The University of Toledo’s 2019 football schedule was released today, with six games on the home slate for the Rockets. Toledo will open the season at Kentucky Saturday, Aug. 31, and will debut at home Saturday, Sept. 14, vs. Murray State.
Highlighting the home schedule is a Sept. 28 matchup with traditional power Brigham Young University. The Rockets and the Cougars met in a high-scoring classic in Provo in 2016, with BYU coming away with a 55-53 victory on a last-second field goal.
The Rockets also will host defending Mid-American Conference Champion Northern Illinois in a Wednesday night meeting Nov. 13.
Rounding out the home schedule is a matchup vs. Western Michigan Saturday, Oct. 5, in the annual Homecoming game; a date with Eastern Michigan Saturday, Oct. 26; and a clash with Kent State Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Toledo’s road schedule will begin with its first-ever meeting on the gridiron with Kentucky. The Wildcats were 10-3 in 2018, their best season since the 1977 squad went 10-1. UT’s other nonconference road contest is at Colorado State of the Mountain West Conference Saturday, Sept. 21.
The MAC road games are Saturday, Oct. 12, at Bowling Green; Saturday, Oct. 19, at Ball State; Wednesday, Nov. 20, at defending East Division champion Buffalo; and Friday, Nov. 29, at Central Michigan.
Three games on the 2019 schedule have already been set for national TV broadcasts: Nov. 5 vs. Kent State (ESPN2/ESPNU or CBS Sports Network), Nov. 13 vs. Northern Illinois (ESPN2 or ESPNU), and Buffalo (ESPN2 or ESPNU). Other dates will be added to the broadcast schedule later.
Head Football Coach Jason Candle’s 2019 squad returns 51 letterwinners and 14 starters from last season’s team, including sophomore running back Bryant Koback, who led the Rockets with 917 yards rushing as a freshman. The Rockets were 7-6 in 2018, and are one of only nine schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision that have had a winning record in each of the past nine seasons.
Rocket fans can get a preview of the 2019 team at the annual spring scrimmage Friday, April 12, at 7 p.m. in the Glass Bowl.
The 2019 season also will mark the 150th anniversary of the first college football game between Rutgers and Princeton Nov. 6, 1869. To commemorate the occasion, UT will feature social media posts all season highlighting the tradition of Toledo football. In addition, a special celebration of Rocket football history will take place at the Nov. 5 game vs. Kent State.
Rocket football season tickets are on sale for as low as $70.
Full-time UT employees and retirees may purchase up to two season tickets at half-price. Additional season tickets may be purchased at the full price. UT students are admitted to home games free with ID.
For more information, go online to the Toledo Rockets’ website, call 419.530.GOLD (4653), or stop by the UT Athletic Ticket Office during business hours.
