By Annie Walker
TUCSON, Ariz. – The Toledo football team completed its final practice on Friday in preparation for its game with Wyoming at the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET/The CW).
Toledo (11-2, 8-0 MAC) won 11 consecutive games this season and was the West Division champion of the Mid-American Conference. The Rockets are attempting to win 12 games for the first time in over 50 years. Toledo went 12-0 in both 1970 and 1971, part of their famous 35-0 streak.
“We’re focused on making sure our seniors get their last win together and enjoy this experience that they’ve been able to have this week,” said Head Coach Jason Candle. “What a great group to be around, a great group of first-class people and players.”
Wyoming (8-4, 5-3 MWC) finished in a tie for fourth place in the Mountain West Conference. The Cowboys finished their season winning three of four games, outscoring their opponents 108-30 in the three victories.
“Wyoming is a very physical football team, a team that is very well-coached,” said Candle. “They’re detailed in what they do in all three phases of the game. They’re a team that makes you earn it.”
This will be the third meeting between Toledo and Wyoming. The Cowboys won in Toledo in 2010 while the Rockets came out on top in Laramie in 2012.
Toledo is 12-8 all-time in bowl games, including last year’s 21-19 victory over Liberty at the Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl. Toledo is 4-1 in bowl games vs. current Mountain West Conference teams, with wins over San Jose State, Nevada, UNLV and Air Force, and a loss to Utah State. The Rockets will be attempting to win consecutive bowl games for the first time since the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Toledo vs. Wyoming
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz.
Saturday, Dec. 30 – 2:30 p.m. MT (4:30 ET)
• TEAM RECORDS:
Toledo (11-2, 8-0 MAC)
Wyoming (8-4, 5-3 MWC)
• SERIES RECORD: Series tied, 1-1. The Cowboys won in Toledo in 2010 while the Rockets came out on top in Laramie in 2012.
• THE COACHES:
Jason Candle, 65-34 (8th year) at Toledo, same overall. 0-0 vs. Wyoming
Craig Bohl, 60-60 (10th year) at Wyoming, 163-92 overall (21st year). 0-0 vs. Toledo.
• TV/STREAMING: CW/Barstool Sports App
Play by Play: Jake Marsh
Analysts: Dave Portnoy, Dan Katz
Sideline: Caleb Pressley, Adam Ferrone
• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 3:00 p.m.
Play by Play: Mark Beier
Analyst: Jack Mewhort
Sidelines: Mike Robinson
• WEB-AUDIO: Free live audio streaming of the UT Rocket Radio Network broadcast on UTRockets.com.
• X/TWITTER:
@ToledoFB: Regular updates on UT Football, live updates on Game Day.
• TICKETS:
Online at UTRockets.com, by phone at 419-530-GOLD (4653).
Notes From the Launch Pad
• Toledo is 11-2, the second time in Jason Candle‘s eight years at Toledo that the Rockets have won 11 games (11-3 in 2017).
• Toledo went 8-0 in MAC play for the first time in school history. The Rockets are the first MAC school to go 8-0 since WMU had a perfect league slate in 2016.
• Toledo is the MAC West Division champion for the second straight year. It is Toledo’s 13th division crown, the most of any MAC school.
• The Rockets won 11 straight games for the first time since 1971.
• Toledo was ranked 23rd in the Associated Press college football poll on Nov. 19 and Nov. 26. It was Toledo’s first time in the Top 25 since 2015.
• Junior CB Quinyon Mitchell made second-team on four of the five major All-America teams; Associated Press, FWAA, AFCA, Sporting News.
• 10 Rockets earned first-team All-MAC honors, the most of any MAC school since Marshall had 13 in 1999.
• Jason Candle was named MAC Coach of the Year for the second time (2017).
• Toledo will be playing in its 21st bowl game and seventh under Candle.
• This will be Toledo third straight bowl appearance. The Rockets defeated Liberty, 21-19, in last year’s Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl.
• Toledo has an 12-8 bowl record going back to its very first appearance in the Tangerine Bowl in 1969.
• Toledo is 4-1 in bowl games vs. current Mountain West Conference teams, with wins over San Jose State (1981), UNLV (1984, by forfeit), Nevada (1995), and Air Force (2011), and a loss to Utah State (2012).
COURTESY TOLEDO ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
