TOLEDO, Ohio – The stakes could not be higher when Toledo hosts Ball State on Saturday, Nov. 22 (2:00 p.m./ESPN+) in what is effectively an elimination game for the Rockets in their bid for a Mid-American Conference Championship.

Toledo (6-4, 4-2 MAC) is locked in a five-way tie for second place in the MAC, a game behind conference leader Western Michigan. A win would keep the Rockets in the thick of the race; a loss would likely keep UT out of the MAC Championship Game.  

The Rockets are coming off another impressive victory, a 24-3 triumph at Miami on Nov. 12. Toledo's defense remains stellar, as it held its opponent to 14 points or less for the fifth time this season and to under 250 yards of total offense for the sixth time. The Rockets held the RedHawks to just 222 yards of total offense, with a season-high six sacks and three interceptions.

Tucker Gleason threw for two touchdown passes and Bryson Hammer set up a TD in the waning seconds of the first half with a 54-yard punt return.

Ball State (4-6, 3-3 MAC) is coming off a 24-9 loss to Eastern Michigan on Nov. 15 that knocked it out of contention for the MAC Championship Game. The Cardinals can still earn bowl eligibility for the first time since 2021 with wins in their final two games.

Toledo vs. Ball State
Saturday, Nov. 22 - 2:00 p.m. 
The Glass Bowl • Toledo, Ohio

• 2025 TEAM RECORDS: 
Toledo (6-4, 4-2 MAC)
Ball State (4-6, 3-3 MAC)

• SERIES RECORD: Toledo leads the series, 27-21-1. The Rockets won the last meeting,13-6, in Muncie in 2023.

• THE COACHES: 
Jason Candle, 79-44 (10th year) at Toledo, same overall. 6-2 vs. Ball State.
Mike Uremovich, 4-6 (1st year) at Ball State, 60-62 overall (11th year). 0-0 vs. Toledo.

• TV/STREAMING: ESPN+
Play by Play: Kelsie Kasper
Analyst: Marcus Ray

• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 1:00 p.m.
Play by Play: Mark Beier
Analyst: Jack Mewhort
Sidelines: Pete Seymour

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

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

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

The Launch Pad
• Toledo leads the series with Ball State, 27-21-1. The Rockets won the last meeting ,13-6, in Muncie in 2023. The Rockets have won three straight in the series and eight of the last 10 meetings, including four of the last five in Toledo. 
• With the win over Miami, Toledo became bowl eligible for the 16th consecutive season, the sixth-longest streak in the nation.
• Toledo's defense ranks second in the FBS in total defense (231.5) behind Ohio State (212.6).
• In other FBS rankings, Toledo ranks second in defensive passing efficiency (93.51), third in first downs allowed (134), fourth in passing yards allowed (143.0), fifth in scoring defense (13.4), sixth in third-down defense conversion (28.6%), and seventh in rushing defense (88.5).
• Toledo ranks first in the MAC in nearly every significant team stat: scoring offense (32.0), scoring defense (13.4), total offense (424.7), total defense (231.5), rushing defense (88.5), passing offense (250.4), passing defense (143.0), defensive pass efficiency (95.31), fewest sacks allowed (10) and punt return defense (4.1).
• Junior safety Braden Awls in the nation's co-leader with five interceptions.
• Toledo has three defensive backs in the MAC's top 10 in passes defended (interceptions plus breakups): Andre Fuller (1st-10), Avery Smith (2nd-9) and  Braden Awls (8th-7). Nasir Bowers is 11th with six.
• Senior wide receiver Junior Vandeross III tied for the most touchdown receptions in the nation with nine. The Toledo record for a season is 16, set by tight end Michael Roberts in 2016. Vandeross leads the MAC with 64 receptions.
• Senior safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren was one of 15 players chosen as semifinalists for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back.