Detroit, Mich.— The defending Mid-American Conference champion University of Toledo football team was picked to finish second in the West Division in voting by members of the league's media contingent. The annual preseason poll was released today at the conference's annual football media day held at Ford Field.
The Rockets received seven first-place votes and a total of 125 points in the poll, just eight points behind first-place Northern Illinois. The Huskies received 15 first-place votes to win the division and totaled 133 points overall. Following second-place Toledo were Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, and Ball State. Ohio was picked to win the MAC East and the 2018 Marathon MAC Championship Game. The Bobcats received the most first-place votes to win the conference title game, followed by UT (five), Northern Illinois (four), Miami and Central Michigan (one apiece).
Toledo is coming off a season in which it won the program's first MAC Championship since 2004. The Rockets went 11-3 last season with a 7-1 mark in conference play. UT's 6-0 record at the Glass Bowl marked the 15
th undefeated home season in school history.
"I think that you have to understand that expectations are going to be heightened and you have to prepare your team for that," head coach
Jason Candle said after another favorable spot in the MAC preseason media poll. "We've been making sure our guys focus on staying humble and trying to get better every day. I don't think we've scratched the surface of how good we can be."
The Rockets return 14 starters, six on both offense and defense as well as two special teamers. The offense will boast one of the best wide receiving corps in the country with
Diontae Johnson,
Jon'Vea Johnson, and
Cody Thompson leading the charge. With those three returning to the gridiron this fall, Toledo becomes the first BCS program to return three wide receivers who have earned all-league honors and caught at least 10 touchdown passes in a single season.
UT opens its 2018 campaign with a home game against VMI on Saturday, September 1 in the Glass Bowl. To order tickets, stop by the UT Athletic Ticket Office, located in the Sullivan Athletic Complex at Savage Arena, go online at UTRockets.com or call 419-530-GOLD (4653).
MAC East Division
| 1. |
Ohio (21) |
140 |
| 2. |
Buffalo (1) |
112 |
| 3. |
Miami (2) |
95 |
| 4. |
Akron |
74 |
| 5. |
Bowling Green |
58 |
| 6. |
Kent State |
25 |
MAC West Division
| 1. |
Northern Illinois (15) |
140 |
| 2. |
Toledo (7) |
125 |
| 3. |
Western Michigan (1) |
87 |
| 4. |
Eastern Michigan |
67 |
| 5. |
Central Michigan (1) |
58 |
| 6. |
Ball State |
35 |
2018 Marathon MAC Championship Game winner: Ohio (13),
Toledo (5), Northern Illinois (4), Central Michigan (1), Miami (1).
Recap of MAC Media Day at Ford Field in Detroit.
