One of the most anticipated games in northwest Ohio every year is upon us.
Here is everything you need to know about Saturday’s Bowling Green at Toledo football game starting at 3:30 p.m.
Meet the Falcons
Bowling Green comes into the game at 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the Mid-American Conference. The Falcons, who had lost five of their last six games, won 27-6 over winless Kent State last week. However, a loss to the Rockets could put the Falcons’ hopes of bowl eligibility in question, as they have matchups with Western Michigan and Miami (Ohio) left on the schedule — both teams at the top of the MAC standings.
Meet the Rockets
Toledo is 5-2 overall with its only blemishes coming on the road, a five-point loss (26-21) against Western Kentucky Sept. 21 and a 15-point setback (30-15) to Buffalo on Oct. 12. Following the loss to the Bulls, the Rockets got back into the win column with a seven-point win (13-6) on the road at Northern Illinois.
What’s at stake
With both teams in a six-way tie for second place in the conference holding 2-1 records, the winner likely remains in prime position to contend for a MAC title while the loser has an uphill climb.
How to watch
The game can be streamed on ESPN+.
How to listen
For the Toledo broadcast, tune in to 1370 AM. For the BGSU side of things, listen to 100.7 FM (or, if the Ohio State game is still on, listen to 93.5 FM).
Follow along
The Blade sports department’s David Briggs, Kyle Rowland, and Michael Burwell will be covering the game.
Watch for their quarter-by-quarter analysis Saturday during the game at toledoblade.com.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased at utrockets.com or by calling the University of Toledo ticket office at 419-530-4653. Prices for the Bowling Green game range from $26 to $71.
Parking
General admission lots open three hours prior to game time. To enhance the fan experience on game day, and make entering campus and parking more convenient, general admission parking fees and passes are not collected. More information on parking can be found here.
Weather
According to AccuWeather, it will be mostly sunny, with a temperature in the mid to upper-50s, 8 mph winds, and a zero percent chance of precipitation.
Series history
This will be the 89th meeting in the series, which began in 1919. Toledo leads the series 43-41-4 after last year’s win on the road at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. The largest margin of victory in the series was 63-0 by Toledo in 1935.
The coaches
■ Scot Loeffler, Bowling Green: Loeffler is in his sixth year at the helm of the Falcons, holding a 23-39 record. He does have a pair of wins in his pocket over the Rockets (2-3 overall), but his Falcons have dropped three of the last four meetings in the series.
■ Jason Candle, Toledo: Candle is in his ninth year leading the Rockets and boasts a 70-37 record. He is 6-2 against Bowling Green, including a 32-31 victory last fall.
Players to watch
■ Bowling Green: TE Harrold Fannin, Jr. He has been the clear No. 1 target for quarterback Connor Bazelak, eclipsing 100 yards receiving in five of the team’s seven games this season. Fannin had a 12-catch, 193-yard, two touchdown performance against Old Dominion on Sept. 28, and most recently went for 171 yards on 10 catches against Kent State. He was the leading receiver (five catches, 89 yards, 2 TDs) for both teams in the 2023 Battle of I-75.
■ Toledo: WR Jerjuan Newton. Like Fannin, he is one of the top pass catchers in the MAC — and for that matter the country. In the conference, Newton is second only to Fannin in receiving yards at 581 on the season. He leads the MAC in receiving touchdowns with eight, and has caught a TD in six of the Rockets seven games.
What are the odds?
Toledo is the favorite by a narrow 2½-point margin. The Rockets opened as a 3-point favorite on Sunday.
ESPN’s popular FPI simulation analytics give Toledo a 65.3 percent chance to win.
Stat watch
Winning the line of scrimmage will likely be vital in this one. BGSU registered two sacks in the win over Kent State to bring its season total to 19, which ranks tied for 25th in the FBS. But Toledo is not far behind, tied for 35th in the FBS with 17 sacks on the season, while allowing only 11 compared to BGSU’s 16.
The team that can better pressure the opposing team’s quarterback might have the advantage.
The threads
■ Toledo: All blue helmets, gold jerseys, blue pants.
You stripe. We stripe.#TeamToledo | #BeatBG pic.twitter.com/eWrvDJdEza
— Toledo Football (@ToledoFB) October 22, 2024
■ Bowling Green: Orange helmets, white jerseys, orange pants.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜-𝟳𝟱 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 🧵
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) October 25, 2024
🟠⚪️🟠 pic.twitter.com/XdQEmL0NLt
Predictions
■ Kyle Rowland, Toledo beat writer: Which Toledo offense is going to show up? The anemic, pedestrian unit from the past two weeks or the one that passed at will the first month of the season? Part of that could be dependent on the health of QB Tucker Gleason. There’s enough evidence to know which Bowling Green team will show up — one that routinely plays up to its competition and gives the Rockets fits. One of the biggest surprises on Saturday would be BG playing poorly. Scot Loeffler can get his team up for every big game. Unfortunately for the Falcons, that doesn’t always translate when they play unexciting games. But the Battle of I-75 is not that. It’s the most important game on the schedule for both teams. BG tight end Harold Fannin, Jr., might be the best player on the field. If Connor Bazelak feeds the beast, the Falcons will win at the Glass Bowl for the second straight time. If Gleason (or John Alan Richter) delivers a player-of-the-game performance, this score could be reversed. Bowling Green 34, Toledo 20.
■ Michael Burwell, Bowling Green beat writer: It’s hard to tell whether this game will be a shootout like the last two matchups, or a defensive slugfest with both squads showing positive signs recently on that side of the ball. No one should be surprised, though, if the game is once again decided in the final minutes; whoever shows up in the fourth quarter will come out on top. Bowling Green is 1-4 in games decided by 10 points or less this season – in two of those losses, the Falcons led entering the fourth quarter – while Toledo is 2-1. The atmosphere at the Glass Bowl should be electric, but nothing Bowling Green isn’t used to after playing — and excelling — in stadiums at Penn State and Texas A&M this year. In an absolute toss-up, the road team wins for the fourth straight season. Bowling Green 27, Toledo 24.
First Published October 25, 2024, 2:22 p.m.
