Like the previous three seasons, the Augustana Vikings football team opened up their 2022 campaign with a victory, making it four-straight season-openers resulting in a win. In a home game to start the year on September 3, the Vikings jumped out to a 31-7 halftime lead over the Rhodes Lynx, holding off a late comeback attempt from the visitors to result in a 34-28 Augie victory. The Vikings offense set the tone for a successful season on that side of the ball, tallying 355 yards of offense. Cole Bhardwaj began his junior season with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the win, resulting in the CCIW's first player of the week honor. The 34 points scored would eventually equal the Vikings' points per game average in 2022, the highest average scoring output in a season from an Augustana football team in over a decade.

The Vikings continued their momentum into game two, picking up a road win over Elmhurst, their fifth-straight over the Bluejays to push their record to 2-0 for the second time in three seasons. Tyler Rivelli accounted for the game's first three touchdowns, all from one-yard out to help give the Vikings a three-possession lead at halftime. The Vikings defense held the Bluejays scoreless through the first half and the team held off a late fourth-quarter push to pick up the win. Rivelli secured four touchdowns in the contest, which would later prove to be his second-highest touchdown mark of the season.

Augustana returned home for Family Weekend and a highly-anticipated matchup against the No. 11 Wheaton Thunder. After failing to score a point against the Thunder in 2021, the Vikings got on the board first with an early touchdown pass in this year's matchup. The two teams traded scores before Wheaton secured the final two touchdowns of the half to take a 21-14 advantage into halftime. The Thunder broke away in the third quarter with a 14-0 advantage, but the Vikings cut it to seven halfway through the fourth. A late field goal from Wheaton iced the game and allowed them to steal the road victory. Augustana's defense held Wheaton quarterback Will Bowers under 200 yards, one of just two times he had been held under that mark the entire regular season. 

After falling in a double overtime heartbreaker at Carroll, the Vikings bounced back in a big way against the Millikin Big Blue, boasting their best performances on both sides of the ball. Augie held Millikin to just 126 total yards and forced six Big Blue turnovers, securing their first shutout since October 2019. The 70 points in the win also was the team's highest point total since October 2019, when they routed North Park by a final of 71-0. Four different Vikings earned touchdowns on the ground in the win.

Following a home loss to No. 24 Washington-St. Louis, the Vikings bounced back with consecutive wins, seeing another record-setting performance in a 56-34 win at North Park. Rivelli secured four first-half rushing touchdowns to help lead the team to a 42-13 halftime lead. His touchdown with 1:18 left in the game gave him five, which tied a school record for most in the game, joining Joe Thompson in 1974 and Sam Frasco in 2015, who both did it against North Park as well. Jacob Brooks also added to the rushing success in the win, tallying 147 yards with two scores.

Augustana returned home to face Illinois Wesleyan, earning a hard-fought win despite scoring their lowest point total of the season up to that point. Trailing 10-0 at half, the Vikings got within striking distance heading into the final quarter, answering two off-setting field goals with a long touchdown pass from Bhardwaj to Craig Shelton. This was the start of 21 unanswered points for the Vikings to put them in control until a touchdown from the Titans with 37 seconds left gave the visitors life. Illinois Wesleyan recovered the ensuing onside kick, but a sack and forced fumble by Chase Tatum on their first play from scrimmage ended their comeback hopes as Ronde Worrels pounced on the ball to give the Vikings possession. Two kneel-downs sealed the game and Augie escaped with the 24-21 victory. The Viking defense boasted five sacks in the low-scoring affair and allowed just 21 points despite the Titans owning a plus-11 margin in time of possession.

The Vikings stumbled in their final two games to bring their record to 5-5, but it did not go without a record-breaking performance from Bobby Inserra. In the team's home loss to Carthage, the senior wide receiver hauled in 16 catches for 240 yards and the three scores. The 16 receptions break a 12-year record of 12 set by Corbett Ball versus Elmhurst in 2010, as well as Paul Ander in 1968 against Luther.  The 240 yards are just 13 off of the school record of 253 set in 1987 by Eric Welgat. Inserra closed out his 2022 campaign as the single-season record holder of receptions per game (6.3) and total receptions (63), passing Corbett Ball who set both of those in 2010. He was named to D3Football.com's Team of the Week following this performance.

Throughout the year, Augustana earned multiple CCIW weekly honors. Bhardwaj kicked it off with his offensive award after game one, followed by special teams recognition for Inserra and Sidney Maroon. Both were named Student-Athlete of the Week again in early November for a second time. Breyden Smith also earned a weekly honor on special teams following the team's win over Millikin.

Four Vikings earned All-CCIW recognition following the conclusion of the season. Inserra was one of two members of the offense to be named all-conference, landing Second Team honors as a wide receiver, joining offensive lineman Cain Johnson on Second Team offense. On defense, Tatum grabbed all-conference recognition for the second year in a row, earning Second Team on the defensive line. Tatum was fourth on the team in 2022 in solo tackles and had 41 on the season, seven of which were for loss. He finished his 2022 campaign with five sacks and two forced fumbles and one recovery. He ranked 25th in the CCIW in tackles for loss and 12th in sacks. Cole Romano was also recognized on Second Team defense. The senior led the Vikings this season in tackles for loss with nine, all coming via the sack. Romano ranked third in the league in the sacks category, also placing fifth in yards lost with 56 in that category. He also recovered one fumble this season.

In late November, Daniel Skold was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.

2022 Augie stat leaders

• Passing: Bhardwaj - 142-261, 1,838 yards, 19 TD
• Rushing: Brooks - 569 yards, 56.9 avg/game
• Receiving: Inserra - 63 catches, 829 yards, 8 TD
• Tackles: Worrells - 62
• Tackles for loss: Romano - 9 for 56 yards
• Sacks: Romano - 9 for 56 yards
• Interceptions: Frank Giamarusti - 2
• Forced fumbles: Giamarusti, Tatum - 2
• Kicking: Maroon - 7-10 FG, 54.7 punt average
• Returns: Smith - 28.25 kickoff avg. | Inserra - 13.2 punt avg.

For a look at the 2022 cumulative stats, click here. The updated record book can be found here.