DETROIT, MI - The University of Toledo football team was picked to finish in second place in the Mid-American Conference's West Division in voting by members of the league's media contingent. The annual preseason poll was released today at the conference's 2016 Football Media Day held at Ford Field.

The Rockets received two first-place votes and a total of 113 points in the annual poll, just one point ahead of third-place Northern Illinois. Western Michigan was picked to win the MAC West and the MAC Championship Game. The Broncos had 19 first-place votes and 144 points, and also picked up 19 out of 26 votes to win the MAC Championship Game. Toledo received two votes to win the MAC title game. Defending MAC Champion Bowling Green was picked to repeat as MAC East Division champion, followed by Ohio and Akron.

"It doesn't matter where you start, it's where you finish," head coach Jason Candle said. "We have a lot of work ahead of us to get where we want to be. We didn't quite get where we wanted to be last year. We can't lose sight of the hard work and effort it takes on a daily basis to achieve our goals."

Senior safety DeJuan Rogers said the team will use the preseason poll as motivation for the upcoming season.

"It's a good thing because we now have someone to go after," Rogers said. "We have a lot to improve on if we want to be back here (Ford Field)  for the MAC Championship Game."

Senior running back Kareem Hunt said the team is focused on the season ahead.

"We don't pay attention to the polls," Hunt said. "It doesn't matter to us what people think of our team. We know what we need to do. Once the season starts, the polls don't matter anyway."

Toledo is coming off a 10-2 season, including a 32-17 victory over nationally ranked Temple in the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl. The Rockets return 48 letterwinners, including 15 starters and six All-MAC players.
 
On offense, the Rockets return a pair of All-MAC running backs (senior Kareem Hunt and junior Terry Swanson), All-MAC wide receiver and return man Corey Jones, four starters from the offensive line and junior Logan Woodside, the starting quarterback from 2014. UT did lose some key players on defense, but 21 letterwinners return, including senior All-MAC safety DeJuan Rogers, two-time All-MAC senior defensive tackle Treyvon Hester and junior linebacker Ja'Wuan Woodley, the Marmot Boca Raton Defensive MVP.
 
Toledo opens its season at Arkansas State on Friday, Sept. 2 and then hosts Maine in the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 10. Season tickets are still available. Go online or call (419) 530-GOLD (4653) for more information.
 

2016 MAC Media Poll

Team (First Place Votes)                    Points

MAC East Division              

1.     Bowling Green (12)                    136

2.    Ohio (10)                                    134

3.    Akron (4)                                    107
4.    Buffalo                                        75
5.    Miami                                          52

6.    Kent State                                  42

MAC West Division

1.       Western Michigan (19)            144

2.      TOLEDO (2)                            113

3.       Northern Illinois (3)                   112

4.       Central Michigan (2)                 98

5.       Ball State                                  44

6.       Eastern Michigan                     35

2016 MAC Championship Game Winner: Western Michigan (19); TOLEDO (2); Northern Illinois (2); Central Michigan (1); Bowling Green (1); Akron (1).


Kareem Hunt and DeJuan Rogers talk about their experience at MAC Football Media Day in 
Detroit on July 28.