UT raises the bar with every win

The “what ifs” are getting louder and louder with every win.

Around 2 p.m. each Sunday afternoon, fans wait eagerly for the Associated Press to release their weekly college football AP Top 25 Poll.

Last week the Rockets broke into the polls at No. 24 after their 24-10 road win at Ball State.

After another dominant showing against Kent State during Homecoming in the Rockets’ 38-7 blowout, Toledo crept up a couple more spots to No. 22.

This brings us back to those “what ifs.”

What if Toledo beats the teams they’re expected to, like Eastern Michigan and Massachusetts?

What if the Rockets win their last six games and play in the Mid-American Conference championship game and win that too?

Naturally, fans of the Rockets will exclaim they belong in the playoff.

Realistically, their ceiling is probably an appearance in the Fiesta or Sugar Bowl, in which the highest-ranked mid-major typically gets an invite.

UT currently holds an edge against a host of teams from the American Athletic Conference: Temple, Memphis and Houston, who are all also undefeated.

Even if winning a bid in a New Year’s Six bowl game, Toledo will be going up against some stiff competition.

Boise State is another mid-major team that’s fighting for that lonely mid-major spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game.

The Broncos went undefeated in 2006 and got a chance to play in the aforementioned Fiesta Bowl.

Coming into that game, Boise State was a touchdown underdog to the Oklahoma Sooners. The Broncos ended up shocking the world by defeating the the Sooners in dramatic fashion.

Boise State has had the respect of teams and pollsters around the country ever since.

Toledo would be ecstatic with a season that finished in similar fashion, but that’s best-case scenario.

In reality, the Rockets have their work cut out for them if they want to come close to what Boise State has accomplished.

One opponent still standing in the way is NIU. The Huskies have beaten the Rockets five years in a row in a variety of different ways. Close games, blowouts, games in which Toledo had to look to their fourth string quarterback. No matter what happens Northern Illinois always seems to come out on top.

The Huskies have looked average at best so far this season. NIU lost their MAC opener to Central Michigan 29-19 before rolling to a 59-41 victory at home against Ball State.

Again, Toledo held the Cardinals to just 10 points.

The question is, can Toledo handle them?

If you’re asking me I’d say yes.

First and foremost, on paper the Rockets hold the best and deepest defensive team in the MAC — which is the biggest difference between this year’s and last year’s team.

Toledo’s defense has held opponents to a less-than-average of 12 points per game this year.

They’re a plus-3 in the turnover margin and have been excellent in the red zone, allowing only one touchdown in 13 tries.

UT is out-gaining teams on the ground by over 100 yards per game.

None of this guarantees Toledo anything. Throughout the season, teams have bad games, injuries happen and other distractions pop up.

The Rockets aren’t getting ahead of themselves but the fans are for sure raising the bar with every win. The turnout of this season could have a large impact on Toledo as a program now and in the future.

Something tells me they won’t disappoint.