OHIO at AKRON
Friday, Nov. 25 -- 12:00 p.m. ET
Kelly/Shorts Stadium - Mt. Pleasant, MI
ESPNU
At one point, the Chippewas had three games left to pull off the one win still needed for bowl eligibility. After twi straight losses, they are down to one more opportunity.
They must be Toledo, which is riding a 10-game win streak. The Rockets have already wrapped up a MAC West title and will meet Miami in the MAC Championship game Dec. 2 in Detroit. Just how either of those teams will approach their final regular season matchups remains to be seen. However, Central Michigan's need remains the same: win! For what its worth, this years UT-CMU contest is on Chippewas turf.
Toledo leads the series with Central Michigan, 28-20-3. Toledo has won 11 of the last 13 meetings overall, including a 38-17 win at the Glass Bowl last year.
TOLEDO (10-1, 7-0 MAC)
-- The Rockets' only loss this year was in Week One, when Illinois kicked a game-winning field goal in the final minute for a 30-28 victory.
-- UT was ranked No. 25 in the Nov. 19 AP poll.
-- Toledo is coming off a dramatic 32-31 victory over arch-rival Bowling Green (Nov. 14). Down 28-10 at intermission and 31-25 with less than two minutes remaining, UT pulled out the win with a 59-yard TD pass from Dequann Finn to Jacquez Stuart. Luke Pawlak's PAT gave the Rockets a 32-31 victory.
-- Peny Boone carried 15 times, providing 131 of UT's 136 rushing yards, along with one TD.
-- Finn completed 20 of 30 passes, good for 279 yards with two TDs and one interception.
-- Jerjuan Newton caught six passes totaling 54 yards. Tight end Anthony Torres had three receptions for 71 yards.
-- Toledo leads the MAC in scoring offense (35.6), total offense (437.6), passing offense (230.4) and rushing offense (207.1). The Rockets are No. 7 in the nation in rushing.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (5-6, 3-4 MAC)
-- CMU is coming off a 34-20 loss at Ohio. The Bobcats jumped off to a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Each Chippewas touchdown was followed by a Bobcat score.
-- The Chippewas averaged 4.9 ypc, picking up 162 yards rushing on 33 trips.
-- CMU lost the turnover battle, 2-0.
-- Quarterback Jase Bauer completed just 10 of 21 passes totaling 157 yards with two tDs and one interception.
-- Chris Parker's one catch against Ohio was a 62-yard TD toss from Bauer. Tyson Davis recorded two catches, including a 50-yard touchdown.
-- The Chippewas rank ninth (MAC) in passing offense (180.5 ypg) and are sixth in pass offense efficiency.
-- CMU is third (MAC) in rushing (164.5 ypg).
After dropping a double-overtime decision to Eastern Michigan Nov. 14, the Akron Zips face a big challenge in their season finale. They'll be facing an Ohio squad seeking its third straight win and ninth victory on the season. The Bobcats will not be in this year's MAC Championship, but they could reach a 10-win season with victories against Akron and a bowl opponent.
The Bobcats and the Zips have met 39 times since 1919, with an overall record of 24-14-1. The two teams last met in Athens for Ohio’s 2022 Homecoming game. Led by Sieh Bangura’s four touchdowns, the Bobcats won in dominant fashion, with a final score of 55-34.
OHIO (8-3, 5-2 MAC)
-- The 'Cats have won two straight since a crucial loss to Miami in late October. The latest victory was a 34-20 decision over Central Michigan. The Bobcats jumped out to a 17-0 lead and were up 31-14 after three quarters.
-- Ohio played turnover-free football and forced two CMU turnovers. Shane Bonner turned one of those into points when he picked off a CMU pass and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown.
-- Kurtis Rourke completed 15 of 23 throws totaling 222 yards.
-- Miles Cross, Sam Wiglusz and Will Kacmarek all caught three passes, combining for 148 yards.
-- Sieh Bangura averaged 6.0 ypc against CMU, carrying 21 times for a total of 126 yards.
-- Ohio leads the MAC in scoring defense (15.5 ppg). The Bobcats are first against the run (101.4 ypg) and second in pass defense (170.5 ypg).
-- With opponent offenses averaging just 15.55 points and 271.8 yards per game, Ohio’s defense leads the MAC and is No. 5 in FBS football. Individually, linebacker Bryce Houston is ranked 11th in FBS football in total tackles (113).
-- Rourke ranks third among MAC QBs in passing efficiency (132.5).
-- Jack Wilson averaged 43.5 yards per punt against CMU.
AKRON (2-9, 1-6 MAC)
-- The Zips' only win since mid-September was a 31-27 victory over arch-rival Akron (31-27, Nov. 1).
-- Akron is coming off a 30-27 double-overtime loss to Eastern Michigan. Neither team scored in the firrst stanza, and they were knotted 14-all at intermission. Fourth quarter field goals by each team resulted in a 17-17 tie after four periods.
Akron and CMU tallied TDs in the first overtime, but UA settled for a field goal on its second OT possession. Austin Smith then hit Jere Getzinger with a 3-yard TD for the Eastern Michigan victory.
-- Jeff Underfuffler Jr. completed 19 of 26 passes, good for 223 yards. Tahj Bullock added another 17 ayrds and one TD among his four completions on five tosses.
-- Daniel George and Jasaiah Gathings combined for 12 catches and 163 yards.
-- Akron is 11th among MAC teams in scoring (16.5 ppg) and ninth in scoring defense (28.3 ppg). The Zips are 12th/last in rushing (85.0 ypg) and fourth in passing (202.3 ypg).
-- UA ranks 11th among MAC teams in red zone offense and 12th/last in red zone defense.