The University of Toledo has accepted an invitation to play Temple of the American Athletic Conference in the 2015 Marmot Boca Rotan Bowl at Florida Atlantic University Stadium in Boca Raton, UT Athletic Director Mike O’Brien announced Sunday.
The game will be played Tuesday, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.
“We are very excited to be selected to play in the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl,” O’Brien said. “The Rocket Nation sends a thank you to Executive Director Doug Mosley and the entire Marmot Boca Raton Bowl team selection committee. We have heard nothing but great things about FAU Stadium and the terrific job the committee does in hosting this bowl. I’m confident that our players, coaches and fans will enjoy a terrific bowl experience in south Florida.”
UT head coach Jason Candle, who will be debuting as head coach in the game, was enthusiastic about his team’s bowl destination.
“The Boca Raton Bowl will provide our players with an outstanding bowl experience, as well as the opportunity to play against a very tough Temple team,” Candle said. “Playing in the Boca Raton Bowl is an excellent reward for our players, coaches and everyone involved in our team’s success.”
Candle assumed the head coaching position Dec. 2 following the departure of Matt Campbell to Iowa State and the conclusion of the regular season. Candle had been an assistant at UT since 2009, the last four as the offensive coordinator
The Rockets (9-2, 6-2 MAC) are co-champions of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference, sharing the crown with Northern Illinois, Western Michigan and Central Michigan. NIU won the four-way tiebreaker and advanced to the MAC Championship Game.
Toledo was ranked in the Top 25 for six weeks this season, rising to No. 19 in the AP poll Oct. 18. The Rockets defeated two teams from Power Five conferences in successive weeks, then No. 18 Arkansas Sept. 12 and Iowa State Sept. 19.
The Rockets will be playing in their 15th bowl and fifth in the last six years. UT is 10-4 all-time in bowl games, including a 63-44 victory over Arkansas State at the GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile last January.
Temple is 10-3 and 7-1 in the American Athletic Conference. The Owls finished in first place in the East Division of the American, losing in the league championship game to Houston, 24-13, Saturday. Temple was ranked as high as No. 20 in the AP poll this season.
Toledo leads the all-time series with Temple, 7-3, including a 1-1 record when the Owls were a member of the Mid-American Conference from 2007 2011. The two teams last faced in Philadelphia in 2011, a 36-13 Rocket victory.
This is the second year for the Boca Raton Bowl. Northern Illinois and Marshall played in the bowl’s debut last year, with the Thundering Herd (Conference USA) claiming a 52-23 victory.
For tickets and information on an alumni pre-game party, click here.
