One program is in the process of undergoing changes, while the other just got to the mountaintop it had only reached twice in 18 seasons. Toledo — this year’s Mid-American Conference champion — and Liberty will converge in the Sunshine State to round out this go-round in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Recently in the postseason, the Flames are 3-0 since their jump from the FCS to the FBS in 2018. Meanwhile, the Rockets have fallen short in four consecutive bowl trips, dating back to 2016.
How We Got Here:
Toledo:
Steered by head coach Jason Candle, the Rockets are back in the first — and only — bowl game that their head coach has won with the program.
Toledo boasts the league’s best scoring offense (32.1 points per game) and stingiest defense (331.9 yards allowed per game), which propelled it to a win over Ohio in the MAC title matchup.
Liberty:
The Flames had enjoyed a sort of success not seen before under head coach Hugh Freeze, who recently departed to return to the Southeastern Conference to take over at Auburn.
Liberty got off to an 8-1 start, with its only loss to that point coming against Wake Forest by one point. Wins against Arkansas and BYU were dampened after a three-game skid to close out the regular season. Co-defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge will be at the helm for this one.
As mentioned earlier, the Flames have done well in bowl games. A win here would match Appalachian State’s mark of coming out on top in a bowl game in each of their first four years of eligibility.
Players to Watch:
Toledo:
DT Desjuan Johnson — Johnson paced the conference and graded out 12th in the country with 16.5 tackles for loss.
QB Dequan Finn — A talented dual-threat passer, Finn accounted for 30 total scores this year — the most in the MAC. He figures to be a big focal point for the opposing defense.
Liberty:
WR Demario Douglas — Defenses beware, Douglas is averaging over 100 all-purpose yards per outing in 2022.
DE Durrell Johnson — Johnson’s 22.5 tackles for loss are more than anybody else in the nation. The game-wrecker’s numbers earned him Second-Team Walter Camp All-America honors.
Score Prediction:
This promises to be a competitive clash between a pair of teams that both did well this fall. Because of their momentum, though, it’s hard not to go with the Rockets. Candle and Toledo win a close one. Toledo 28, Liberty 24.
About the author
A Western Pennsylvania native and Slippery Rock University graduate, I'm a staff writer for my local newspaper, the Butler Eagle. I've also done work with the Indoor Football League's Frisco Fighters and FanSided's Pittsburgh Steelers blog, Still Curtain. I'm a devoted Ohio State football fan as well as a Johnny Manziel apologist. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a football game as much as I did Justin Fields and the Buckeyes' win over Clemson in the 2021 Sugar Bowl.
