TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo Rockets face a must-win situation when they travel to Buffalo to take on the Bulls on Wednesday, Nov. 20 (7:30 p.m./ESPN2). 

     Toledo (6-4, 3-3 MAC) is still in the hunt for a MAC West Division crown and a chance to appear in the MAC Championship Game. However, the Rockets have no margin for error; they must defeat Buffalo and Central Michigan in the regular-season finale, and also get some help from other teams.

     The Rockets are in a tie for third place with Ball State in the MAC West. Western Michigan and Central Michigan (5-2) are tied for first. Toledo needs all of those three schools to lose one game to have a chance at a title.

    Toledo is coming off a 31-28 loss to NIU on Nov. 13. The Rockets trailed by 21 points before rallying with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. But NIU kicker John Richardson made a 25-yard field goal with 41 seconds remaining that capped a 13-play, 68-yard drive to put the Huskies up 31-28. On its final drive of the game, Toledo made it all the way to the Northern Illinois 31-yard line, but time expired before quarterback Eli Peters could spike the ball to attempt a game-tying field goal.

    Buffalo (5-5, 3-3 MAC) is coming off a 30-27 loss at Kent State Thursday night. The Bulls were up 27-6 in the fourth quarter before Kent State rallied to win. Buffalo has the No. 1 defense in the MAC, holding opponents to 23.1 points and 292.8 yards of total offense per game. Junior defensive end Taylor Riggins lead the MAC with 10 sacks. Sophomore running back Jaret Patterson is second in the league with 1,136 yards rushing.

Toledo vs. Buffalo

• TEAM RECORDS: 
    Toledo (6-4, 3-3 MAC)
    Buffalo (5-5, 3-3 MAC)

• SERIES RECORD:  Toledo leads, 7-4. The Bulls won in Toledo last year, 31-17.

• THE COACHES: 
    Jason Candle, 34-17 (4th year) at Toledo, same overall. 0-1 vs. Buffalo.
    Lance Leipold, 28-32 (5th year) at Buffalo, 138-37 overall (13th year). 1-0 vs. Toledo.

• TV/STREAMING: ESPN2
    Play by Play: Dave Lamont
    Analyst: Ray Bentley

• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 6:00 p.m.
     Play by Play: Brent Balbinot
    Analyst: Jack Miller
    Sideline: Mike Robinson

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

• COACH'S SHOW: Coach Jason Candle and host Brent Balbinot talk Rocket Football every Monday beginning Aug. 26 from 6-7 p.m. at Stubborn Brother Pizza. Carried live on WSPD-AM1370 and UTRockets.com,  with live streaming video on the BCSN Now app.

• TWITTER: 
    @ToledoFB: Regular updates on Toledo  Football, live updates on Game Day.

Rocket Round-Up
    • Toledo (6-4, 3-3 MAC) is coming off a 31-28 defeat to Northern Illinois on Nov. 13 at the Glass Bowl. It was the Rockets' final home game of the year and they finish the season with a 5-1 home record.
    • Toledo is tied for third in the MAC West Division with Ball State. WMU and CMU (5-2) are tied for the division lead.
    • Toledo leads the series with Buffalo, 7-4. The Bulls won last year in Toledo, 31-17.
    • Toledo ranks first in the MAC and 14th in the nation in rushing offense (245.7),  and second in the MAC in total offense (445.1).
    • Toledo's defense has allowed touchdowns on 17-of-33 (51.5%) red-zone opportunities, second-best in the MAC behind Buffalo (16-of-32).
    • Toledo has used three different starters at quarterback this year: Mitchell Guadagni (6), Eli Peters (3) and Carter Bradley (1).
    • Before coming out of the Kent State game with an injury, Bryant Koback rushed for 67 yards, giving him over 1,000 yards for the season, the 16th Rocket ever to crack the 1000-yard mark. He played only briefly in the game vs. Northern Illinois. He is third in the league and 10th in the nation with 1,066 rushing yards.


Head Coach Jason Candle gives his final thoughts on the game against Northern Illinois; previews the upcoming matchup against Buffalo.