The Toledo Rockets have added the Youngstown State Penguins and Kentucky Wildcats to their future football schedules, according to an announcement from the school on Thursday.
Toledo will host Youngstown State at the Glass Bowl on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2027, the first meeting between the programs since 1961. The Rockets lead the all-time series 4-2-1 in seven previous games.
The rest of Toledo’s 2027 non-conference slate includes games at Memphis on Sept. 4, at home against New Haven on Sept. 11, and at Utah State on Sept. 18.
“We’re excited about the variety of our 2027 non-conference schedule,” said Toledo head football coach Mike Jacobs. “We’ll have an opportunity to play in front of our fans at the Glass Bowl, renew a series with a great in-state program in Youngstown State and compete in some outstanding venues against programs with a strong tradition of success. These are the types of games that challenge our football team and provide our players with tremendous experiences.”
Toledo will also host Youngstown State at the Glass Bowl on August 27, 2033, per the announcement.
The Rockets have also added a future football game on the road against Kentucky on Sept. 4, 2032 at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. The game will mark the third overall meeting between the two programs.
Toledo first visited Lexington in 2019 and lost 38-24, then fell again 24-16 in 2025. The two schools were supposed to meet in 2027 in Lexington and 2028 in Toledo, but the games were canceled, likely due to the SEC’s move to a nine-game football schedule.
UPDATE (1:45pm ET)
Per a copy of the contract obtained from Youngstown State University, the Penguins will receive a $325,000 guarantee in 2027 and a $400,000 guarantee in 2033.
Find it odd that a successful MAC program like Toledo would have two FCS schools scheduled for next season
Maybe they expect them to be easy wins?
I’d certainly hope so since Toledo is one of the better MAC programs. That’s why it surprises me. They aren’t a struggling program like UMass who has two FCS games scheduled for this year
Why 2 FCS opponents in 2027?
Toledo could play YSU more often if the latter joined the MAC.
It’s because the SEC is going to a 9 game schedule starting next year so they had to hurry up and get a new opponent
When 9-11 happened in 2001 Toledo was scheduled to host Youngstown State the Saturday of that week. Many games were being cancelled and Toledo contacted Youngstown State and they replied they were going to play their game with the Rockets. Marshall contacted Youngstown State and offered to host a game with them November 24th. Youngstown State then cancelled Toledo game . Toledo and McNeese State tried to get a game immediately worked out but could not make the last minute flights to and from Toledo to work out in such a short time. So Toledo one game short that season. Youngstown State shouldn’t get any pay for this game to make up for 2001.