Toledo opens the 2024 season with many new faces on the roster, but that doesn’t change the expectations for head coach Jason Candle’s team.
The Rockets open their 2024 season on Thursday, Aug. 29, against Duquesne at Glass Bowl Stadium with “The Biggest Party in Toledo” (7:30 p.m./ESPN+). A nearly sold-out stadium is expected, with pregame festivities including live music, a beer garden, a 180th Fighter Wing flyover and more.
Toledo has six All-MAC players returning from last year’s 11-3 team, including first-team wide receiver Jerjuan Newton.
Toledo, which was voted second in the Mid-American Conference in the league’s preseason coaches poll, has six All-MAC players back from last season’s 11-3 team. Those returnees include starters Jerjuan Newton (WR), Jacquez Stuart (KR) and Maxen Hook (S). Also back are tight end Anthony Torres (second team), kicker Luke Pawlak (third team) and defensive tackle Darius Alexander (third team).
In addition, Toledo has an experienced quarterback in junior Tucker Gleason and a roster full of highly regarded young players just waiting for their chance to prove themselves.
The Rockets are looking to improve on a team that has posted impressive 20-8 records over the past two seasons, including two MAC Championship Game appearances, including a MAC title in 2022, and bowl appearances in each of the past three seasons.
Duquesne, an NCAA FCS opponent, had a 7-5 record in 2023 and won a Northeast Conference (NEC) title with a league record of 6-1 before losing to Youngstown State in the first round of the FCS playoffs. Senior quarterback Darius Perrantes returns after being named to the first team All-Conference in 2023. Perrantes, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award (FCS National Offensive Player of the Year), threw for 2,324 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.
