Despite a MAC Championship loss, the Toledo Rockets have an opportunity to finish its season on a high note with a matchup with Wyoming.
The 2023 MAC runner-ups know where they will be suiting up for their next matchup, accepting an invitation on Sunday afternoon to the Arizona Bowl.
The Toledo Rockets (11-2, 8-0 MAC) will face off against the Wyoming Cowboys (8-4, 5-3 MWC) from the Mountain West Conference. The news was first reported by Brett McMurphy of The Action Network and later confirmed by the Mid-American Conference.
This is the first appearance in the Arizona Bowl for the Rockets.
Toledo and Wyoming have faced off just twice prior with both teams winning once before. The last time these two faced off was in 2012 where Toledo won, 34-31.
The team is seemingly reeling after a less-than-stellar end-of-season performance in the MAC Football Championship. They come into this matchup riding a strong defense to go with a MAC-best 14 All-MAC selections and some great QB play by MAC MVP Dequan Finn and MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Peny Boone.
Toledo earns a bowl bid in its third consecutive season and sixth under Candle.
Wyoming is one of four Mountain West teams with at least eight wins. They started off hot, winning five of their first six games but split the final six. They have a dynamic quarterback in Andrew Peasley and his 2,226 scrimmage yards and 27 total touchdowns. He led the team with seven rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, Wyoming has been prone to giving up major yardage. They allowed at least 400 yards five times and averaged over 360 yards per game. Linebacker Easton Gibbs will be a name to watch as he comes into this game with 106 tackles, four TFLs, two sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and an interception.
The 2023 Arizona Bowl will kick off at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, December 30th, and will be nationally broadcast on The CW Network.