Toledo will look to send off 14 seniors with a victory over Central Michigan Friday, Nov. 23, the regular-season finale for both teams.
Kickoff will be at noon in the Glass Bowl. The game will be carried by ESPN3.
Toledo (6-5, 4-3 Mid-American Conference) is coming off a 56-34 at Kent State Nov. 15. It was the fifth time this season Toledo topped the 50-point mark, a school record.
The victory made the Rockets bowl eligible for the ninth consecutive season. The Rockets have gone bowling in seven of the last eight seasons. Most bowl berths will be announced Sunday, Dec. 2, though some announcements could come as early as Nov. 25.
Redshirt freshman Bryant Koback ran for a season-high 192 yards and two touchdowns to lead Toledo in wintry conditions at Kent State. Junior Art Thompkins added 122 yards and two scores to Toledo’s running attack, which racked up a season-high 384 yards. Sophomore quarterback Eli Peters completed 11 of 14 passes for 131 yards and two scores. Junior Diontae Johnson helped the cause with an 83-yard punt return just before halftime that gave Toledo a 28-17 lead going into the locker room. Toledo then scored three quick touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 49-17 lead that ended Kent State’s hopes of an upset on a night that featured rain, sleet and snow.
Toledo is second in the MAC in scoring (40.2), just a few points behind Ohio’s 40.5. The Rockets also are second in the league rushing offense (217.3) and third in total offense (446.3).
Central Michigan (1-10, 0-7 MAC) has not won a MAC game this year, but the Chippewas have been in almost every game, with only one conference defeat coming by more than 11 points. The Chippewas, who have the No. 1 pass defense in the league (148.0), are led by senior linebacker Malik Fountain, who tops the MAC with 142 tackles.
Toledo leads the series with Central Michigan, 25-18-3. The Rockets have won the last eight meetings, most recently a 30-10 victory at Mount Pleasant last season. The last CMU win in the series came in 2009.
Tickets are available on the UT Rockets’ website, at the UT Athletic Ticket Office in Savage Arena, and by calling 419.530.GOLD (4653). Faculty and staff can buy tickets half off with ID, and UT students are admitted free with ID.
