiana. The Blazers defeated the Cougars 31-28. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Brigham Young Cougars

2021 record: 10-3

Last year, the Cougars entered the season unranked despite finishing the 2020 pandemic-affected season with an 11-1 record and the nation’s No. 11 overall ranking. This year, BYU enters as the last possible ranked team — No. 25 — following a 10-3 record in 2021 that included wins against Virginia and all five Pac-12 foes on the schedule.

I think that this year’s Cougars have the ability to reach double-digit wins for the third year in a row, despite the difficult schedule that features visits to Notre Dame, Oregon, and Boise State and home dates with Baylor and Arkansas.

Quarterback Jaren Hall is back after throwing for 2,583 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2021 — and he missed three games due to injury. The defense returns eight starters, including its leading tackler in linebacker Ben Bywater.

People might overlook BYU because of its independent status or its soft Pac-12 competition, but the Cougars will have the chance to knock off some big-time opponents in 2022 before their move to the Big 12 next year.

Fresno State Bulldogs

2021 record: 10-3 (6-2 Mountain West)

Last year’s Fresno State squad reached as high as No. 18 in the country en route to a 10-3 finish. The Bulldogs, who had gone a combined 7-11 in 2019 and 2020, got within a touchdown of defeating Oregon on the road and even knocked off San Diego State — the Aztecs’ only regular-season loss.

Quarterback Jake Haener returns for the Bulldogs in 2022. The 6-foot-1 senior topped 4,000 passing yards and threw for 33 touchdowns in 2021, helping the Fresno State offense compile 464.8 yards per game.

Fresno State is a strong contender to win the Mountain West this year, despite starting the preseason unranked. They could easily be the best team west of the Rockies — since Week 3 of the 2018 season, Mountain West teams are 15-12 against the Pac-12.

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