TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo plays its final home game of the season it hosts Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, Nov. 8 (7:30 p.m./ESPN2). The Rockets will be seeking their ninth-consecutive victory in their 2023 Glass Bowl finale. The last time UT won nine straight was 40 years ago in 1983.

With a win tonight, Toledo (8-1, 5-0 MAC) can clinch an outright MAC West Division crown and a return trip to the MAC Championship Game in Detroit on Dec. 2. The Rockets hold to a two-and-half game lead over Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Central Michigan (all 3-3) in the MAC West standings. Toledo was co-West champs with EMU last year but went to the MAC title game thanks to its win over the Eagles.

Toledo is coming off a 31-13 victory over Buffalo on Halloween night.  Junior Jacquez Stuart got Toledo off to a hot start in its victory over Buffalo with a 97-yard touchdown right up the middle on the opening kickoff. Moments later, junior Peny Boone bolted 71 yards for a score that gave Toledo a 14-0 lead less than four minutes into the game. Buffalo cut the lead to 14-7 but Toledo scored the final 10 points in the first half to take a 24-7 halftime lead. The Rockets survived a pair of costly turnovers in the second half but their defense kept the Bulls from making a serious rally.

Boone rushed for 125 yards on 12 carries, his sixth 100-yard game of the season. Stuart added 40 yards and one score. Junior quarterback Dequan Finn completed 12-of-19 passes for 173 yards and one TD. Junior safety Maxen Hook led the defense with 13 tackles, an interception and one pass breakup. 

Toledo vs. Eastern Michigan
Wednesday, Nov. 8 - 7:30 p.m.
The Glass Bowl

• TEAM RECORDS: 
    Toledo (8-1, 5-0 MAC)
    Eastern Michigan (4-5, 2-3 MAC)

• SERIES RECORD: Toledo leads, 37-13. The Rockets won in Ypsilanti last year, 27-24.

• THE COACHES: 
    Jason Candle, 62-33 (8th year) at Toledo, same overall. 5-2 vs. Eastern Michigan.
    Chris Creighton, 50-65 (10th year) at EMU, 189-111 overall (27th year). 2-7 vs. Toledo.

• TV/STREAMING: ESPN2
  Play by Play: John Schriffen
  Analyst:  Rocky Boiman
  Sideline:  Dawn Davenport

• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 6:00 p.m.
   Play by Play: Mark Beier
    Analyst: Mike Robinson
    Sidelines: Pete Seymour

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

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

• TICKETS: 
    Online at UTRockets.com/tix, by phone at 419-530-GOLD (4653) or at the Rocket Ticket Office in Savage Arena.

Notes From the Launch Pad
    • Toledo is 8-1 for the first time since 2017 when it also opened with an 8-1 mark.
    • The Rockets have won eight straight games for the first time since 2012 when they won eight straight following a season-opening overtime loss at Arizona. The last time Toledo won nine in a row was in 1983 when the Rockets reeled off nine straight victories before ending up 9-2 for the season.
    • Toledo begins the MAC season with a 5-0 mark for the first time since 2017 when it won its first five MAC games. The last time Toledo was 6-0 in MAC play was in 1997.
    • Toledo is 5-0 at home this year. A win over EMU would give the Rockets an undefeated home record for the first time since 2017 and only the second time since 2004.
    • Toledo is in first place in the MAC West Division, with a two-and-half game lead over Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Central Michigan (3-3) in the MAC West. The Rockets can clinch an outright division title with a win over EMU.
    • Toledo is looking to repeat as MAC Champions for the first time since it won three straight titles from 1969-71. The last MAC School to repeat as league champs was Northern Illinois in 2011-12.
    • Toledo is one of only 17 FBS schools with one loss or fewer, and one of only 10 one-loss or undefeated schools that are undefeated in conference play. 
    • Toledo received 25 points in the latest AP poll and is now just five spots out of the Top 25. The Rockets also received eight points in the AFCA coaches poll.
    • Toledo is bowl eligible for the 14th consecutive season, which is the eighth-longest streak in the FBS and the second-longest among "Group of Five" schools. 
    • Toledo's offensive line has allowed just three sacks this season, the fewest in the nation.