This is a new era for Toledo football, but the high expectations aren’t going away.
After 10 seasons and two MAC titles, Jason Candle has departed for the head coaching job at UConn. Candle was 81-44 and never had a losing season. In fact, the Rockets’ last losing season was in 2009. Toledo went 8-5 last year.
Replacing Candle is a coach with a winning pedigree albeit at levels below the FBS. Mike Jacobs, known for his innovative offenses, arrives at Toledo with a 94-23 record while coaching at Division II Notre Dame College, Division II Lenoir-Rhyne and the past two seasons at FCS Mercer. He went 20-6 at Mercer with two SoCon championships and two NCAA appearances.
Even with a new staff and many new faces, Toledo is in its accustomed preseason position of being a serious MAC contender.
Toledo Season Preview
Jacobs brought many players with him from Mercer. How those players and the other transfers jell will be a key.
Key Players To Replace
Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren was a second-round NFL Draft choice of the Cleveland Browns. He had 77 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups in earning first-team All-MAC honors. Another first-team All-MAC selection was cornerback Andre Fuller, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Quarterback Tucker Gleason, who spent his first college season at Georgia Tech before playing the final five years at Toledo, is out of eligibility. Last season, he earned third-team All-MAC honors and completed 65% of his passes for 2,515 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He appeared in 50 career games at Toledo with 27 starts.
Kalieb Osborne, who last season threw for 427 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 282 yards and two touchdowns, transferred to UConn.
Chip Trayanum was a first-team All-MAC selection after rushing for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets.
Receiver Junior Vandeross III had 82 receptions for 1,008 yards and 11 touchdowns. He used up his eligibility.
The Quarterback Situation
John Alan Richter has patiently waited his turn, and he is the projected starter. This is Richter’s fifth season at Toledo, but he played just one game over his first two years. Richter appeared in five games in 2024 and last year played in three before suffering a season-ending injury against Akron. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Richter completed 17 of 25 passes for 153 yards, three touchdowns and one interception last year.
Projected backup Khamoni Robinson has more experience than Richter. He spent the last three seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne, where he was recruited by Jacobs, who coached him his freshman season before departing for Mercer. During his first two years, Robinson played eight games and attempted just 12 passes in a reserve role, but last season he completed 177 of 277 passes for 2,391 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for 325 yards and nine touchdowns.
If Robinson doesn’t start, he would be among the better backup quarterbacks in the MAC.
Key Returning Players
Stephen Gales, who made 11 starts last year on the offensive line, is the projected starter at left tackle. Ibrahim Traore appeared in 11 games on the offensive line, with four starts. Jonathan Harder appeared in all 13 games on the offensive line with two starts.
Receiver Bryson Hammer was second-team All-MAC as a punt returner, averaging 12.1 yards on 30 returns. He also averaged 32.3 yards on three kickoff returns.
Linebacker Langston Long appeared in 12 games with four starts and recorded 35 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss.
Emilio Duran averaged 40.6 yards on 60 punts.
Key Newcomers
Running back CJ Miller rushed for 957 yards and 14 touchdowns last year at Mercer.
Wide receiver Adjatay Dabbs had 45 receptions for 856 yards and eight touchdowns last season at Mercer.
Luke Rector is a transfer from Gardner-Webb who will be vying for the starting center spot. Ahmad Carwise, who appeared in nine games for Gardner-Webb last year, will challenge for a starting offensive guard spot. Nick Thomas, who played 10 games at offensive tackle for Rhode Island last year, is another player who will challenge for playing time on the offensive line.
Reice Griffith, who converted 40 of 52 field goals in three seasons at Mercer, is expected to handle the placekicking duties.
Defensive end Andrew Zock won the Buck Buchanan Award as the best FCS defensive player last season. He had 20 tackles for loss, including 11.5 sacks and a school-record 23 quarterback hurries.
Safety Armorion Smith started seven games last year for Michigan State. He had 35 tackles, one interception and two pass breakups.
Kaleb Hutchinson recorded 66 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups last year at Mercer. He could play nickel or safety.
Safety Donovan Watkins had 34 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions last year at Mercer. Linebacker Julian Fox recorded 85 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss and two sacks last season at Mercer. Cornerback Cam Jones was a first-team All-Patriot selection last year at Holy Cross after recording 56 tackles, eight pass breakups and one interception.
Toledo’s 2026 Schedule
- 9/4 at Michigan State
- 9/12 vs. Central Connecticut State
- 9/19 vs. Temple
- 9/26 vs. San Diego State
- 10/3 at Ball State
- 10/10 vs. Buffalo
- 10/17 at Eastern Michigan
- 10/24 vs. Western Michigan
- 11/4 at Sacramento State
- 11/11 vs. UMass
- 11/20 vs. Bowling Green
- 11/27 at Ohio
Bold indicates MAC contests
Toledo’s MAC Title Betting Odds
Toledo’s college football betting odds to win the conference are +400, via BetMGM. Those are the third-best odds in the 13-team MAC.
Toledo’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- Toledo’s win total Over/Under is 7.5
- The Under is at +100
- The Over is at -130
Toledo Season Prediction
I like the Rockets to go Over 7.5 wins.
The non-conference schedule is deceptively tough. The Rockets, who have seven home games, open on Friday night Sept 4 in a nationally televised game at Michigan State (where they will have a chance but will be an underdog).
After facing Central Connecticut State, there are two other home non-conference games against Temple, which appears improved after winning five games last year, and San Diego State, which is considered a contender in the Pac-12.
Even if the Rockets go 2-2 in the non-conference schedule (and 3-1 isn’t impossible), they have the ability to win six of their eight MAC games.
The toughest conference game will be at home against preseason favorite Western Michigan. Finishing the year at Ohio could be challenging as well.
There are a lot of new faces, but with Jacobs’ track record, Toledo should continue its winning ways.
