Rockets Open MAC Season With Key Game at Ball State

   TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo Rockets open their conference season with an early showdown game at defending Mid-American Conference champion Ball State on Saturday, Sept. 25 (2:00 p.m. ESPN+).

   Despite being the very first game of the conference schedule, much is at stake in this battle. The Cardinals, preseason pick to repeat as league champions by both the league's media and coaches, are still the team to beat in the MAC at this point. Plus, the winner of Saturday's game will hold the head-to-head tie-breaker and thus virtually a two-game edge in the battle for the West Division crown.

   Toledo (1-2) is coming off a 22-6 home loss to Colorado State on Sept. 18. Toledo's defense held CSU's offense out of the end zone but five Ram field goals and a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown was enough for the win. The Rockets were only able to convert a pair of field goals by Thomas Cluckey. UT was still in the game almost to the very end, trailing only 13-6 midway through the fourth quarter. However, three late Rocket drives came up empty and Colorado State tacked on three field goals.

   Ball State (1-2) lost at Wyoming last Saturday, 45-12. The Cardinals opened the season with a victory over Western Illinois, 31-21, before losing at Penn State, 44-13, on Sept. 11.

Toledo vs. Ball State
Saturday, Sept. 25 - 2:00 p.m.
Scheumann Stadium - Muncie, Ind.

• TEAM RECORDS:
   Toledo (1-2, 0-0 MAC)
   Ball State (1-2, 0-0 MAC)

• SERIES RECORD: Toledo leads, 24-21-1. Ball State won in Toledo last year, 27-24.

• THE COACHES:
   Jason Candle, 39-23 (6th year) at Toledo, same overall. 3-2 vs. Ball State.
   Mike Neu, 23-36 (6th year) at BSU, same overall. 2-3 vs. Toledo.

• TV/STREAMING: ESPN+
Play by Play: Michael Reghi
Analyst: Je'Rod Cherry

• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 12:30 p.m.
Play by Play: Brent Balbinot
   Analyst: Jack Miller
   Sidelines: Mike Robinson

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

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

Rocket Round-Up
   •    Sophomore kicker Thomas Cluckey connected on a career-long field goal of 43 yards as well as a 38-yarder vs. Colorado State. He improved to 5-for-5 on field goals this season and is now a perfect 13-for-13 for his career.
   • Redshirt freshman Jackson Barrow and sophomore defensive tackle Judge Culpepper tied for the team lead vs. CSU with eight tackles, career highs for both players.
   • Toledo ranks first in the MAC in total defense (347.7) and second in scoring defense (21.3).
   • Eleven different players caught a pass for Toledo last Saturday, with senior wide receiver Bryce Mitchell (five receptions, 87 yards) leading the way. It was Mitchell's most receptions since he grabbed five balls vs. Ball State on Nov. 28, 2020 and one shy of his career high.
   • The Rocket defense held Colorado State to 110 yards passing, the second time this season they have held an opponent to 150 yards passing or fewer (134 passing yards allowed vs. Norfolk State).
   • Bryant Koback has 2,824 career rushing yards, eighth on Toledo's all-time list. He needs 296 yards to pass Jalen Parmele (3,119 from 2004-07) for No. 7 on the list.

Rockets Open MAC Season With Key Game at Ball State

Players Mentioned

Jackson Barrow

Thomas Cluckey

Judge Culpepper

Bryant Koback

Bryce Mitchell

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