2025 Toledo Rockets football team

2025 Toledo Rockets football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	4–3 (2–2 MAC)
Head coach	Jason Candle (10th season)
Co-offensive coordinators	Mike Hallett (6th season) Robert Weiner (6th season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Vince Kehres (6th season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Ross Watson (6th season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Glass Bowl
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Buffalo		3	–	0					4	–	3
Miami (OH)		3	–	0					4	–	3
Western Michigan		3	–	0					4	–	3
Ball State		2	–	1					3	–	4
Central Michigan		2	–	1					4	–	3
Ohio		2	–	1					4	–	3
Toledo		2	–	2					4	–	3
Bowling Green		1	–	2					3	–	4
Kent State		1	–	2					2	–	5
Akron*		1	–	3					2	–	6
Eastern Michigan		1	–	3					2	–	6
Northern Illinois		0	–	3					1	–	6
UMass		0	–	3					0	–	7
Championship: December 6, 2025
* Ineligible for postseason play due to low APR score As of October 20, 2025

The 2025 Toledo Rockets football team represents the University of Toledo in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Rockets are led by Jason Candle in his tenth year as the head coach. The Rockets play home games at the Glass Bowl, located in Toledo, Ohio.

Preseason

The MAC Football Kickoff was held on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at the Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan from 9:00 am EDT to 1:30 pm EDT. ^[1]

Preseason polls

Coaches Poll

On July 24 the MAC announced the preseason coaches' poll. ^[2]

MAC Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Toledo	135 (7)
2	Miami	131 (3)
3	Ohio	123 (3)
4	Buffalo	115
5	Northern Illinois	94
6	Bowling Green	81
7	Western Michigan	71
8	Eastern Michigan	68
9	Central Michigan	65
10	Ball State	41
T11	Akron	39
T11	Massachusetts	39
13	Kent State	12

Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
Predicted finish	Team	Votes
1	Toledo	6
2	Miami	4
3	Ohio	3

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	12:45 p.m.	at Kentucky *	Kroger Field Lexington, KY	SECN	L 16–24	56,457
September 6	7:00 p.m.	Western Kentucky *	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	ESPN+	W 45–21	24,138
September 13	3:30 p.m.	Morgan State *	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	ESPN+	W 60–0	22,846
September 20	3:30 p.m.	at Western Michigan	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	ESPN+	L 13–14	20,744
September 27	3:30 p.m.	Akron	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	ESPN+	W 45–3	24,535
October 11	12:00 p.m.	at Bowling Green	Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH (Battle of I-75)	ESPNU	L 23–28	24,000
October 18	2:00 p.m.	Kent State	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	ESPN+	W 45–10	18,417
October 25	3:30 p.m.	at Washington State *	Martin Stadium Pullman, WA	The CW
November 5	7:00 p.m./8:00 p.m.	Northern Illinois	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	ESPN2/ESPNU
November 12	7:00 p.m.	at Miami (OH)	Yager Stadium Oxford, OH	ESPN2/ESPNU/CBSSN
November 22		Ball State	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH
November 29		at Central Michigan	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI
*Non-conference game All times are in Eastern time

^{[3] [4]}

Game summaries

at Kentucky

See also: 2025 Kentucky Wildcats football team

Toledo Rockets (0–0) at Kentucky Wildcats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rockets	0	2	0	14	16
Wildcats	7	3	0	14	24

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

• Date: August 30
• Game time: 12:45 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 56,457
• Referee: Kyle Olson
• TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play) and Matt Stinchcomb (analyst)

Game information

First quarter UK – Zach Calzada 1-yard run (Jacob Kauwe kick), 6:27. Wildcats 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 29 yards, 3:38. Second quarter TOL – Langston Long Safety, 13:08. Wildcats 7–2. UK – Jacob Kauwe 45-yard field goal, 2:04. Wildcats 10–2. Drive: 10 plays, 23 yards, 5:24. Third quarter No scoring plays. Fourth quarter UK – Seth McGowan 6-yard run (Jacob Kauwe kick), 12:30. Wildcats 17–2. Drive: 12 plays, 76 yards, 6:27. TOL – Tucker Gleason 9-yard run (Dylan Cunanan kick), 9:38. Wildcats 17–9. Drive: 7 plays, 69 yards, 2:45. UK – Dante Dowdell 79-yard run (Jacob Kauwe kick), 9:22. Wildcats 24–9. Drive: 1 play, 79 yards, 0:12. TOL – Junior Vandeross III 20-yard pass from Tucker Gleason (Dylan Cunanan kick), 1:55. Wildcats 24–16. Drive: 7 plays, 95 yards, 2:28.

Statistics	TOL	UK
First downs	17	17
Plays–yards	69–329	66–305
Rushes–yards	29–59	43–220
Passing yards	270	85
Passing: comp–att–int	23–40–1	10–23–1
Turnovers	1	2
Time of possession	28:19	31:41

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Toledo	Passing	Tucker Gleason	23/40, 270 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Chip Trayanum	14 carries, 41 yards
	Receiving	Junior Vandeross III	7 receptions, 88 yards, TD
Kentucky	Passing	Zach Calzada	10/23, 85 yards, INT
	Rushing	Dante Dowdell	14 carries, 129 yards, TD
	Receiving	Josh Kattus	3 receptions, 43 yards

Western Kentucky

See also: 2025 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (2–0) at Toledo Rockets (0–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hilltoppers	7	0	0	14	21
Rockets	21	10	14	0	45

at Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH

• Date: Saturday September 6, 2025
• Game time: 6:00 PM CDT
• Game attendance: 24,138
• Referee: Jason Berg
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Je'Rod Cherry (analyst)

Game information

First quarter TOL – Chip Trayanum 1-yard run (Dylan Cunanan kick), 12:57. Rockets 7–0. Drive: 3 plays, 34 yards, 1:27. TOL – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren 37-yard interception return (Dylan Cunanan kick), 11:52. Rockets 14–0. WKU – Matthew Henry 7-yard pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick), 6:48. Rockets 14–7. Drive: 7 plays, 56 yards, 2:32. TOL – Chip Trayanum 10-yard pas from Tucker Gleason (Dylan Cunanan kick), 2:34. Rockets 21–7. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:14.[ Second quarter TOL – Dylan Cunanan 32-yard field goal, 11:50. Rockets 24–7. Drive: 11 plays, 57 yards, 4:51. TOL – Junior Vandeross III 71-yard pass from Tucker Gleason (Dylan Cunanan kick), 1:25. Rockets 31–7. Drive: 2 plays, 87 yards, 0:28. Third quarter TOL – Chip Trayanum 75-yard run (Dylan Cunanan kick), 14:49. Rockets 38–7. Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:11. TOL – Connor Jones 5-yard pass from John Alan Richter (Dylan Cunanan kick), 5:30. Rockets 45–7. Drive: 10 plays, 60 yards, 6:32. Fourth quarter WKU – Jaden McGill 1-yard run (John Cannon kick), 13:08. Rockets 45–14. Drive: 6 plays, 52 yards, 2:27. WKU – Cameron Flowers II 11-yard pass from Maverick McIvor (John Cannon kick), 6:26. Rockets 45–21. Drive: 8 plays, 59 yards, 4:32.

Statistics	WKU	TOL
First downs	18	21
Total yards	333	508
Rushes–yards	28–59	42–307
Passing yards	274	201
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–39–1	12–21–1
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	26:35	33:25

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Kentucky	Passing	Maverick McIvor	23/38, 235 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Marvis Parrish	7 carries, 22 yards
	Receiving	Moussa Barry	3 receptions, 110 yards
Toledo	Passing	Tucker Gleason	7/12, 155 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Chip Trayanum	14 carries, 163 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Junior Vandeross III	5 receptions, 122 yards, TD

Morgan State (FCS)

See also: 2025 Morgan State Bears football team

Morgan State Bears (FCS) (0–2) at Toledo Rockets (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears (FCS)	0	0	0	0	0
Rockets	3	43	7	7	60

at Glass Bowl • Toledo, Ohio

• Date: September 13
• Game time: 3:30 PM EDT
• Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C) • Wind: SE at 1 mile per hour (1.6 km/h)
• Game attendance: 22,846
• Referee: Billy Williams
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Jim Barber (play-by-play) and Randy Buffington (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter (12:37) TOL – Dylan Cunanan 28-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:23; Toledo 3–0) Second Quarter (14:08) TOL – Junior Vandeross III 12-yard pass from Tucker Gleason, Connor Jones rush (Drive: 2 plays, 12 yards, 0:37; Toledo 11–0) (11:07) TOL – Chip Trayanum 1-yard run, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 5 plays, 20 yards, 2:05; Toledo 18–0) (8:19) TOL – Kenji Christian 10-yard run, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 5 plays, 36 yards, 1:22; Toledo 25–0) (4:54) TOL – Chip Trayanum 1-yard run, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 4 plays, 42 yards, 1:55; Toledo 32–0) (2:18) TOL – Kenji Christian 2-yard run, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 3 plays, 60 yards, 1:04; Toledo 39–0) (0:07) TOL – Junior Vandeross III 7-yard pass from John Alan Richter, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 10 plays, 67 yards, 1:16; Toledo 46–0) Third Quarter (7:50) TOL – CC Ezirim 2-yard pass from John Alan Richter, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 11 plays, 74 yards, 4:35; Toledo 53–0) Fourth Quarter (13:48) TOL – Kalieb Osborne 7-yard run, Anthony Ruggles kick (Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 5:59; Toledo 60–0)

Statistics	MORG	TOL
First downs	4	31
Total yards	56	557
Rushing yards	36	260
Passing yards	20	297
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	9–16–0	27–37–0
Time of possession	26:01	33:59

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Morgan State	Passing	Kobe Muasau	6/8, 18 yards
	Rushing	Dae'Jeaun Dennis	4 carries, 18 yards
	Receiving	Joshua Smith	1 reception, 21 yards
Toledo	Passing	Tucker Gleason	13/17, 174 yards, TD
	Rushing	Kalieb Osborne	7 carries, 49 yards, TD
	Receiving	Javon Brown	5 receptions, 94 yards

at Western Michigan

See also: 2025 Western Michigan Broncos football team

Toledo Rockets (2–1) at Western Michigan Broncos (0–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rockets	-	-	-	-	0
Broncos	-	-	-	-	0

at Waldo Stadium • Kalamazoo, Michigan

• Date: September 20
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Ted Emrich (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst)

Statistics	TOL	WMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Toledo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Akron

See also: 2025 Akron Zips football team

Akron Zips (1–3) vs. Toledo Rockets (2–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Zips	0	3	0	0	3
Rockets	14	21	3	7	45

at Glass Bowl • Toledo, Ohio

• Date: September 27
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (analyst)

Statistics	AKR	TOL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Akron	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Toledo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Bowling Green (Battle of I-75)

See also: 2025 Bowling Green Falcons football team and Battle of I-75

Toledo Rockets (3–2) vs. Bowling Green Falcons (2–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rockets	0	6	0	0	6
Golden Flashes	14	7	21	0	42

at Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, Ohio

• Date: October 11
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 68 °F (20 °C) • Wind: N at 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
• Game attendance: 24,000
• Referee: Marcel Kerr
• TV announcers (ESPNU): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter (12:03) TOL – Chip Trayanum 14-yard run, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:57; Toledo 7–0) (3:39) TOL – Tucker Gleason 12-yard run, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 3:05; Toledo 14–0) Second Quarter (1:29) TOL – Jacob Petersen 17-yard pass from Tucker Gleason, Dylan Cunanan kick (Drive: 5 plays, 43 yards, 1:55; Toledo 21–0) (0:13) BGSU – Cameron Pettaway 45-yard pass from Lucian Anderson III, Jackson Kleather kick (Drive: 5 plays, 70 yards, 1:13; Toledo 21–7) Third Quarter (1:52) BGSU – Jacob Harris 8-yard pass from Lucian Anderson III, Jackson Kleather kick (Drive: 7 plays, 51 yards, 3:20; Toledo 21–14) Fourth Quarter (7:03) BGSU – Cameron Pettaway 73-yard pass from RJ Garcia II, Jackson Kleather kick (Drive: 2 plays, 71 yards, 0:49; Tied 21–21) (6:07) BGSU – Chris McMillian 1-yard run, Jackson Kleather kick (Drive: 1 play, 1 yard, 0:06; Bowling Green 28–21) (0:00) TOL – 0-yard safety (Bowling Green 28–23)

Statistics	TOL	BGSU
First downs	23	10
Total yards	429	226
Rushing yards	165	61
Passing yards	264	165
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–30–1	10–17–1
Time of possession	31:50	25:52

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Toledo	Passing	Tucker Gleason	19/30, 264 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Chip Trayanum	27 carries, 125 yards, TD
	Receiving	Junior Vandeross III	6 receptions, 100 yards
Bowling Green	Passing	Lucian Anderson III	9/16, 92 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Lucian Anderson III	10 carries, 32 yards
	Receiving	Cameron Pettaway	2 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TD

Kent State

See also: 2025 Kent State Golden Flashes football team

Kent State Golden Flashes (2–4) vs. Toledo Rockets (3–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Flashes	-	-	-	-	0
Rockets	-	-	-	-	0

at Glass Bowl • Toledo, Ohio

• Date: October 18
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Shawn Kenney (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (analyst)

Statistics	KENT	TOL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Toledo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Washington State

See also: 2025 Washington State Cougars football team

Toledo Rockets (4–3) vs. Washington State Cougars (3–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rockets	-	-	-	-	0
Cougars	-	-	-	-	0

at Martin Stadium • Pullman, Washington

• Date: October 25
• Game time: 10:30 AM PDT

Statistics	TOL	WSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Toledo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Washington State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Northern Illinois

See also: 2025 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

Northern Illinois Huskies (0–0) vs. Toledo Rockets (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Huskies	-	-	-	-	0
Rockets	-	-	-	-	0

at Glass Bowl • Toledo, Ohio

• Date: November 5

Statistics	NIU	TOL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Toledo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Miami (OH)

See also: 2025 Miami RedHawks football team

Toledo Rockets (0–0) vs. Miami RedHawks (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rockets	-	-	-	-	0
RedHawks	-	-	-	-	0

at Yager Stadium • Oxford, Ohio

• Date: November 12
• Game time: 7:00 PM EST

Statistics	TOL	M-OH
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Toledo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Miami (OH)	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Ball State

See also: 2025 Ball State Cardinals football team

Ball State Cardinals (0–0) vs. Toledo Rockets (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	-	-	-	-	0
Rockets	-	-	-	-	0

at Glass Bowl • Toledo, Ohio

• Date: November 22

Statistics	BALL	TOL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Toledo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Central Michigan

See also: 2025 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

Toledo Rockets (0–0) vs. Central Michigan Chippewas (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rockets	-	-	-	-	0
Chippewas	-	-	-	-	0

at Kelly/Shorts Stadium • Mount Pleasant, Michigan

• Date: November 29

Statistics	TOL	CMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Toledo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Central Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

1. "2025 Division I FBS Media Days". www.sportswriters.net. FWAA. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
2. "Toledo Selected as Favorite in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 24, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
3. "2025 Toledo Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
4. Rowland, Kyle. "Early look at Toledo's 2025 nonconference football schedule". Toledo Blade. Retrieved March 2, 2025.