It’s difficult to find consistency in college football these days. With the transfer portal, sporadic coaching carousel, and never-ending rule changes, it can be a challenge to find stability in this great sport of college football. Toledo, Ohio, is an exception. In an unstable national landscape, fans in Northwest Ohio can rely on the fact that head coach Jason Candle and his Toledo Rockets team will always be near the top of the MAC. 

 

Entering his 9th full season as the head coach, Candle has embodied consistency, guiding the team to bowl eligibility each year and winning the MAC Championship in 2017 and 2022. A native Ohioan, his entire coaching career has existed within the confines of the Buckeye state (even though there have been plenty of opportunities to leave). A young, successful coach doesn’t typically hang around the Group of 5 for long, and it’s usually only a matter of time before they are poached. Smaller schools also face the challenge of retaining their developed talent, especially when a Power 4 school calls and has a stronger NIL pitch to make. This challenge has led numerous coaches to leave their head coaching posts to become coordinators at bigger schools as they themselves search for more stability. Remarkably, Toledo has been able to keep their staff largely intact. Their strong culture was proven last year when All-American corner and eventual NFL first round pick Quinyon Mitchell decided to stay for his final season rather than transfer. 

 

The consistency in culture and success on the field has Toledo listed not only as one of the favorites to win the MAC, but a dark horse College Football Playoff team. The expansion of the playoff to 12 teams (and a reserved spot for the Group of 5’s highest ranked conference champion) gives an opportunity for the Rockets to truly make a name for themselves nationally. Compared to other MAC schools, their non-conference schedule is manageable, but there’s an obvious obstacle in a trip to Starkville to play Mississippi State. However, the Bulldogs are rebuilding and expecting to finish near the bottom of the SEC, so if there was ever a good time for the Rockets to play them, it's now. A victory would still get the country’s attention and begin their campaign for the playoff in earnest. Conference play in the MAC is full of traps, but one slip up won’t necessarily end their biggest dreams. 

 

Their potential dream season began at home with a 49-10 victory over FCS Duquesne on Thursday night. A playoff team in the FCS subdivision, the Dukes certainly showed quality at times, but they were completely overwhelmed by the Rockets starting late in the 2nd quarter. Rocket quarterback Tucker Gleason showed his consistency, going 15-23 for 205 yards and 3 touchdown passes. More impressively, he marshaled an entirely new group of starters on the offensive line to a successful outing. There’s no lack of quality weapons for Gleason to wield with depth at both the running back and wide receiver positions. Jacquez Stewart and Willie Shaw III are poised to bear the brunt of the workload in the run game, and Jerjuan Newton certainly provides explosive speed on the outside that will be needed to alleviate the pressure when opponents stack the box. Perhaps the biggest concern coming into the season was replacing Mitchell at corner, but the experienced Toledo secondary suffocated the Duquesne passing attack, limiting them to only 161 yards for the game. Their opening performance should only further encourage those who believe this could be a special year.

 

There are so many unknowns in college football this season. With a brand new playoff format and chaotic rule changes, it can feel like the sport is aimless at times. Yet, there is still so much to love about this beautiful sport when looking at its roots. Those roots are consistently embodied in Northwest Ohio and the culture that exists within the Toledo football program. College football has always been unstable and messy, but as long as Jason Candle remains at the helm, don’t expect the Rockets to go anywhere but up.