2023 Toledo Rockets football team
American college football season
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] The Rockets drew an average home attendance of 19,675 in 2023.
Preseason
Preseason polls
Coaches Poll
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
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance 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 * ESPN+ W 21–17 20,039
September 23 1:30 p.m. Western Michigan ESPN+ W 49–31 19,068
September 30 3:30 p.m. Northern Illinois 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
7:30 p.m. Buffalo ESPN2 W 31–13 14,939
7:30 p.m. Eastern Michigan ESPN2 W 49–23 17,842
7:00 p.m. at Bowling Green ESPN2 W 32–31 20,590
12:00 p.m. at Central Michigan No. 23 ESPNU W 32–17 8,612
December 2 12:00 p.m. vs. Miami (OH) No. 23 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 HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
Rankings
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP RV — — — — — — — RV RV RV RV 23 23 RV RV Coaches RV — — — — — — — RV RV RV RV RV RV RV — CFP Not released — — — — — — Not 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
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:
References
^ "Jason Candle" . Toledo Athletics . Retrieved January 9, 2023 .
^ "Toledo football clinches MAC West title, punches ticket to conference championship game" . WTOL. November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023 .
^ "MAC Announces 2023 Postseason Football Awards & All-Conference Teams" . Mid-American Conference .
^ "Miami (Ohio) beats No. 23 Toledo 23-14 to win MAC championship" . CBS Sports. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023 .
^ Lev, Michael (December 3, 2023). "Toledo Rockets to face Wyoming Cowboys in 2023 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl" . tucson.com . Retrieved December 8, 2023 .
^ "Toledo Picked to Win Mid-American Conference Championship" . utrockets.com . University of Toledo Athletics. July 20, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023 .
^ "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 .
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . August 14, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . September 8, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . September 10, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . September 17, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . September 24, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . October 1, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . October 8, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . October 15, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . October 22, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . October 29, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . November 5, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . November 12, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . November 19, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . November 26, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . December 3, 2023.
^ "AP Top 25 College Football Poll" . AP News . January 9, 2024.
^ "US LBM Coaches Poll: January 9, 2024" . USA Today . January 9, 2024.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: August 7, 2023" . USA Today . August 7, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: September 5, 2023" . USA Today . September 5, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: September 10, 2023" . USA Today . September 10, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: September 17, 2023" . USA Today . September 17, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: September 24, 2023" . USA Today . September 24, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: October 1, 2023" . USA Today . October 1, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: October 8, 2023" . USA Today . October 8, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: October 15, 2023" . USA Today . October 15, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: October 22, 2023" . USA Today . October 22, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: October 29, 2023" . USA Today . October 29, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: November 5, 2023" . USA Today . November 5, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: November 12, 2023" . USA Today . November 12, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: November 19, 2023" . USA Today . November 19, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: November 26, 2023" . USA Today . November 26, 2023.
^ "Amway Coaches Poll: December 3, 2023" . USA Today . December 3, 2023.
^ "Rankings: 2023 Week 9" . College Football Playoff . October 31, 2023.
^ "Rankings: 2023 Week 10" . College Football Playoff . November 7, 2023.
^ "Rankings: 2023 Week 11" . College Football Playoff . November 14, 2023.
^ "Rankings: 2023 Week 12" . College Football Playoff . November 21, 2023.
^ "Rankings: 2023 Week 13" . College Football Playoff . November 28, 2023.
^ "Rankings: 2023 Week 134" . College Football Playoff . December 3, 2023.
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons