TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo Rockets open their home season with a non-conference battle with Western Kentucky at the Glass Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 6 (7:00 p.m./ESPN+).

Toledo (0-1) is coming off a 24-16 loss at Kentucky last week. The Rockets scored a touchdown with 1:55 left to make it a one-score game but were unable to convert the ensuing on-side kick.

The Rockets out-gained the Wildcats, 329-305, and forced two turnovers. Senior safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren led with 11 tackles and a forced fumble that he recovered. Junior linebacker K'Von Sherman added eight stops, four solo, while senior cornerback Avery Smith totaled six tackles including five solo stops.

Senior quarterback Tucker Gleason completed 23-of-40 passes for 270 yards with a passing touchdown, adding a nine-yard rushing score on the ground. Junior Vandeross III finished with seven receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown. Chip Trayanum rushed for 41 yards on 14 carries in his first game in a Rocket uniform.

Western Kentucky (2-0, 1-0 CUSA) has won a pair of home games to start its season, 41-24 over Sam Houston State and 55-6 over North Alabama. The Hilltoppers defeated Toledo in Bowling Green, Ky. last season, 26-21, in the only previous meeting between the two schools.

Toledo vs. Western Kentucky
Saturday, Sept. 6 - 7:00 p.m. ET
The Glass Bowl • Toledo, Ohio • ESPN+

• 2025 TEAM RECORDS: 
    Toledo (0-1, 0-0 MAC)
    WKU (2-0, 1-0 Conference USA)

• SERIES RECORD: Western Kentucky leads, 1-0. WKU won last year in Bowling Green, Ky., 26-21.

• THE COACHES: 
    Jason Candle, 73-41 (10th year) at Toledo, same overall. 0-1 vs. Western Kentucky.
    Tyson Helton, 50-32 (7th year) at Western Kentucky, same overall. 1-0 vs. Toledo.

• TV/STREAMING: ESPN+
Play by Play: Michael Reghi
Analyst: Jerod Cherry

• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 6:00 p.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 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
• Saturday's home opener is being billed as "The Biggest Party in Toledo" with a host of new game-day promotions.
• Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (11 tackles, one FF, one FR) was named the "Breakout Defensive Player of the Week" by the East-West Shrine Bowl for his performance at Kentucky.
• 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 (73-41) needs one more win to pass Gary Pinkel (73 wins from 1991-2000) to become the Rockets' all-time victory leader.