In one of the most anticipated home games in Toledo Football history, the Rockets host No. 21 Miami (Fla.) at the Glass Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 15. A capacity crowd is expected for the contest, which will air on ESPN2 at noon.

    Toledo (1-0) opened its season with a 66-3 romp over VMI on Sept. 1, followed by a bye week on Sept. 8. Miami (1-1) lost to LSU, 31-17, in its opener before crushing Savannah State, 77-0, last Saturday.

    In the VMI win, junior Mitchell Guadagni completed 11-of-16 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns in his debut at quarterback. Sophomore Shakif Seymour and redshirt freshman Bryant Koback rushed for two touchdowns apiece, while senior Cody Thompson caught one TD and recovered a blocked punt for another. The Rockets outgained VMI, 603-232, and led at halftime, 42-3. Toledo's defense came up with several big plays, forcing three turnovers and limiting the Keydets to 61 yards rushing on 31 attempts.    

     Miami, which is ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll and No. 20 in the coaches list, is led by senior quarterback Malik Rosier, who threw for 131 yards and two TDs in the win over Savannah State. He completed 27-of-36 passes for 333 yards to rally the Hurricanes from a 16-10 deficit to defeat the Rockets in Miami last year, 52-30. Mark Walton paced the running attack in that game with 204 yards on just 11 carries. 

Rocket Round-Up
    • Toledo (1-0, 0-0 MAC) is coming off a 66-3 home victory over VMI on Sept. 1. The Rockets had a bye week on Sept. 8.
    • Toledo's 63-point margin of victory over VMI was its largest since 1951, when UT defeated Davis & Elkins 88-0. It is also the third-largest margin of victory in program history.
    • Toledo's 66 points marked the sixth time under head coach Jason Candle that the Rockets have scored at least 50 points, and the second time they have scored at least 60.
    • UT has now won five consecutive home openers by a combined score of 214-58 and is 24-2 in games against FCS opponents.
    • The Rockets gained 603 yards of total offense in the season opener. They tallied at least 600 yards of offense four times last season.
    • In his first game as Toledo's starting quarterback, junior Mitchell Guadagni completed 11 of 16 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore Eli Peters, senior Jalen Reese and freshman Carter Bradley all saw time at quarterback against the Keydets.
    • Toledo is 0-2 vs. Miami. The Rockets lost at Miami last year, 52-30, despite taking a 16-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.
    • This is the ninth time Toledo has hosted a Top 25 team and the first time since 2014 when No. 22 Missouri knocked off the Rockets, 49-24.
    • Saturday's game is the final game of a two-game, home-and-home series between Toledo and Miami.

• TEAM RECORDS: 
    Toledo (1-0, 0-0 MAC)
    Miami (Fla.) (1-1, 0-0 ACC)

• SERIES RECORD: Miami leads, 2-0. The Hurricanes won in Miami last year, 52-30.

• THE COACHES: 
    Jason Candle, 22-7 (3rd year) at Toledo, same overall. 0-1 vs. Miami.
    Mark Richt, 20-8 (3rd year) at Miami, 165-59 overall (19 years). 1-0 vs. Toledo.

• TV/STREAMING: ESPN2
    Play by Play: Kevin Brown
    Analyst: Andre Ware

• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 10:30 a.m.
    Play by Play: Brent Balbinot
    Analyst: Bruce Gradkowski
    Sidelines: Mike Robinson

• WEB-AUDIO: Free live audio streaming of the UT Rocket Radio Network broadcast on UTRockets.com. 

• UT COACH'S SHOW: Coach Jason Candle and host Brent Balbinot talk Rocket Football every Monday at Frickers in Maumee. Carried live on WSPD-AM1370 and online on UTRockets.com.

• TWITTER: 
    @ToledoFB: Regular updates on UT Football, live updates on Game Day.
    @UTPaulHelgren: Regular updates on UT Football.
    @ToledoRockets: Updates for all Rocket sports.

• TICKETS: Still available. Go online or call 419-530-GOLD (4653).


Rocket Football Head Coach Jason Candle at the week two press conference talking about their upcoming game against the Miami Hurricanes.