Bowling Green at Toledo
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6 p.m. ET
Glass Bowl, Toledo Ohio
ESPNU
The Toledo Rockets may have stumbled to a 3-5 Mid-American Conference record (6-6 overall) last year, but leagues coaches are expecting big things out of UT in 2020. The coaches poll gave Toledo a slim edge to win the West.
Bowling Green, meanwhile, registered . . .
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6 p.m. ET
Glass Bowl, Toledo Ohio
ESPNU
The Toledo Rockets may have stumbled to a 3-5 Mid-American Conference record (6-6 overall) last year, but leagues coaches are expecting big things out of UT in 2020. The coaches poll gave Toledo a slim edge to win the West.
Bowling Green, meanwhile, registered . . .
. . . just three wins in all of 2019. One of those was against bitter rival Toledo, 20-7. It was an exceptional defensive performance given that BG finished last among MAC teams in scoring defense. The Falcons surrendered 38.6 ppg overall, so improving on the defensive side will be one of the keys for better results in 2020.
TOLEDO ROCKETS
2019 Records: 6-6 OVERALL, 3-5 MAC
Preseason Coaches Poll: First MAC West
Preseason MAC Media Poll: 2nd MAC West
>> The Rockets have 13 returning starters.
>> Head coach Jason Candle is back, but he has several new coordinators as UT attempts to rebound from a disappointing season. With no spring practice to work in any new schemes, it remains to see just how quick the Rockets can roll out of the gate
>> Senior Eli Peters is back at quarterback. He completed 59 percent of his passes last year, with six TDs and three interceptions after again taking over for injured Mitchell Guadagni.
>> Injuries hit Toledo hard last year, and with a tight schedule in front of them, the Rockets hope to avoid critical injuries while successfully filling in when injuries do occur.
>> Center Bryce Harris is back after missing last year due to injury. Two other returns are back up front.
>> Junior Bryant Koback is a key to the team’s offense, providing 1,259 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging six yards per carry in 2019.
>> There is experience on the outside with returning seniors Bryce Mitchell and Danzell McKinley Lewis back.
>> Seven starters return on defense, but the unit as a whole must improve after finishing seventh in scoring and defensive efficiency last year. UT was last among MAC teams in passing defense, surrendering 252.7 ypg.
>> Junior Saeed Holt will lead the linebackers after notching 74 tackles and 11 TFL in 2019.
>> Corner Samuel Womack had a MAC-best 15 pass breakups last year, while senior safety Tycen Anderson is back following an 84-tackle campaign.
>> Senior punter Bailey Flint posted a league-best 47.3-yard punting average in 2019.
>> The Toledo return game has plenty of return speed in Devin Maddox and McKinley-Lewis.
BOWLING GREEN FALCONS
2019 Records: 3-9 OVERALL, 2-6 MAC
Preseason Coaches Poll: Fifth MAC East
Preseason MAC Media Poll: Fifth MAC East
>> The Falcons look to improve in coach Scot Loeffler’s second year at the helm. Their two MAC wins last season were over Toledo and Akron. They also opened with a 46-3 victory over Morgan State in Loeffler’s Falcon debut.
>> There is plenty of room for improvement on both sides of the ball as Bowling Green finished 11th among MAC teams in scoring offense 16.0 ppg) and last in scoring defense (38.6 ppg).
>> The Falcons were 11th in rushing defense, surrendering 242.8 ypg. Opponents completed 66.7 percent of their passes.
>> BG’s offense could get a boost from Boston College transfer Matt McDonald, who learned Loeffler’s offense while the two were at BC.
>> A big spark for Bowling Green’s offense in recent years has been running back Andrew Clair. The All-MAC performer (2017-2018) was felled by injury last year, but he looks to return to the form of 2018 when he averaged 5.2 ypc on 135 trips and also caught 19 passes.
>> Senior tight end Quintin Morris topped Falcons receivers by a wide margin last year. He owned 55 catches for 649 yards with four scores.
>> Senior Linebacker Kholbe Coleman made 103 stops while earning All-MAC honors in 2019.
>> Special teams will benefit from the experience of seniors Nate Needham (kicker) and Matt Naranjo (punter).
TOLEDO ROCKETS
2019 Records: 6-6 OVERALL, 3-5 MAC
Preseason Coaches Poll: First MAC West
Preseason MAC Media Poll: 2nd MAC West
>> The Rockets have 13 returning starters.
>> Head coach Jason Candle is back, but he has several new coordinators as UT attempts to rebound from a disappointing season. With no spring practice to work in any new schemes, it remains to see just how quick the Rockets can roll out of the gate
>> Senior Eli Peters is back at quarterback. He completed 59 percent of his passes last year, with six TDs and three interceptions after again taking over for injured Mitchell Guadagni.
>> Injuries hit Toledo hard last year, and with a tight schedule in front of them, the Rockets hope to avoid critical injuries while successfully filling in when injuries do occur.
>> Center Bryce Harris is back after missing last year due to injury. Two other returns are back up front.
>> Junior Bryant Koback is a key to the team’s offense, providing 1,259 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging six yards per carry in 2019.
>> There is experience on the outside with returning seniors Bryce Mitchell and Danzell McKinley Lewis back.
>> Seven starters return on defense, but the unit as a whole must improve after finishing seventh in scoring and defensive efficiency last year. UT was last among MAC teams in passing defense, surrendering 252.7 ypg.
>> Junior Saeed Holt will lead the linebackers after notching 74 tackles and 11 TFL in 2019.
>> Corner Samuel Womack had a MAC-best 15 pass breakups last year, while senior safety Tycen Anderson is back following an 84-tackle campaign.
>> Senior punter Bailey Flint posted a league-best 47.3-yard punting average in 2019.
>> The Toledo return game has plenty of return speed in Devin Maddox and McKinley-Lewis.
BOWLING GREEN FALCONS
2019 Records: 3-9 OVERALL, 2-6 MAC
Preseason Coaches Poll: Fifth MAC East
Preseason MAC Media Poll: Fifth MAC East
>> The Falcons look to improve in coach Scot Loeffler’s second year at the helm. Their two MAC wins last season were over Toledo and Akron. They also opened with a 46-3 victory over Morgan State in Loeffler’s Falcon debut.
>> There is plenty of room for improvement on both sides of the ball as Bowling Green finished 11th among MAC teams in scoring offense 16.0 ppg) and last in scoring defense (38.6 ppg).
>> The Falcons were 11th in rushing defense, surrendering 242.8 ypg. Opponents completed 66.7 percent of their passes.
>> BG’s offense could get a boost from Boston College transfer Matt McDonald, who learned Loeffler’s offense while the two were at BC.
>> A big spark for Bowling Green’s offense in recent years has been running back Andrew Clair. The All-MAC performer (2017-2018) was felled by injury last year, but he looks to return to the form of 2018 when he averaged 5.2 ypc on 135 trips and also caught 19 passes.
>> Senior tight end Quintin Morris topped Falcons receivers by a wide margin last year. He owned 55 catches for 649 yards with four scores.
>> Senior Linebacker Kholbe Coleman made 103 stops while earning All-MAC honors in 2019.
>> Special teams will benefit from the experience of seniors Nate Needham (kicker) and Matt Naranjo (punter).
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