The University of Toledo has accepted an invitation to play Liberty University in the 2022 Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, Toledo Vice President and Athletic Director Bryan B. Blair announced Sunday. The contest will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, and will be televised on ESPN.
Toledo (8-5) is the champion of the Mid-American Conference following its 17-7 victory over Ohio at the MAC Championship Game in Ford Field at Detroit on Dec. 3. Liberty (8-4) is a FBS independent, with victories over Arkansas, BYU and Southern Miss to its credit this season.
“We are very pleased to accept an invitation to the Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl,” Blair said. “We thank the Boca Raton Bowl Committee for selecting us and look forward to enjoying all the hospitality that southeast Florida has to offer. This is a terrific reward for a championship season by our football team. I know Coach Candle and the coaching staff will have our team ready to cap this season with a bowl victory.”
This will be the Rockets’ second trip to the Boca Raton Bowl, which first debuted in 2014. Toledo defeated No. 24 Temple, 32-17, on Dec. 22, 2015. That contest was Jason Candle’s first game as head coach of the Rockets. Candle was named head coach just 20 days prior to the contest after having served seven seasons as a Toledo assistant.
“We are extremely excited to be playing Liberty in the Boca Raton Bowl,” said Candle, who also led the Rockets to a MAC Championship title in 2017. “I’m so proud of our players and coaches and all the hard work they put into building a championship program. We look forward to the challenge of playing a very tough Liberty team. This is a great way for us to come together and play one final game with a senior class that has meant so much to this program.”
Toledo and Liberty have played three times before, with the Rockets winning all three games. The last meeting came in 2007 when the Flames were still an FCS program, with Toledo holding on for a 35-34 victory at the Glass Bowl.
Toledo will be playing in its 20th bowl game and sixth under Candle. Toledo has an 11-8 bowl record since its first appearance in the Tangerine Bowl in 1969. The Rockets have been bowl eligible for the past 13 consecutive seasons, the longest streak in the MAC.
Tickets went sale on today (Monday, Dec. 5) at 9 a.m. Information about potential pre-game alumni events will be announced later this week. For more information, call 419-530-GOLD (4653) or go to the UTRockets website.
