through the fire and flames

Rockets Travel to Ford Field to Face Miami for MAC Championship Toledo is making its third trip in last four years to MAC title game

For the third time in the last four seasons, and fifth time in eight years, Toledo will face an East Division opponent in the MAC Championship Game. However, for the first time, the opponent will be someone other than Marshall, and for the first time the game will be played on a neutral field.

Toledo (8-3, 7-1 MAC), winner of the MAC's West Division, faces Miami (8-3, 7-1 MAC), champions of the East Division in the 2004 MAC Championship Game (Thursday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., Ford Field, Detroit, MI, ESPN).
Toledo's four previous appearances in the MAC title game included three losses at Marshall (1997, 1998 and 2002) and a home-field victory over the Thundering Herd (2001).

Toledo advanced to the MAC Championship game on the strength of back-to-back wins at No. 22 Northern Illinois (31-17 on Nov. 9) and vs. No. 24 Bowling Green (49-41 on Nov. 23). Toledo and NIU tied for the MAC West title, but the Rockets advanced to the MAC Championship Game due to their win over the Huskies.

Toledo and Miami faced each other exactly one month ago, a 23-16 Redhawk victory in a rain-soaked Oxford. Toledo outgained Miami, 380-371, but committed four turnovers, the final one leading to the RedHawks' winning score in the fourth quarter.

This will be Toledo's sixth game on national TV this season, a school record. The Rockets are 3-2 on ESPN or ESPN2 this year, and 12-10 all-time on the national airwaves.