# 2024 Toledo Rockets football team

The 2024 Toledo Rockets football team represented the University of Toledo in the Mid-American Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Rockets were led by Jason Candle in his ninth year as the head coach. The Rockets played home games at the Glass Bowl, located in Toledo, Ohio. In week 3, the Rockets pulled off a 41–17 upset victory over Mississippi State from the SEC with a payout of $1.2 million.

## Preseason
### Preseason polls
#### Coaches Poll

On July 19 the MAC announced the preseason coaches poll. Toledo was picked to finish second in the conference. They received two votes to win the MAC Championship.
MAC Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Miami | 119 (9) |
| 2 | Toledo | 109 (3) |
| T3 | Bowling Green | 92 |
| T3 | Northern Illinois | 92 |
| 5 | Ohio | 81 |
| 6 | Eastern Michigan | 64 |
| 7 | Western Michigan | 60 |
| 8 | Central Michigan | 59 |
| 9 | Ball State | 42 |
| 10 | Buffalo | 37 |
| 11 | Akron | 24 |
| 12 | Kent State | 13 |
Coaches poll (MAC Championship) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes |
| 1 | Miami | 10 |
| 2 | Toledo | 2 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 29 | 7:30 p.m. | Duquesne* | Glass BowlToledo, OH | ESPN+ | W 49–10 | 23,515 |
| September 7 | 3:30 p.m. | UMass* | Glass BowlToledo, OH | ESPN+ | W 38–23 | 21,668 |
| September 14 | 7:30 p.m. | at Mississippi State* | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | ESPNU | W 41–17 | 47,412 |
| September 21 | 7:00 p.m. | at Western Kentucky* | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | ESPN+ | L 21–26 | 19,127 |
| October 5 | 3:30 p.m. | Miami (OH) | Glass BowlToledo, OH | ESPN+ | W 30–20 | 25,027 |
| October 12 | 12:00 p.m. | at Buffalo | UB StadiumBuffalo, NY | ESPNU | L 15–30 | 13,996 |
| October 19 | 3:30 p.m. | at Northern Illinois | Huskie StadiumDeKalb, IL | ESPN+ | W 13–6 | 18,350 |
| October 26 | 3:30 p.m. | Bowling Green | Glass BowlToledo, OH (Battle of I-75) | ESPN+ | L 26–41 | 29,697 |
| November 2 | 12:00 p.m. | at Eastern Michigan | Rynearson StadiumYpsilanti, MI | ESPNU | W 29–28 | 13,044 |
| November 12 | 7:00 p.m. | Central Michigan | Glass BowlToledo, OH | ESPNU | W 37–10 | 14,661 |
| November 20 | 7:00 p.m. | Ohio | Glass BowlToledo, OH | ESPN2 | L 7–24 | 14,543 |
| November 26 | 7:00 p.m. | at Akron | InfoCision StadiumAkron, OH | ESPN2 | L 14–21 $^{OT}$ | 4,716 |
| December 26 | 2:00 p.m. | vs. Pittsburgh* | Ford FieldDetroit, MI (GameAbove Sports Bowl) | ESPN | W 48–46 $^{6OT}$ | 26,219 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### vs. Duquesne

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Dukes (FCS) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Rockets | 21 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
at Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH
* Date: August 29
* Game time: 7:30 PM
* Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C), Wind: 8 mph E, Sunny
* Game attendance: 23,515
* Referee: Aaron Adams
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play), Marcus Ray (analyst)
| Statistics | DUQ | TOL |
| First downs | 15 | 27 |
| Total yards | 284 | 446 |
| Rushing yards | 123 | 166 |
| Passing yards | 161 | 280 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–29–1 | 21–30–0 |
| Time of possession | 31:04 | 28:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Duquesne | Passing | Darius Perrantes | 15/26, 143 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Duquesne | Rushing | Taj Butts | 5 carries, 39 yards |
| Duquesne | Receiving | John Erby | 7 receptions, 69 yards |
| Toledo | Passing | Tucker Gleason | 15/24, 202 yards, 3 TD |
| Toledo | Rushing | Willie Shaw III | 7 carries, 50 yards, 1 TD |
| Toledo | Receiving | Jerjuan Newton | 5 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD |

### vs. UMass

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Minutemen | 0 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 23 |
| Rockets | 7 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
at Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH
* Date: September 7
* Game time: 7:30 PM
* Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), Wind: 10 mph NW, Cloudy
* Game attendance: 21,668
* Referee: Greg Sujack
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play), Je'Rod Cherry (analyst)
| Statistics | MASS | TOL |
| First downs | 23 | 12 |
| Total yards | 384 | 258 |
| Rushing yards | 125 | 83 |
| Passing yards | 259 | 175 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 26–40–1 | 8–23–0 |
| Time of possession | 44:21 | 15:39 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UMass | Passing | Taisun Phommachanh | 26/40, 259 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| UMass | Rushing | Taisun Phommachanh | 22 carries, 44 yards, 1 TD |
| UMass | Receiving | Jakobie Keeney-James | 6 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD |
| Toledo | Passing | Tucker Gleason | 8/23, 175 yards, 3 TD |
| Toledo | Rushing | Tucker Gleason | 3 carries, 34 yards |
| Toledo | Receiving | Junior Vandeross III | 3 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD |

### at Mississippi State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rockets | 7 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 41 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
at Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS
* Date: September 14
* Game time: 7:00 PM
* Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C), Wind: 3 mph NE, Sunny
* Game attendance: 47,412
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Jay Alter (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst)
| Statistics | TOL | MSST |
| First downs | 26 | 21 |
| Total yards | 454 | 385 |
| Rushing yards | 169 | 66 |
| Passing yards | 285 | 319 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23–28–0 | 28–39–1 |
| Time of possession | 37:04 | 22:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Toledo | Passing | Tucker Gleason | 23/28, 285 yards, 3 TD |
| Toledo | Rushing | Willie Shaw III | 16 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD |
| Toledo | Receiving | Junior Vandeross III | 7 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Blake Shapen | 28/39, 319 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Johnnie Daniels | 10 carries, 59 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Kevin Coleman Jr. | 7 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD |

### at Western Kentucky

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rockets | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Hilltoppers | 0 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 26 |
at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, KY
* Date: September 21
* Game time: 7:00 PM
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 19,127
* Referee: Rodney Burnette
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Jeff Hem (play-by-play) and Terry Obee (analyst)
| Statistics | TOL | WKU |
| First downs | 17 | 16 |
| Total yards | 325 | 313 |
| Rushing yards | 125 | 71 |
| Passing yards | 200 | 242 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19–33-2 | 20-30-2 |
| Time of possession | 34:19 | 25:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Toledo | Passing | Tucker Gleason | 19/33, 200 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Toledo | Rushing | Tucker Gleason | 12 carries, 46 yds, 1 TD |
| Toledo | Receiving | Jacquez Stuart | 3 receptions, 93 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Caden Veltkamp | 20/30, 242 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Elijah Young | 9 carries, 36 yds |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Kisean Johnson | 6 receptions, 73 yds, 1 TD |

### vs. Miami (OH)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| RedHawks | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| Rockets | 14 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 30 |
at Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH
* Date: October 5
* Game time: 3:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 71 °F (22 °C) • Wind: SE at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
* Game attendance: 25,027
* Referee: David Siegle
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play), and Marcus Ray (analyst)
| Statistics | M-OH | TOL |
| First downs | 18 | 25 |
| Total yards | 350 | 396 |
| Rushing yards | 54 | 78 |
| Passing yards | 296 | 318 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23–46–1 | 27–38–2 |
| Time of possession | 30:11 | 29:49 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Miami (OH) | Passing | Brett Gabbert | 23/46, 296 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Miami (OH) | Rushing | Keyon Mozee | 11 carries, 40 yards |
| Miami (OH) | Receiving | Javon Tracy | 10 receptions, 119 yards, 1 TD |
| Toledo | Passing | Tucker Gleason | 27/38, 318 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Toledo | Rushing | Connor Walendzak | 12 carries, 54 yards |
| Toledo | Receiving | Jerjuan Newton | 8 receptions, 127 yards, 1 TD |

### at Buffalo

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rockets | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| Bulls | 7 | 0 | 14 | 9 | 30 |
at UB Stadium, Amherst, New York
* Date: October 12
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C),Sunny
* Game attendance: 13,996
* Referee: Greg Sujack
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
| Statistics | TOL | UB |
| First downs | 21 | 19 |
| Plays–yards | 75–418 | 72–357 |
| Rushing yards | 46 | 230 |
| Passing yards | 372 | 127 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 30–49–0 | 11–20–0 |
| Time of possession | 26:08 | 33:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Toledo | Passing | John Richter | 16/23, 227 yards, 2 TD |
| Toledo | Rushing | Tucker Gleason | 6 carries, 20 yards |
| Toledo | Receiving | Jerjuan Newton | 7 receptions, 159 yards, 2 TD |
| Buffalo | Passing | CJ Ogbonna | 11/20, 127 yards, 1 TD |
| Buffalo | Rushing | Al-Jay Henderson | 18 carries, 142 yards |
| Buffalo | Receiving | JJ Jenkins | 2 receptions, 43 yards |

### at Northern Illinois

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rockets | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| Huskies | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Illinois
* Date: October 19
* Game time: 3:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: N 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)
* Game attendance: 18,350
* Referee: Rich Edwards
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (analyst)
| Statistics | TOL | NIU |
| First downs | 15 | 25 |
| Plays–yards | 65–285 | 92–391 |
| Rushing yards | 133 | 181 |
| Passing yards | 152 | 210 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–28–0 | 22–46–0 |
| Time of possession | 23:25 | 36:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Toledo | Passing | John Richter | 15/28, 152 yards, TD |
| Toledo | Rushing | Connor Walendzak | 19 carries, 78 yards |
| Toledo | Receiving | Jerjuan Newton | 3 receptions, 64 yards, TD |
| Northern Illinois | Passing | Josh Holst | 22/46, 210 yards |
| Northern Illinois | Rushing | Gavin Williams | 16 carries, 78 yards |
| Northern Illinois | Receiving | Cam Thompson | 5 receptions, 80 yards |

### vs. Bowling Green (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 14 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 41 |
| Rockets | 7 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 26 |
at Glass Bowl, Toledo, Ohio
* Date: October 26
* Game time: 3:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 58 °F (14 °C) • Wind: NW at 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)
* Game attendance: 29,697
* Referee: Matt Packowski
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Je'Rod Cherry (analyst)
| Statistics | BGSU | TOL |
| First downs | 23 | 23 |
| Plays–yards | 65–402 | 73–422 |
| Rushing yards | 37–215 | 28–102 |
| Passing yards | 187 | 320 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–28–0 | 30–45–2 |
| Time of possession | 32:29 | 27:31 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Bowling Green | Passing | Connor Bazelak | 17/27, 171 yards, 2 TD |
| Bowling Green | Rushing | Terion Stewart | 21 carries, 99 yards, TD |
| Bowling Green | Receiving | Harold Fannin Jr. | 6 receptions, 74 yards, TD |
| Toledo | Passing | Tucker Gleason | 30/45, 320 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Toledo | Rushing | Connor Walendzak | 15 carries, 58 yards |
| Toledo | Receiving | Jerjuan Newton | 9 receptions, 164 yards, 2 TD |

### at Eastern Michigan

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rockets | 0 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 29 |
| Eagles | 7 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 28 |
at Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, Michigan
* Date: November 2
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 49 °F (9 °C) • Wind: SE 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)
* Game attendance: 13,044
* Referee: Andrew Spaciale
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)
| Statistics | TOL | EMU |
| First downs | 16 | 24 |
| Plays–yards | 66–418 | 88–433 |
| Rushing yards | 167 | 168 |
| Passing yards | 251 | 265 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–34–1 | 24–46–1 |
| Time of possession | 24:32 | 35:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Toledo | Passing | Tucker Gleason | 18/34, 251 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Toledo | Rushing | Sevaughn Clark | 10 carries, 78 yards |
| Toledo | Receiving | Anthony Torres | 1 reception, 78 yards, TD |
| Eastern Michigan | Passing | Cole Snyder | 24/45, 265 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Eastern Michigan | Rushing | Cole Snyder | 12 carries, 65 yards |
| Eastern Michigan | Receiving | Oran Singleton | 8 receptions, 103 yards |

### vs. Central Michigan

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chippewas | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Rockets | 7 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 37 |
at Glass Bowl, Toledo, Ohio
* Date: November 12
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 42 °F (6 °C) • Wind: W 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h)
* Game attendance: 14,661
* Referee: Billy Williams
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)
| Statistics | CMU | TOL |
| First downs | 16 | 19 |
| Plays–yards | 64–236 | 61–299 |
| Rushing yards | 86 | 159 |
| Passing yards | 150 | 140 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–27–2 | 14–24–0 |
| Time of possession | 32:49 | 27:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Michigan | Passing | Jadyn Glasser | 16/27, 150 yards, 2 INT |
| Central Michigan | Rushing | Marion Lukes | 19 carries, 80 yards, TD |
| Central Michigan | Receiving | Chris Parker | 5 receptions, 52 yards |
| Toledo | Passing | Tucker Gleason | 13/23, 136 yards, TD |
| Toledo | Rushing | Tucker Gleason | 8 carries, 66 yards, 2 TD |
| Toledo | Receiving | Jerjuan Newton | 3 receptions, 40 yards |

### vs. Ohio

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bobcats | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 24 |
| Rockets | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Glass Bowl, Toledo, Ohio
* Date: November 20
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 42 °F (6 °C) • Wind: SW 8 mph
* Game attendance: 14,543
* Referee: Andrew Speciale (MAC)
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Clay Matvick (play-by-play) and Steve Addazio (analyst)
| Statistics | OHIO | TOL |
| First downs | 17 | 9 |
| Plays–yards | 73–367 | 51–212 |
| Rushing yards | 238 | 39 |
| Passing yards | 129 | 173 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 11–19–1 | 14–26–0 |
| Time of possession | 41:24 | 18:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ohio | Passing | Parker Navarro | 11/19, 129 yards, INT |
| Ohio | Rushing | Anthony Tyus III | 33 carries, 125 yards, TD |
| Ohio | Receiving | Caleb Gossett | 6 receptions, 86 yards |
| Toledo | Passing | Tucker Gleason | 9/17, 136 yards, TD |
| Toledo | Rushing | Willie Shaw III | 6 carries, 30 yards |
| Toledo | Receiving | Jerjuan Newton | 4 receptions, 45 yards |

### at Akron

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Rockets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Zips | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at InfoCision Stadium, Akron, Ohio
* Date: November 26
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 4,716
* Referee: Billy Williams
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)
| Statistics | TOL | AKR |
| First downs | 30 | 18 |
| Plays–yards | 86–465 | 57–328 |
| Rushing yards | 176 | 107 |
| Passing yards | 289 | 221 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 31–44–0 | 12–23–0 |
| Time of possession | 32:24 | 27:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Toledo | Passing | Tucker Gleason | 31/44, 289 yards, 2 TD |
| Toledo | Rushing | Connor Walendzak | 19 carries, 87 yards |
| Toledo | Receiving | Junior Vandeross III | 11 receptions, 84 yards |
| Akron | Passing | Ben Finley | 10/21, 194 yards, 2 TD |
| Akron | Rushing | Charles Kellom | 21 carries, 69 yards |
| Akron | Receiving | Ahmarian Granger | 2 receptions, 106 yards, TD |

### vs. Pittsburgh (GameAbove Sports Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | 3OT | 4OT | 5OT | 6OT | Total |
| Panthers | 2 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 46 |
| Rockets | 6 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 48 |
at Ford Field • Detroit, Michigan
* Date: Thursday, December 26, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Indoor
* Game attendance: 26,219
* Referee: Ron Hudson
* TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Schumacker (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst), and Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline)
| Statistics | PITT | TOL |
| First downs | 29 | 18 |
| Total yards | 438 | 416 |
| Rushing yards | 301 | 80 |
| Passing yards | 137 | 336 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–32–3 | 26–50–1 |
| Time of possession | 36:12 | 23:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Pittsburgh | Passing | Julian Dugger | 7/13, 72 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Pittsburgh | Rushing | Desmond Reid | 33 carries, 169 yards, TD |
| Pittsburgh | Receiving | Raphael Williams Jr. | 3 receptions, 36 yards, TD |
| Toledo | Passing | Tucker Gleason | 26/50, 336 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Toledo | Rushing | Jacquez Stuart | 7 carries, 39 yards |
| Toledo | Receiving | Junior Vandeross III | 12 receptions, 194 yards, TD |