Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, October 18 at 2:00 p.m. ET
- Network: ESPN+
- Location: Glass Bowl — Toledo, OH
- Spread: Toledo (-24.5)
- Over/under: 50.5
- All-time series: Toledo leads, 28-22
- Last meeting: Toledo 52, Kent State 31 — October 15, 2022
- Current streak: Toledo, 6 (2010-22)
Setting the scene
Two Ohio-based schools with somewhat similar color schemes clash at the Glass Bowl.
Toledo and Kent State started the year on exact opposite sides of the preseason coaches’ poll, but the two are neck-and-neck
in the conference standings. In fact, Kent State actually passed Toledo last week as the Golden Flashes improved to 1-1 after annihilating UMass while the Rockets stunningly dropped to 1-2 after squandering a 21-0 lead at Bowling Green.
Toledo still enters as the heavy favorite, looking to rebound and correct its mistakes. On the other side, Kent State hopes the momentum of last week’s long-awaited MAC win changes the entire program trajectory.
Kent State Golden Flashes outlook
Kent State (2-4, 1-1 MAC) experienced the most relieving victory last Saturday. The Golden Flashes snapped a 26-game losing streak to FBS competition — a skid that lasted 1,050 days dating back to the 2022 regular season finale. Kent State didn’t just defeat UMass. The Golden Flashes annihilated the Minutemen 42-6, demonstrating excellent execution on offense, defense, and special teams to finally appear in the win column of the MAC standings.
The distance Kent State traveled from 2024 to 2025 is substantial, even if a 2-4 record doesn’t tell the entire story. The Golden Flashes finally did to an opponent what nearly every opponent did to Kent State a year ago. However, the journey back to MAC contention is far from complete. Kent State must learn to win on the road, which hasn’t been done since November 2022. The Golden Flashes were outscored 172-24 in three road contests this year, although the opponents were Texas Tech, Florida State, and Oklahoma.
October has been an overall positive for the defense, however. To usher in the month, the Golden Flashes limited Oklahoma to 355 yards for their lowest output allowed since October 2023. Kent State then one-upped itself against UMass, limiting the Minutemen to 271 yards including 44 on the ground. The Golden Flashes are flying to the ball much better sideline-to-sideline, and the unit is creating enough takeaways to the point they’re only at a -1 in turnover margin — when they were a -9 a year ago.
Mason Woods and CJ Young form a linebacking duo which endured the struggles in 2024, and now they’re reaping the benefits. They rank first and second on the team in tackles and combine for eight tackles for loss and two sacks. A revamped transfer portal defensive line is certainly helping the linebackers, and FCS Southern Illinois transfer Jamond Mathis is guiding the way with a team-best 3.0 sacks.
Kent State’s offense rebounded nicely from the shutout at Oklahoma by piling 42 points on UMass. The return of starting quarterback Dru DeShields certainly helped, and DeShields is taking exceptional care of the ball. The redshirt freshman has nine passing touchdowns compared to one interception, and he’s posted that stat-line while leading a boom or bust offense that hunts for significant gains.
The Golden Flashes are no stranger to the deep ball. The team’s top three receivers Cade Wolford, Da’Shawn Martin, and Ardell Banks average 24.2, 17.5, and 21.7 yards, respectively, demonstrating how often DeShields fixates his eyes downfield. That trio is responsible for seven of Kent State’s 10 receiving touchdowns this year, and all three are capable of burning one-on-one coverage on streaks or posts — although Toledo’s vaunted passing defense won’t be easy to shake. Another receiver Toledo must be wary of is Da’Realyst Clark, who mainly excels as a kick returner. Clark housed his second return of the year on the opening kickoff vs. UMass.
One other positive development for Kent State in the UMass game was the acceleration of the run game. Running the ball has been an immense struggle for the Golden Flashes which rank fourth-to-last in the FBS in rushing production (85.7 yards per game) and third-to-last in yards per carry (2.4). The duo of Gavin Garcia and Jordan Nubin collectively amassed 151 yards on 26 rushes a week ago, and Kent State must keep the legs churning in the backfield to have a shot on this Toledo defense.
Toledo Rockets outlook
Toledo (3-3, 1-2 MAC) does not handle losing well. When the Rockets lose, they often right the ship immediately in dominant fashion. Since the start of 2023, Toledo has 11 losses yet has only dropped consecutive games twice — never losing more than two in a row. This year, Toledo is 2-0 fresh off defeats, pounding Western Kentucky 45-21 and Akron 45-3.
So after taking a stunning upset to arch rival Bowling Green after building a 21-0 lead, the Rockets are ready to unleash all the frustration from last Saturday. However, a concerning trend reared its head again in that Battle of I-75 rivalry loss. In its first conference loss, Toledo led Western Michigan 13-0 until the late third quarter, and last Saturday, led Bowling Green 21-0 until the late second quarter — showing the Rockets are great at starting games but struggle to generate stops and points in crunch time.
But Toledo is back in the Glass Bowl where it is 3-0, outscoring opponents 150-24 on the season. After failing to notch an offensive point in the second half last week, Toledo hopes to continue its home scoring rampage through quarterback Tucker Gleason, who has been nearly immaculate at home. Gleason has six passing touchdowns, zero interceptions, and hasn’t taken a sack in the Glass Bowl, completing 75 percent of attempts inside the venue. He still seeks his first game over 270 yards in 2025, and he is certainly capable — firing for 285+ in five of 12 starts in 2025.
The Rockets are equipped with a future First Team All-MAC selection in Junior Vandeross III who ranks atop the conference in receptions (37), third in yards (480), and first in touchdowns (6). The 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl MVP is fresh off his third 100-yard outing of 2025, and he faces a favorable matchup against the nation’s 121st-ranked passing defense. Vandeross has more than double the receptions of any other Rocket, but Trayvon Rudolph and tight end Jacob Petersen are the other targets Gleason occasionally involves.
The run game is the more consistent facet of the offense this year, as Toledo ranks 26th nationally in rushing average and collects over five yards per carry. Chip Trayanum is handling the lead back role exceptionally well. The journeyman sixth-year senior rides a 5-game streak of scoring a touchdown and has hit 125+ rushing yards three times during that stretch.
Toledo’s offense shuts down at times, but the defense has been consistently excellent — even in the three losses. The Rockets surrender the third-fewest yards per game in the FBS at 224 — boasting ranks of 4th in passing defense, 13th in rushing defense, and 13th in scoring defense. There’s NFL potential scattered throughout the unit, most notably in the defensive backfield. Free safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is one name to watch, accruing 32 tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a pick-six in a well-rounded start to 2025. The corners Avery Smith and Jaden Fuller are other standouts, combining for 11 pass breakups in an elite aerial defense.
Toledo also invades backfields exceptionally well, and outside linebacker K’Von Sherman leads that charge with 38 tackles and a team-best seven tackles for loss. That pressure positively correlates with Toledo’s ability to manufacture turnovers, and the Rockets have forced seven fumbles and logged 10 takeaways in a havoc-inducing season.
Prediction
Toledo’s home success and past responses to a loss, combined with Kent State’s road struggles, make all signs point to a Rocket blowout. Toledo knows it’s far better than its 3-3 record suggests, and improvement starts with producing more explosive plays offensively. Running back Chip Trayanum and wide receiver Junior Vandeross III will lead the charge as the Rockets regain steam on that side of the ball.
Defense has never been a concern for Toledo all year, and it will remain that way when Kent State pays a visit to the Glass Bowl on Saturday afternoon.
Prediction: Toledo 42, Kent State 10
