What's next for Ohio State football? An early glance at prime-time game against Toledo

Ohio State is in the final week of its non-conference schedule.

A prime-time game against Toledo on Saturday is the last before the Big Ten slate starts up against Wisconsin.

The Rockets often contain one of the most talented rosters in the Mid-American Conference, but they have won the league only once since Jason Candle succeeded Matt Campbell in 2016.

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Since winning the MAC in 2017, they have finished as low as fifth and third in the West Division standings.

College football Week 3: Ohio State vs. Toledo

Saturday, 7 p.m., FOX, 97.1 FM/1460 AM

Poll position

Alabama dropped from the top spot in the Associated Press poll after surviving an upset at Texas, but not past Ohio State, which remained at No. 3. Toledo is unranked.

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Point spread

Ohio State opened as a 34-point favorite over Toledo. It’s a smaller spread than its most recent games against MAC schools. The Buckeyes were favored by 48.5 over Akron last September and 38.5 over Miami (Ohio) in 2019.

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Toledo Rockets’ last game

The Rockets routed Massachusetts in a 55-10 blowout, their most lopsided victory over a Football Bowl Subdivision school since 2007. The Minutemen, now an independent, were a member of the MAC from 2012-15.

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Toledo’s strength

This was the highest-scoring team in the MAC last season, and the Rockets are off to a fast start after scoring 92 points over their first two games. Candle is known for his acumen on the offensive side of the ball as Mario Cristobal attempted hire him as his offensive coordinator at Miami in January.

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Toledo football’s weakness

While Toledo has found early success on offense, it doesn’t have a clear-cut replacement at running back for Bryant Koback, a first-team All-MAC selection last season after rushing for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns, in order to ease the burden on quarterback Dequan Finn.

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Toledo’s player to watch

Finn is a talented dual-threat signal caller who has thrown for 388 yards and three touchdowns through two games, along with rushing for 138 yards and three more scores, and could give the Buckeyes’ defense fits.

Scarlet & Gray Matter analysis:Ohio State 45, Arkansas State 12

Toledo’s X-factor

History suggests Toledo won’t back down against Ohio State. The Rockets gave Notre Dame a scare last September, nearly upsetting the Irish, and were within a touchdown of winning at the Horseshoe in 2011.

Bottom line: How did the Buckeyes grade out vs. Arkansas State? How did the OSU defense grade?

Ohio State-Toledo series history

This will be the fourth meeting all-time between the Buckeyes and Toledo following previous games in 2011, 2009 and 1998. Bowling Green is the only team from the MAC that Ohio State has played more often.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at jkaufman@dispatch.com or on Twitter @joeyrkaufman

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football vs. Toledo Rockets opponent preview