The University of Toledo football team needs to win its final two games of the season – road contests at Buffalo and Central Michigan – and needs help in order to have any shot of playing in the Mid-American Conference title game.
After a 31-28 loss to Northern Illinois at home, the Rockets made those chances very slim.
Here are three questions following the loss to the Huskies:
1. Can Toledo shake its road woes?
The Rockets have yet to win a game on the road in the MAC with losses to rival Bowling Green and Ball State in their only two conference road games this season. Toledo was 1-1 on the road in the non-conference season with a win at Colorado State and a loss in the season opener at Kentucky. It's tough to win conference road games in November and two good teams in Buffalo and Central Michigan await the Rockets. Toledo will need to find a way to pull out tough wins away from home.
2. Will the Peters-to-Mitchell connection continue?
In the second-half comeback for Toledo against Northern Illinois, quarterback Eli Peters and wide receiver Bryce Mitchell connected on two late touchdowns of 34 and 14 yards. Mitchell, the Bowsher product, has great size and athletic ability and could be emerging as a top target for Peters. He had six catches for 125 yards and two scores in the loss to NIU. Mitchell will look to continue the chemistry that he and Peters appear to be developing and show off his big-play ability.
3. Will Koback be able to finish the Buffalo game if he plays?
Running back Bryant Koback was injured in the win over Kent State and gave it a go in the Northern Illinois game. He fumbled on an early carry and was unable to finish the game with his injury. Shakif Seymour and Ronnie Jones have proven to be a reliable duo in the event that Koback can't go against Buffalo. Toledo coach Jason Candle said Koback probably won’t be 100 percent by the Buffalo game but he expects that Koback will make a push to play. Toledo could always use the explosiveness of Koback, who is one of the top running backs in the MAC even if he is not quite 100 percent.
First Published November 18, 2019, 1:16 a.m.
