Toledo Football: Can a new quarterback keep the offense rolling in 2018?
By Zach Bigalke
2018 Toledo Schedule and Predictions
| WEEK | DATE | SCHOOL | OPPONENT |
| 1 | Sep. 1, 2018 | Toledo | vs. FCS VMI |
| 2 | Sep. 8, 2018 | BYE | WEEK |
| 3 | Sep. 15, 2018 | Toledo | vs. Miami |
| 4 | Sep. 22, 2018 | Toledo | vs. Nevada |
| 5 | Sep. 29, 2018 | Toledo | @ Fresno State |
| 6 | Oct. 6, 2018 (THU) | Toledo | vs. Bowling Green |
| 7 | Oct. 13, 2018 | Toledo | @ Eastern Michigan |
| 8 | Oct. 20, 2018 | Toledo | vs. Buffalo |
| 9 | Oct. 25, 2018 (THU) | Toledo | @ Western Michigan |
| 10 | Oct. 31, 2018 (WED) | Toledo | vs. Ball State |
| 11 | Nov. 7, 2018 (WED) | Toledo | @ Northern Illinois |
| 12 | Nov. 15, 2018 (THU) | Toledo | @ Kent State |
| 13 | Nov. 23, 2018 (FRI) | Toledo | vs. Central Michigan |
Toledo’s schedule doesn’t provide a ton of Power Five tests this year, making their margin of error for landing the Group of Five bid into a major bowl as thin as it can be. The season opens with a visit from FCS VMI and then a bye week. Then the Miami Hurricanes come to the Glass Bowl to face the Rockets in the back half of the non-conference series.
If Toledo can take down the Hurricanes, it would fortify their case for a New Year’s Six invitation. But a lot of games also remain on the schedule, including a home tilt against Nevada and a trip to 2017 MWC West winner Fresno State. Get to the MAC schedule unbeaten, and there are still plenty of roadblocks on the path toward an unbeaten season.
The biggest tests in conference play will be the divisional battles on the road against Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, and Northern Illinois. That trio is best positioned to take down the Rockets in 2018.
What’s next for Toledo?
Toledo will use the VMI game effectively as a final scrimmage. Then they will have a fortnight to prepare for their biggest test of the season. The loftiest of goals in Toledo hinge entirely on taking down the Hurricanes in Miami. Win that game, and a New Year’s Six berth is possible to dream.
If they lose, it would have to be in a nailbiter where Miami scored late to survive and come back. Then Toledo would have to dominate every other game for the rest of the season to have any chance of featuring in the College Football Playoff Top 25.
Next: Preseason Top 25 following spring practices
Prediction: 10-3 (7-1 MAC)
Beating Miami is going to be a tall task for a Group of Five team as inexperienced as this Toledo squad. So too will be taking down a Fresno State team also hoping to earn national respect. And the Rockets are likely going to drop one of their road tests in conference play. There is probably enough talent to get Toledo back to the MAC championship game and to repeat as the kings of the league.