The college football season got underway last weekend, and the Toledo Rockets join the party on Thursday night when they kick off against Long Island University at the Glass Bowl.
UT is coming off a disappointing 7-6 season that ended with a thud in the Bahamas. The Rockets lost several close games that could have gone the other way if not for an inopportune turnover or penalty. But last year’s record isn’t tempering expectations for 2022.
“As you look ahead, like I told our team [Friday], it’s not about what other people are doing, but focusing on what we have to correct from last season and learning from our past mistakes,” Toledo coach Jason Candle said.
Toledo was tabbed to finish second, behind Northern Illinois, in the Mid-American Conference West by the media and received the second-most votes to win the conference championship. Everything is in place for a special season — one of the best defensive fronts in all of college football, a quarterback that’s expected to put up impressive numbers, and plenty of talent at the skill positions.
The Rockets lost two offensive linemen in preseason camp, but it shouldn’t derail UT’s plan on offense. And it won’t impact the end-of-season goal of appearing in Detroit for the MAC title game.
Here’s a game-by-game look at the schedule.
Sept. 1: Long Island
The opponent is irrelevant. Nobody cares that the Rockets are opening against a little-known FCS school. The Glass Bowl will be near capacity, it will be loud, and the excitement will be obvious. The LIU Sharks won’t provide much competition, as they’re one of the worst teams in the lower division. But it’s an opportunity for Toledo to gain some confidence early in the season.
■ Winner: Toledo
Sept. 10: Massachusetts
Former Michigan defensive coordinator (and UMass head coach) Don Brown is back in Amherst. These two teams played last season in a game the Rockets dominated. UMass running back Ellis Merriweather rushed for over 1,100 yards last year, and he will be a key cog in the Minutemen game plan in 2022, as will Louisville transfer Greg Desrosiers. The problem for UMass is that Toledo won’t allow much running room for any opponent, even Ohio State. The UMass defense, which will blitz early and often, will provide a test for the rebuilt Rocket offensive line.
■ Winner: Toledo
Sept. 17: at Ohio State
By the time Sept. 17 rolls around, the Buckeyes might be the No. 1 team in the country. They begin the season as the nation’s second-ranked team, but a blowout of No. 5 Notre Dame feels inevitable, perhaps boosting them past Alabama. This game will mark the first time Toledo has ever appeared on network television, and the Rockets might surprise folks for a while. UT should be able to hang with OSU for a quarter or two. However, the explosiveness and depth Ohio State has should take over in the second half. It would be a mistake for Buckeye fans to completely dismiss the Rockets, though. Remember: They’ve beaten Michigan, Penn State, and Arkansas since 2000, and nearly added Notre Dame to the list last year.
■ Winner: Ohio State
Sept. 24: at San Diego State
Despite its designation as a nonconference game, this is the most important 60 minutes of the season. This is the second of a four-game gauntlet. With a loss to Ohio State likely, entering the MAC schedule with consecutive losses and games against Central Michigan and Northern Illinois looming is less than desirable. Toledo-San Diego State is one of the best nonconference Group of Five games of the season. It’s an imminently winnable game and one that UT usually gets up for. The travel will be difficult, but San Diego State only returns three starters on offense. The Aztecs will have a new quarterback, running back, and three offensive linemen. A strong defense welcomes back seven starters. This is a 50-50 game that could send the season to soaring heights or stymie expectations.
■ Winner: San Diego State
Oct. 1: Central Michigan
The Chippewas were our pick to win the MAC. They have a great coach, the best running back, and a solid returning starter at quarterback. There are holes on defense, but if it can just be average, Central Michigan should prove to be one of the best teams in the conference. The Chippewas come to Toledo one week after a road game to Penn State, which should help the Rockets, who aren’t expected to be back in town from the West Coast until the early morning hours on Sunday. Defense is undoubtedly UT’s strength, and the matchup of running back Lew Nichols and quarterback Daniel Richardson against the Rockets will be must-see TV.
■ Winner: Central Michigan
Oct. 8: at Northern Illinois
No team in the country was luckier than Northern Illinois last season. It doesn’t take away anything the Huskies accomplished — they won the games and, quite frankly, luck is required to win championships. But it’s hard to imagine a repeat of 2021. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi, a transfer from Michigan State, is back. His leadership and experience were a big factor in Northern Illinois’ MAC title. He won’t be handing the ball off to MAC freshman of the year Jay Ducker, though, as the running back transferred to Memphis. Backup Harrison Waylee isn’t a bad alternative. Lombardi lost all of his wide receivers, too. But the defense brings back 11 starters. It should be noted that Northern Illinois ranked near the bottom of the MAC and the country on defense last season. Experience helps, though, and the Huskies should be much improved on that side of the ball.
■ Winner: Toledo
Oct. 15: Kent State
Former Bowling Green assistant Sean Lewis has proven to be an offensive mastermind. Any head coach who wins at Kent State has something special, and this will be another big year for Lewis. The Golden Flashes are coming off a MAC East championship. In 2022, however, they must find a replacement for record-setting quarterback Dustin Crum. Kent State has a lot back everywhere else, though — running back, wide receiver, and offensive line. On defense, the Golden Flashes return seven starters. They come to Toledo one week after their biggest MAC East game, a road trip to Miami.
■ Winner: Toledo
Oct. 22: at Buffalo
The Bulls are an intriguing team. They lost several close games in Year 1 of the Maurice Linguist era and then signed the MAC’s top-ranked recruiting class, which included numerous transfers. It’s always difficult to play at Buffalo, especially in late October because of the weather. The Bulls only have three returning starters on offense, but a bevy of FBS transfers should be quick fixes. This will be a dangerous game.
■ Winner: Toledo
Oct. 29: at Eastern Michigan
Don’t underestimate the impact last season’s loss to Eastern Michigan will have on Toledo. Candle doesn’t forget when his team losses games he feels they had no business losing. Chris Crieghton has done a phenomenal job at Eastern Michigan, and the Eagles should be solid again in 2022. Nine starters return on offense, including all of their skill guys. The one glaring loss is quarterback Ben Bryant, who went back to Cincinnati. The defense could be a little more green, though the top pass rusher, leading tackler, and their top cornerbacks are back. Eastern Michigan is no longer an automatic win on the schedule.
■ Winner: Toledo
Nov. 8: Ball State
Ball State built up a lot of equity during the pandemic-shortened season, winning the MAC and going undefeated during the regular season. It led to a lot of hype entering 2021, which turned out to be hot air. The Cardinals stumbled to 6-7, and this year figures to be worse. They have 13 returning starters, including eight on offense, but Ball State will be breaking in a career backup at quarterback. The biggest reason for a lack of belief in Ball State is head coach Mike Neu’s record if you take away from the 2020 season: 21-40.
■ Winner: Toledo
Nov. 15: Bowling Green
The Battle of I-75 will take place on a November weeknight again in 2022, robbing fans of both schools of a tremendous pre-game scene and decent weather. It’ll be senior day at the Glass Bowl, and the chances of this group losing as a favorite to the Falcons are infinitesimal. The upset in 2019 is a popular topic each time BGSU and Toledo play, but Candle has made it his mission to never allow a repeat performance. This will be Scot Loeffler’s best team, as BGSU is literally the most experienced team in the country. The motivation works both ways, and the Falcons will do everything in their power to avoid sequels of 2020 and 2021.
■ Winner: Toledo
Nov. 25: at Western Michigan
It’s possible that the Rockets’ Black Friday showdown in Kalamazoo could have MAC championship game implications. When Toledo and Western Michigan meet in the season finale, that’s often the case. The Broncos were a weird team last season, finishing 4-4 in the MAC, but winning at ACC champion Pitt. There’s plenty of firepower left over on offense, and the defense will battle Toledo for being the best in the conference.
■ Winner: Western Michigan
First Published August 28, 2022, 12:53 p.m.
