TOLEDO, Ohio – No. 23 Toledo looks to become the first school to win back-to-back MAC Championship titles in over a decade when it travels to Ford Field in Detroit to battle East Division champion Miami (9-2, 7-1 MAC) in the 27th Mid-American Conference Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 2 (Noon/ESPN). 

West Division champ Toledo (11-1, 8-0 MAC) won last year's crown with a hard-fought 17-7 win over Ohio. The last MAC school to repeat as MAC champions was Northern Illinois in 2011 and 2012. 

In addition to a MAC title, Toledo has something else at stake this Saturday.  The Rockets are in the conversation as a possible "Group of Five" invitee for a New Year's Six bowl (either the Fiesta Bowl or Peach Bowl). A loss to Miami would likely end Toledo's hopes.

After a heart-breaking 30-28 loss at Illinois to open this season, Toledo has reeled off 11 consecutive wins. The Rockets are coming off a 32-17 victory at Central Michigan on Nov. 24 to close out their regular season.

Toledo defeated Miami in Oxford, 21-17, on Oct. 21. The Rockets led 21-3 at halftime before Miami scored a pair of third-quarter touchdowns to make it 21-17.  Toledo came up with two three-and-outs and a crucial turnover in the final two minutes.

#23 Toledo vs. Miami
MAC Championship Game
Saturday, Dec. 2 - Noon
Ford Field, Detroit, Mich.

• TEAM RECORDS: 
    Toledo (11-1, 8-0 MAC)
    Miami (10-2, 7-1 MAC)

• SERIES RECORD: Miami leads, 28-23-1. Toledo won the last meeting on Oct. 21 in Oxford, 21-17.

• THE COACHES: 
    Jason Candle, 65-33 (8th year) at Toledo, same overall. 1-0 vs. Miami.
    Chuck Martin, 55-60 (10th year) at Miami, 128-67 overall (16th year). 0-1 vs. Toledo.

• TV/STREAMING: ESPN
    Play by Play: Anish Shroff 
    Analyst: Andre Ware 
    Sideline: Paul Carcaterra 

• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 10:30 a.m.
   Play by Play: Mark Beier
    Analyst: Jack Mewhort
    Sidelines: Mike Robinson

• 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/MACtix, by phone at 419-530-GOLD (4653), or at the Rocket Ticket Office in Savage Arena.

Notes From the Launch Pad
    • Toledo is ranked 23rd in the latest Associated Press college football poll released on Sunday, Nov. 26. The Rockets also received 68 points in the AFCA coaches poll, leaving them one spot out of the Top 25.
    • Toledo is the MAC West Division champion for the second straight year. It is Toledo's 13th division crown, the most of any MAC school.    
    • The Rockets will play the East Division champion Miami in the MAC Championship Game at Detroit's Ford Field on Saturday, Dec. 2.
    • This will be Head Coach Jason Candle's third trip to the MAC Championship Game since assuming the head coaching position at Toledo in 2016. His Rockets won the MAC Championship Game in 2017 and 2022.
    • The defending MAC champion Rockets defeated Ohio in the 2022 MAC Championship Game and will be attempting to win back-to-back league titles for the first time since winning three straight MAC crowns from 1969 through 1971.
    • Toledo last played in consecutive MAC title games in 2001 and 2002. Both games were against Marshall, with Toledo winning in 2001 and the Thundering Herd coming away with the victory in 2002.
    • Toledo is 11-1 for the first time in Jason Candle's eight years at Toledo and has won 11 of its first 12 games in a season for the first time since going 11-0-1 in 1995.
    • The Rockets have now won 11 straight games in a single season for the first time since 1971.
    • Toledo is 8-0 in MAC play for the first time in school history.
    • Toledo is one of only 12 FBS schools with one loss or fewer, and one of only eight one-loss or undefeated schools that are undefeated in conference play. 
    • 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.