05/21/2026
Hereβs the full breakdown of the Toledo Rockets 2026 football schedule β itβs a big one with that Big Ten opener and a rare 7-game home slate at the Glass Bowl.
2026 Toledo Rockets Football Schedule
Non-Conference
β’ Friday, Sept 4 β at Michigan State
Originally set for Sept 5, it got bumped to Friday night in East Lansing. First meeting since 1925, when MSU won 58-0. Big test for first-year head coach Mike Jacobs. β’
Sept 12 β Central Connecticut State β Home opener, dubbed βThe Biggest Party in Toledoβ β’
Sept 19 β Temple β Glass Bowl. This kicks off a new home-and-home series vs. the Owls. Toledo leads all-time 8-3, last played in the 2015 Boca Raton Bowl, 32-17 Rockets win. Temple returns to Philly for the 2032 game. β’
Sept 26 β San Diego State β Third straight home game to close September
MAC Play
Oct 3 β at Ball State β MAC opener
Oct 10 β Buffalo β Homecoming at the Glass Bowl β’
Oct 17 β at Eastern Michigan β’
Oct 24 β Western Michigan β Home β’ Wed,
Nov 4 β at Sacramento State β West coast trip for some MACtion exposure β’
Wed, Nov 11 β UMass β Home, mid-week MACtion
Wed, Nov 18 β Bowling Green β Battle of I-75, final home game β’ Fri,
Nov 27 β at Ohio β Regular season finale
Key Notes for 2026 β’ Seven home games: First time since 2018, only the third time ever. Glass Bowl takeover indeed. β’ Michigan State opener: Toledo is 6-17 all-time vs. Big Ten teams. This is a measuring-stick game early in the Mike Jacobs era. β’ Temple series: Owls were MAC football-only from 2007-11. Toledo dropped Syracuse from the 2026 slate to add Temple. β’ Roster highlights: QB John Alan Richter returns, plus 11 all-conference transfers including DE Andrew Zock, 2025 FCS Defensive Player of the Year.
Toledo dropped the full schedule with a carousel of gold-framed opponent art β even poked fun at Michigan State with a green hand-print βA Jockβ meme. Fan reaction was mixed on the weeknight games but hyped for the home slate.
Want the TV times once they drop? Theyβll be announced later this month
