Rockets Drop Homecoming Game to Buffalo, 23-8

Saturday, October 10

Toledo, Ohio

3:30 PM

University of Toledo

4-2 , 1-1

Buffalo

3-3 , 1-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Buffalo	6	7	3	7	23
Toledo	0	0	0	8	8

Final Stats (PDF)

Armorion Smith makes a tackle against Buffalo on Oct. 10, 2026

Senior Armorion Smith made a career-high 13 tackles with 0.5 tackles for loss against Buffalo on Saturday.

Photo by: Daniel Miller/University of Toledo

10/10/2026 7:22:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Andrew Zock records nine tackles with 1.5 sacks

TOLEDO, Ohio – The University of Toledo football team fell in its Homecoming game to Buffalo, 23-8, in front of a crowd of 24,767 at the Glass Bowl on Saturday.

The Rockets (4-2, 1-1 MAC) had their four-game winning streak snapped. Toledo trailed 13-0 at halftime and 16-0 in the fourth quarter, before cutting the lead in half with 4:45 left. However, a long touchdown run by the Bulls (3-3, 1-1 MAC) followed by a recovered kick put the game away.

Despite trailing after the first possession, the Rockets stayed within striking distance thanks to their defense, which totaled eight tackles for loss and four sacks. Toledo also stalled three Buffalo drives in the red zone to force field goals. Junior Andrew Zock totaled 1.5 sacks, 2.0 tackles for loss and a career-high nine total tackles. Senior Armorion Smith tallied a career-high 13 tackles, while juniors Donovan Watkins and Julian Fox each added nine stops.

Senior Connor Walendzak tallied 50 yards on 10 carries and a rushing score. Senior Terrell Crosby, Jr. had eight catches for 69 yards. Senior quarterback John Alan Richter was 22-of-35 through the air for 203 yards.

Buffalo held the edge in total offense, 351-308, including a 180-105 edge on the ground. Toledo had a 203-171 advantage through the air.

How It Happened

Buffalo thought it had scored a touchdown on the first possession of the game on a 1-yard run, but the Bulls were flagged for illegal formation and settled for a field goal. The Bulls then tacked on another field goal on their second drive, and led 6-0 after a quarter.
Toledo placekicker Reice Griffith missed a 47-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
Following a Toledo fumble, Buffalo got the ball on the Toledo 11-yard line and capitalized for a TD, with Jason Wright converting on a 4th down on a 3-yard run for a 13-0 Buffalo lead.
The lead held at 13-0 heading into the locker room after the Bulls missed a 39-yard field on the final play of the half.
Buffalo tacked on three more on their first drive of the second half with a 31-yard field goal.
Still down 16-0 with under 10 minutes to play, the Rockets drove 86 yards on 14 plays in 4:39, with Connor Walendzak punching in a 1-yard TD run on 4th & goal. A successful two-point pass from John Alan Richter to Adjatay Dabbs put Toledo within one score, 16-8 with 4:45 left.
Buffalo immediately responded, with an 87-yard TD run by Messiah Burch to go up 23-8. The ensuing kick bounced off a Toledo returner and gave UB the ball for the remainder of the game.

Game Notes

Andrew Zock's 1.5 sacks marked the eighth time in his career he has had at least 1.5 in a game. He has been in the sack column each of Toledo's last five games and has 5.0 for the season.
Armorion Smith's 13 tackles were a career high and mark the most stops a Rocket has recorded in a game this season. He has 31 tackles (10.3/game) in his last three games.
Connor Walendzak has scored a rushing touchdown in each of his first six games this season.
Each of Toledo's touchdown drives in MAC play have been for over 70 yards.
The defeat snapped a nine-game home winning streak. It was Toledo's first defeat at the Glass Bowl since Nov. 20, 2024.
Toledo's opponent has scored first in all six games this season.

Up Next
The Rockets go on the road to take on Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3:30 p.m. in Ypsilanti. The game will be streamed on ESPN Plus and heard on the Rocket Radio Network.