2023 Toledo Rockets football team

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2023 Toledo Rockets football
MAC West Division champion
Arizona Bowl, L 15–16 vs. Wyoming
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionWest Division
Ranking
APNo. 23
Record11–3 (8–0 MAC)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorMike Hallett (4th season)
Co-offensive coordinatorRobert Weiner (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorVince Kehres (4th season)
Co-defensive coordinatorRoss Watson (4th season)
Co-defensive coordinatorCraig Kuligowski (4th season)
Home stadiumGlass Bowl
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
Miami (OH) xy$   7 1     11 3  
Ohio   6 2     10 3  
Bowling Green   5 3     7 6  
Buffalo   3 5     3 9  
Akron   1 7     2 10  
Kent State   0 8     1 11  
West Division
Toledo xy   8 0     11 3  
Northern Illinois   5 3     7 6  
Eastern Michigan   4 4     6 7  
Central Michigan   3 5     5 7  
Ball State   3 5     4 8  
Western Michigan   3 5     4 8  
Championship: Miami (OH) 23, Toledo 14
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

The 2023 Toledo Rockets football team represented the University of Toledo during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Rockets were led by eighth-year head coach Jason Candle and played their home games at the Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio.[1] They competed as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Rockets won the West with a perfect conference record.[2] Their quarterback Dequan Finn won Player of the Year and coach Jason Candle won coach of the year.[3] Miami defeated them in the MAC Championship Game with a 23–14 upset victory.[4] They played Wyoming in the Arizona Bowl, where they lost 15–16. [5]

Preseason[edit]

Preseason polls[edit]

Coaches Poll[edit]

On July 20, the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Toledo was picked to finish first in the West. They received seven votes to win conference.[6][7]

East
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Ohio 63 (9)
2 Miami 52 (2)
3 Buffalo 51 (1)
4 Bowling Green 35
5 Akron 26
6 Kent State 19
West
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Toledo 66 (11)
2 Eastern Michigan 55 (1)
3 Northern Illinois 38
4 Central Michigan 37
5 Ball State 27
6 Western Michigan 23
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
Rank Team Votes
1 Toledo 7
2 Ohio 4
3 Buffalo 1

Schedule[edit]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 2 7:30 p.m. at Illinois* BTN L 28–3048,898
September 9 3:30 p.m. Texas Southern* ESPN+ W 71–3 22,742
September 16 7:00 p.m. San Jose State*
  • Glass Bowl
  • Toledo, OH
ESPN+ W 21–17 20,039
September 23 1:30 p.m. Western Michigan
  • Glass Bowl
  • Toledo, OH
ESPN+ W 49–31 19,068
September 30 3:30 p.m. Northern Illinoisdagger
  • Glass Bowl
  • Toledo, OH
ESPNU W 35–33 19,068
October 7 12:00 p.m. at UMass* ESPNU W 41–24 9,623
October 14 2:00 p.m. at Ball State ESPN+ W 13–67,673
October 21 4:00 p.m. at Miami (OH) ESPNU W 21–17 17,321
October 31 7:30 p.m. Buffalo
  • Glass Bowl
  • Toledo, OH
ESPN2 W 31–13 14,939
November 8 7:30 p.m. Eastern Michigan
  • Glass Bowl
  • Toledo, OH
ESPN2 W 49–23 17,842
November 14 7:00 p.m. at Bowling Green ESPN2 W 32–31 20,590
November 24 12:00 p.m. at Central Michigan ESPNU W 32–17 8,612
December 2 12:00 p.m. vs. Miami (OH) ESPN L 14–23 20,200
December 30 4:30 p.m. vs. Wyoming The CW/Barstool Sports L 15–16 30,428
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Rankings[edit]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRVRVRV2323RVRV
CoachesRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV
CFPNot releasedNot released

Source: AP -[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

Coaches -[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]

CFP -[40][41][42][43][44][45]

NFL Draft[edit]

The NFL draft was held at Campus Martius Park in Detroit, Michigan, on April 25–27, 2024. Additionally Chris McDonald, Dallas Gant, Judge Culpepper, and David Nwaogwugwu were signed as undrafted free agents.

Rockets who were picked in the 2024 NFL Draft:

Round Pick Player Position NFL Team
1 22 Quinyon Mitchell CB Philadelphia Eagles

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Jason Candle". Toledo Athletics. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  2. ^ "Toledo football clinches MAC West title, punches ticket to conference championship game". WTOL. November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  3. ^ "MAC Announces 2023 Postseason Football Awards & All-Conference Teams". Mid-American Conference.
  4. ^ "Miami (Ohio) beats No. 23 Toledo 23-14 to win MAC championship". CBS Sports. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  5. ^ Lev, Michael (December 3, 2023). "Toledo Rockets to face Wyoming Cowboys in 2023 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl". tucson.com. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "Toledo Picked to Win Mid-American Conference Championship". utrockets.com. University of Toledo Athletics. July 20, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  7. ^ "MAC football preseason poll: Toledo picked to win conference championship; BGSU tabbed to finish fourth in MAC East". wtol.com. WTOL 11. July 20, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  8. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. August 14, 2023.
  9. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. September 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. September 10, 2023.
  11. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. September 17, 2023.
  12. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. September 24, 2023.
  13. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. October 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. October 8, 2023.
  15. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. October 15, 2023.
  16. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. October 22, 2023.
  17. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. October 29, 2023.
  18. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. November 5, 2023.
  19. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. November 12, 2023.
  20. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. November 19, 2023.
  21. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. November 26, 2023.
  22. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. December 3, 2023.
  23. ^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll". AP News. January 9, 2024.
  24. ^ "US LBM Coaches Poll: January 9, 2024". USA Today. January 9, 2024.
  25. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: August 7, 2023". USA Today. August 7, 2023.
  26. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: September 5, 2023". USA Today. September 5, 2023.
  27. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: September 10, 2023". USA Today. September 10, 2023.
  28. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: September 17, 2023". USA Today. September 17, 2023.
  29. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: September 24, 2023". USA Today. September 24, 2023.
  30. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: October 1, 2023". USA Today. October 1, 2023.
  31. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: October 8, 2023". USA Today. October 8, 2023.
  32. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: October 15, 2023". USA Today. October 15, 2023.
  33. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: October 22, 2023". USA Today. October 22, 2023.
  34. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: October 29, 2023". USA Today. October 29, 2023.
  35. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: November 5, 2023". USA Today. November 5, 2023.
  36. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: November 12, 2023". USA Today. November 12, 2023.
  37. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: November 19, 2023". USA Today. November 19, 2023.
  38. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: November 26, 2023". USA Today. November 26, 2023.
  39. ^ "Amway Coaches Poll: December 3, 2023". USA Today. December 3, 2023.
  40. ^ "Rankings: 2023 Week 9". College Football Playoff. October 31, 2023.
  41. ^ "Rankings: 2023 Week 10". College Football Playoff. November 7, 2023.
  42. ^ "Rankings: 2023 Week 11". College Football Playoff. November 14, 2023.
  43. ^ "Rankings: 2023 Week 12". College Football Playoff. November 21, 2023.
  44. ^ "Rankings: 2023 Week 13". College Football Playoff. November 28, 2023.
  45. ^ "Rankings: 2023 Week 134". College Football Playoff. December 3, 2023.