The Falcons had also been winning the close ones in recent MAC play ... until last week. Kent State ended BGSU's three-game win streak with a decisive 40-6 decision. That left Bowling Green one back beyind Ohio in the MAC East race. However, those two teams meet Nov. 22 in the regular season finale. The Falcons also need one more win for bowl eligibility. With Toledo and Ohio remaining on the schedule, picking up that victory will be a challenge.
The “Battle of I-75” began in 1919, was halted from 1936 through 1947, then resumed as an annual affair since 1948.
This will be the 87th meeting between Toledo and Bowling Green, whose campuses are separated by a mere 26 miles, much of it along I-75. Toledo leads the all-time series, 42- 40-4, thanks to a recent Toledo streak. The Rockets have won 11 of the last 12 meetings in the series, including a 49-17 win at BGSU last season.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
BOWLING GREEN FALCONS (4-2 MAC, 5-5 OVERALL)
~~ After three straight weeks of allowing 18 points or less, BGSU surrendered 40 points in a loss to Kent State last week. After a scoreless first quarter, KSU scored three straight touchdowns before intermission and added a field goal mindway through the third stanza.
Bowling Green QB Matt McDonald hit Tyrone Broden on a 24-yard TD later in the period, but the Falcons added 17 unanswered points in the fourth period to seal their win.
~~ The Falcons were outgained 415-311 overall.
~~ BGSU committed three turnovers, while forcing one.
~~ Jaison Patterson and PaSean Wimberly combined for 22 carries and 76 yards. However, the Falcons netted just 65 yards on the ground as Kent State recorded five sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
~~ McDonald completed 31-of-40 pass attempts, good for 246 yards, with 1 TD and 1 interception.
~~ Tyrone Broden and Christian Sims combined for 14 catches, 152 yards and the only Falcon TD.
~~ Darren Anders led the Falcon defense with 11 hits.
~~ DL Karl Brooks is No. 6 in the nation in sacks with 8.0. He is also No. 9 in the nation with 13.5 tackles for loss.
~~ BGSU has recovered 13 fumbles, which ranks No. 2 in the nation. The Falcons trail only Duke (15). OLB Charles Rosser is tied for the nation’s lead with three fumbles recovered.
TOLEDO ROCKETS (5-1 MAC, 7-3 OVERALL)
~~ The Rockets secured their trip to the 2022 MAC Championship Game thanks to 28-21 victory over Ball State on Nov. 8 and a loss by Western Michigan a day later. Toledo (5-1) is two games ahead of EMU, CMU and Ball State (all 3-3). The Rockets defeated all three teams this season so in the event of a tie, Toledo owns all tie-breakers.
~~ With bowl eligibility and a championship game berth secured, Toledo is in a position to better control participation. Does it need to rest some players and/or get players healthy?
~~ Toledo is bowl eligible for the 13th consecutive season, the longest streak in the MAC.
~~ A victory over Bowling Green would give Toledo a 6-0 home record, only the second undefeated home record for the Rockets since 2004. the only other undefeated mark in that 18-year span was in 2017, the last time Toledo won the MAC title.
~~ Sophomore Dequan Finn started at quarterback vs. Ball State after missing the EMU game on Oct. 29 with an injury. He completed 21-of-38 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns against the Cardinals.
~~ Finn has completed 59.2 percent of his passes for 1,938 yards and 21 TDs. He is second in the MAC in passing efficiency (142.39). He is also the Rockets’ second-leading rusher with 530 yards and eight scores, and is third in the MAC with 5.7 yards per carry.
~~ Toledo’s offense ranks first in the MAC in scoring (35.1), second in passing efficiency (142.88), and third in total offense (406.6) and rushing (182.3).
~~ Toledo’s defense ranks first in the MAC in total defense (340.8) and second in points allowed (26.3). The Rockets lead the MAC in passing yards allowed (179.9) and defensive passing efficiency (108.26 - also sixth in nation).
~~ Junior linebacker Dallas Gant, an Ohio State transfer, leads the team with 8.8 tackles per game, which is ninth among MAC players and 38th in the country.
~~ Toledo held Ball State to 281 yards of total offense, including just 94 yards passing. It was the fifth time this season that the Rockets held their opponents to under 100 yards of passing offense.