The biggest game of the year is nearly here. The Battle of I-75 is back on the gridiron on Saturday at noon at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. 

These two teams clash on the football field for the 90th time in both programs’ history. 

Falcon Media Sports Network’s Sean Connelly, Tyler Kavalecz and Lucas Kleimeyer will have the call of the game on Falcon Radio, streaming on bgfalconmedia.com, at noon. Meanwhile, Nate Hinners and Adam Duffin will be on the pregame show on Falcon Radio, starting at 11:40 a.m.

There will be additional content from Falcon Media Sports Network about the rivalry game on bgfalconmedia.com and @BG_FMSN on Twitter/X.

The Rockets enter the game with a 3-2 overall record and a 1-1 Mid-American Conference (MAC) record, while the Falcons enter at 2-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play. 

Both teams are coming off a bye, so both squads will be fully rested and ready to go come noon on Saturday morning. 

“Thrilled to compete against that team up north,” Mike and Jan Wilcox Head Football Coach Eddie George said. “Really feel good about where our guys are right now coming off the bye week.” 

Toledo head coach Jason Candle shares the same mindset with an extra week of preparation.

“The minute the homecoming game ended there, and we start to turn our focus for two straight weeks on the team down south,” Candle said.

Think this rivalry is intense? 

Both head coaches refuse to even mention the opposing squad’s name. Instead, referring to Toledo as “the team up north” and Bowling Green as “the team down south”. 

It’s what makes college football rivalries the best. 

This rivalry always means a little more, not just to the teams, but to the communities, and both head coaches know that. 

“I think it’s important for them to understand what they’re walking into. What it means to this university, what it means to this community,” said George. “Because of the close proximity, 20, 25 miles, 26 miles up the road, you typically recruit the same type of players; it’s bragging rights.” 

Candle preaches much of the same. 

“Massive game for both communities. One, it means so much to Northwest Ohio in so many ways, both schools,” Candle said. “This goes back a long time before any of us walked the halls of this building or anybody walked the halls of that building down the street down there.” 

Matchup History

This series is as even as it gets, as Toledo holds the 42-41-1 lead over Bowling Green in the rivalry’s history. 

However, the Battle of I-75 trophy has resided in Bowling Green since Oct. 26, 2024, as the Falcons are coming off a 41-26 victory at the Glass Bowl over the Rockets. 

An interesting fact about the more recent renditions of this game is that the home team with fans hasn’t won this game since 2019, when BG defeated UT 20-7. The Rockets in 2020 did win on their own turf, but no fans were allowed in stadiums. 

So, since 2021, history tells us that the away team has the edge in this matchup. 

Scouting Bowling Green

The Falcons return for the first time in nearly a month, as their last home game was on Sept. 13, where Bowling Green defeated Liberty 23-13 in a Homecoming win. 

So, the Falcons are ready and juiced up to play at the Doyt again. 

“Having that home-field advantage is huge. When you can have a packed house and you can have the energy, especially the more orange and brown, the better. We feed off of that. I think that’s a huge advantage for us,” said George. “This being the biggest game on our schedule, certainly for this community.” 

With over 50 new players on this roster from a year ago, not many are too familiar with how intense this game truly gets. Even George is new to this game. 

“You know, a lot of these guys haven’t played in this game last year,” said George. “There’s a sprinkle here or there, some coaches that have coached in it, and I told my staff last week, I think it’s important for them to understand what they’re walking into.”

This is a Bowling Green team that is coming off a 35-20 loss to Ohio University to open up conference play. 

A game where Drew Pyne had his worst statistical game yet this season. Pyne went 19-29 for 170 yards, with just one touchdown and three interceptions. 

Pyne dealt with some injury problems throughout the game, as he left the game a handful of times, but is presumed to be good to go on Saturday. 

“We’ve seen the mistakes that he’s made. There have been some catastrophic turnovers, but that happens in the game of football. You look at last week or two weeks ago, tip ball goes back six. That’s a fluke,” said George. “I think he’s learned a lesson from that he’s gotta make better decisions, and that’s fine. So I think for the most part, he shows flashes of what he can be; he just has to be more consistent making the best plays.” 

Bowling Green comes into this matchup around the middle of the pack when it comes to within the conference, as they rank seventh in offense and sixth in defense in the MAC. 

Scouting Toledo

Many believed the Rockets were a preseason contender, even being picked first in the preseason poll. 

But an early-season, shocking loss to Western Michigan had a lot of MAC fans scratching their heads. Then again, this is MACtion. 

The Rockets rebounded after the WMU loss and defeated Akron pretty handily at home, 45-3, the following week. 

So, any signs of a potential failure were quickly dismissed. 

Through five games, the Rockets are atop the MAC in total offense and touchdowns scored with 23 thus far. 

The offense is led by senior quarterback Tucker Gleason. Gleason is having an impressive start to his senior year campaign, as he’s thrown for over 920 yards, with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. 

Gleason was the starting quarterback a year ago against Bowling Green, when he went 30-45 on pass attempts for 320 yards, throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions. 

Two weapons he has with him? Both lead the conference in total touchdowns, with running back Chip Trayanum at seven and wide receiver Junior Vandeross lll with six. 

Both will be threats for the Falcons’ defense come Saturday afternoon. 

In terms of defense? 

There’s a reason why Toledo was picked to win the conference to begin the season, as the Rockets’ defense ranks first in the MAC and is the only team in the conference that is still in the single digits for touchdowns allowed all year.  

This is also a defense that ranks sixth in the country in total defense. 

Falcon Four Players to Watch

Trayanum (Toledo No. 1)

The senior running back from Akron, Ohio, has been a lethal weapon for the Rockets this season, after spending the past five seasons at Arizona State, Ohio State and Kentucky.

Trayanum has rushed for 476 yards in five games, leading the MAC with 95.2 yards per game and six rushing touchdowns. He has rushed for over 100 yards two times this year.

Vandeross (Toledo No. 2)

Vandeross is another big weapon for Gleason and the Toledo air attack.

After a First Team All-MAC selection last season, Vandeross has 31 receptions for 380 yards and six touchdowns this year. 

The Tampa, Florida, native has recorded a reception in 32 straight games. Last season, he thrashed the Falcons with 11 catches for 106 yards.

Gideon Lampron (Bowling Green No. 4)

Lampron has stepped up for the Bowling Green defense in the absence of sophomore linebacker Dorian Pringle, who is out for the season with a torn ACL, stepping into the middle linebacker role.

The junior, who played the past three seasons at Dayton, has recorded double-digit tackles in back-to-back games and leads the Falcons with 44 tackles, also tallying 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Cameron Pettaway (Bowling Green No. 26)

The redshirt freshman running back and kick returner has been electric for the Orange and Brown.

Pettaway leads the country with 37.3 yards per kick return this season.

Additionally, he has rushed for nearly 200 yards in five games, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.