Toledo was a single win away from potentially being the Group of Five team to appear in a New Year’s Six bowl a year ago.
The Rockets went 11-1 during the regular season, with their only defeat being a two-point loss at Illinois in their season opener. They went undefeated in MAC games and beat half of their conference foes by double-digit points.
But then they lost in the MAC Championship to Miami (Ohio) and fell in the Arizona Bowl to Wyoming on a last-second field goal. Then this offseason, star quarterback Dequan Finn and running back Peny Boone left through the transfer portal.
After winning the MAC title in 2022 and nearly doing so a season ago, will Toledo manage to make another run at a conference crown?
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Toledo Football’s MAC Title Odds
Toledo’s odds to win the MAC are +325, via BetMGM. That’s only behind Miami (Ohio), which is the favorite at +225.
Toledo Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
Toledo’s win total Over/Under is 8.5, with Under 8.5 at -155 and Over 8.5 at +130.
Toledo Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/29 vs. Duquesne
9/7 vs. UMass
9/14 @ Mississippi State
9/21 @ Western Kentucky
10/5 vs. Miami (Ohio)
10/12 @ Buffalo
10/19 @ Northern Illinois
10/26 vs. Bowling Green
11/2 @ Eastern Michigan
11/12 vs. Central Michigan
11/20 vs. Ohio
11/26 @ Akron
Bold indicates MAC contests
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Key Toledo Football Returners
2023 All-MAC 1st Team
WR Jerjuan Newton
DB Maxen Hook
KR Jacquez Stuart
2nd Team
TE Anthony Torres
3rd Team
DL Darius Alexander
K Luke Pawlak
Toledo Football Expected To Be Strong On Both Sides Of The Ball
Toledo isn’t just going to be without Finn and Boone from last year’s team. Other important members of the program over the past few years, like cornerback Quinyon Mitchell who was picked in the first round of the NFL Draft this offseason, are also gone.
But the Rockets still have skill and experience at all three phases of the game.
Tucker Gleason is expected to become the starting quarterback and already saw the field last year, including in Toledo’s bowl game. He completed 51% of his passes for 383 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception a year ago.
Toledo’s offense will have several playmakers back as well. Jerjuan Newton paced the Rockets with 696 yards and nine touchdowns on 52 receptions en route to first-team All-MAC honors. Junior Vandeross III was second on the team with 664 yards, four touchdowns, and 47 catches last year and is also back at wide receiver.
Anthony Torres was a G5 All-American tight end with 464 yards, three touchdowns, and 26 catches last year. And while Boone is gone, Jacquez Stuart is returning after ranking second on the Rockets with 574 yards and six touchdowns on 110 carries. He was also a first-team all-conference kick returner a year ago.
The Rockets were first in the conference with 32.3 points per game scored. But they were also top three in scoring defense with 20.3 points per game allowed, and they have the pieces to be solid on defense again.
Four of Toledo’s top seven tacklers from a year ago are back. Linebacker Daniel Bolden is the leading returning tackler (94) and added 6.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups in 2023.
Safeties Maxen Hook and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren tied third on the team with 69 tackles in 2023. Hook added four pass breakups, and McNeil-Warren recorded a team-high four forced fumbles as well.
On special teams, third-team all-conference kicker Luke Pawlak is back after making 12 of 15 field goals.
2024 Toledo Football Season Prediction
I predict Toledo won’t win the MAC Championship but will go Over 8.5 wins.
Clearly I believe the Rockets will be competitive in 2024. But right now I think Miami will be slightly better, especially later in the season if those two teams have a rematch in the MAC title game.
But I’m expecting Toledo to lose three regular season games or fewer. And honestly, the Rockets’ non-conference contests might be the most challenging part of their schedule.
I think they’ll beat Duquesne and UMass to open the season. But then they face Mississippi State and Western Kentucky on the road and Miami (Ohio) at home consecutively. That might be three losses right there.
But from that point on, I think Toledo will be favored in every MAC matchup. The pivotal clash might be Toledo’s trip to Northern Illinois on Oct. 19. But if the Rockets can win there, I think they’ll go at least 7-1 in MAC play and have a shot of winning another league championship.
