One minute, Toledo was inching toward a massive come-from-behind victory 4,000 miles from home.
The next minute, the UT defense collapsed during the most important moment of the game.
That's what happened last week in San Diego when the Rockets lost to San Diego State.
“It’s tough seeing how everything can change so fast,” defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson said.
But the beauty of sports is that the narrative can quickly turn in the opposite direction. Toledo has that opportunity on Saturday against Central Michigan.
Beat the Chippewas, and the Rockets not only feel good about themselves, they'll also have a victory out of the way against one of the Mid-American Conference West's top teams.
BASICS
■ Who: Central Michigan (1-3) at Toledo (2-2)
■ When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
■ Where: Glass Bowl
■ Spread: Toledo by 7
■ TV: NFL Network
■ Radio: 1370 AM; 1230 AM
■ Follow: Kyle Rowland
PLAYERS TO WATCH
■ Toledo: DeMeer Blankumsee. Only eight players in the country have been targeting more than Blankumsee and not dropped a pass. The sophomore wide receiver has been targeted 29 times, with 24 receptions and zero drops. He's become an effective option for Dequan Finn and someone the quarterback can trust to haul in passes.
■ Central Michigan: Lew Nichols. The Central Michigan running back led the country in rushing last season, and he's feasted on Toledo throughout his career. In two career games against the Rockets, Nichols has 237 yards rushing and one touchdown on 39 carries, an average of nearly seven yards per rush. In last season's overtime victory, he caught seven passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.
STATS TO KNOW
■ 25: Number of tackles for loss Central Michigan has allowed this season, ranked 98th nationally.
■ 10-2: Toledo has won 10 of the last 12 meetings with Central Michigan.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Toledo running backs vs. Central Michigan front seven: It's too easy to say Lew Nichols vs. the UT defense, so we'll go with the opposite matchup. The Rockets still haven't gotten up to speed with their running backs, and now they'll face a rush defense that's ranked second in the MAC. Dequan Finn can't do it all on his own, running the football and finding receivers open downfield. This is the week at least one ball carrier needs to emerge as the bell cow for UT.
PREDICTION
The close losses have to stop for Toledo, which is 1-9 in its last 10 one-score games. This is a team that has MAC championship aspirations every season and hasn't lived up to them since 2017. There is plenty of talent on this season's roster, and the San Diego State loss isn't going to leave them bewildered. It's going to be a team that's galvanized and plays its best game of the season. It eventually has to click on offense for the Rockets, and with their backs against the wall, despite it being just the first conference game, UT will play inspired football for 60 minutes. Toledo 31, Central Michigan 21.
WARMUP READING
Briggs: After dispiriting loss, Toledo football faces must-win game
Toledo's Candle, top defensive playmakers came back to win MAC title
Toledo offense trying to find rhythm ahead of MAC opener
Scouting report: Toledo football vs. Central Michigan
Toledo PFF grades: Missed tackles plague Rockets at San Diego State
First Published October 1, 2022, 12:00 p.m.
