TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo Rockets open the 2025 season with big aspirations so it's fitting they will face one of their most daunting challenges of the season in the season opener. Toledo travels to Lexington, Ky. to face the Kentucky Wildcats of the SEC on Saturday, Aug. 30 (12:45 p.m./SEC Network).

The Rockets (8-5 in 2024) were picked to finish first in the Mid-American Conference by the league's coaches. Senior quarterback Tucker Gleason returns to lead the offense after throwing for over 4,000 yards and 36 touchdowns in his career. He is joined by a veteran offensive line, standout wide receivers Junior Vandeross III and Trayvon Rudolph (All-MAC transfer from Northern Illinois), as well as new running backs Chip Trayanum (Ohio State/Arizona State/Kentucky) and Kenji Christian (Virginia Tech/North Carolina A&T). The offensive line features three returning starters and several key newcomers. 

On the defensive side, Toledo boasts one of the MAC's top secondaries, led by corners Avery Smith, Nasir Bowers and Andre Fuller, as well as safeties Braden Awls, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Jaden Dottin. The linebacker corps and defensive line are bolstered by numerous veterans and some highly regarded transfers.

Toledo and Kentucky have played once before, with the Wildcats coming away with a 38-24 victory in Lexington in 2019. The Rockets are 2-4 all-time against SEC schools, with wins over Mississippi State (2024) and Arkansas (2015).

Toledo vs. Kentucky

• 2024 TEAM RECORDS: 
    Toledo (8-5, 4-4 MAC)
    Kentucky (4-8, 1-7 Southeastern Conference)

• SERIES RECORD: Kentucky leads, 1-0. Kentucky won in 2019 in Lexington, 38-24.

• THE COACHES: 
    Jason Candle, 73-40 (10th year) at Toledo, same overall. 0-1 vs. Kentucky.
    Mark Stoops, 77-73 (13th year) at Kentucky, same overall. 1-0 vs. Toledo.

• TV/STREAMING: SEC Network
  Play by Play: Taylor Zarzour 
  Analyst: Matt Stinchcomb
  Sideline: Alyssa Lang

• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 11:45 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 the Varsity Network App or at 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.

The Launch Pad
    • Toledo was picked to finish in first place in the Mid-American Conference in a vote by the league's head coaches. Six coaches picked Toledo to win the MAC Championship Game. 
    • Toledo picked up 13 points in the AP preseason poll.
    • Toledo returns 43 letterwinners and 11 starters from last year's 8-5 team.
    • The Rockets boast eight players who have been named to preseason watch lists: QB Tucker Gleason, WR Junior Vandeross, WR/KR Trayvon Rudolph, CB Avery Smith, RB Chip Trayanum, S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, DE Anthony Dunn and OL Matt Hofer (Wuerffel/Allstate Good Works Team).
    • Toledo spent the first part of preseason training camp (July 29-Aug. 6) at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio. Mount Union, winners of 13 Division III national titles, is the alma mater of Head Coach Jason Candle and five other UT staffers.
    • Toledo has not had a losing season since 2009, the third-longest streak in the FBS behind Boise State and Alabama.
    • Since the start of the 2016 season when Jason Candle took over as Toledo's head coach, the Rockets have won 72 games, the most in the MAC.
    • Candle (73-40) needs one more win to pass Gary Pinkel (73 wins from 1991-2000) to become the Rockets' all-time victory leader.
    • Toledo was 2-0 vs. Power Four conference opponents in 2024, with a 41-17 win at Mississippi State and an epic 48-46 six-overtime victory vs. Pitt in the GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit.