There are 306 miles that separate the University of Louisville and the University of Toledo from each other.
However, when the Cardinals and the Rockets meet on the day before Christmas Eve in the Boca Raton Bowl, both programs will have traveled over 1,000 miles for their first meeting since 1981.
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At 8-4 on the season, Louisville is looking for its second consecutive bowl win under Jeff Brohm. The Cardinals finished tied for seventh in the ACC this season with a 4-4 conference record, and are led by USC transfer Miller Moss on offense. Louisville’s defense ranks in the top 20 in the nation for total defense (300.3 yards per game allowed) and in the top 25 for rushing defense.
Toledo is making its fifth consecutive bowl appearance after finishing 8-4 overall in the regular season. The Rockets will be led by interim head coach Robert Weiner after Jason Candle was poached by UConn for its opening.
Leading the way for the Rockets on offense is quarterback Tucker Gleason, while K’Von Sherman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren are two players to watch out for on defense, which ranks third in total defense (247.8 yards per game allowed) and fourth in scoring defense (12.2 points per game allowed).
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Louisville vs Toledo score
Louisville vs Toledo live updates
This section has been updated with new information
Fourth quarter: Louisville 21, Toledo 11
Toledo cuts deficit with TD
Toledo has some life! Jacob Peterson muscles his way through a pair of Louisville defenders into the end zone to give Toledo its first touchdown score of the game on a 26-yard pass from Kalieb Osborne on fourth-and-11.
It’s a big-time throw by Osborne and a big-time score by the Rockets, who now trail Louisville by 10 points after a successful 2-point conversion. The scoring drive was 11 plays for 75 yards and took 4:11 off the game clock.
Isaac Brown extends Louisville lead with TD
Isaac Brown bounces out to the right and takes it into the end zone for an 11-yard rushing touchdown to extend Louisville’s lead to 21-3. It’s the first touchdown for Brown in weeks, as he had been out since early November with an injury.
That’s now two quick touchdown scores by the Cardinals.
End of third quarter: Louisville 14, Toledo 3
Miller Moss picks up first down
Miller Moss is awarded the first down on fourth-and-1 with a 2-yard carry. Louisville is 15 minutes away from winning the Boca Raton Bowl.
The Cardinals will start the fourth quarter with a first-and-10 at the Toledo 11-yard line.
Louisville extends lead with TD
Louisville breaks its scoring drought with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Miller Moss to Antonio Meeks on the slant route. It’s the first points scored by the Cardinals since their opening drive in the first half.
The score was set up by a 28-yard pass from Moss to Caullin Lacey and a 19-yard carry up the middle of the field from Isaac Brown. The scoring drive itself for Louisville was nine plays for 77 yards and took 4:55 off the game clock.
Toledo misses FG attempt
The Rockets come up short on a promising drive as Robert Hammond misses a 41-yard field goal attempt. A 15-yard pass from Kalieb Osborne to Bryson Hammer on the 1-yard line is wiped out by a hold on a Toledo offensive lineman, another self-inflicted penalty for the Rockets on the afternoon.
Louisville takes over at its own 23-yard line, still holding on to a 7-3 lead with 8:35 remaining in the third quarter.
Toledo starts with ball
After deferring the opening kickoff to the second half, Toledo’s offense will be out on the field first in the third quarter. The Rockets’ defense did a nice job of changing the script and momentum of the game in the first half after Louisville scored a touchdown on its opening drive.
End of first half: Louisville 7, Toledo 3
Louisville leads Toledo at halftime
The Cardinals take a 7-3 lead into halftime at the Boca Raton Bowl. Louisville was near the 50-yard line with 45 seconds remaining with a third-and-1, but Isaac Brown drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty after pulling the helmet of a Toledo player off. Brown’s penalty pushed the Cardinals back.
Both teams combined for 11 penalties in the first half. Toledo will start the second half with the ball.
Toledo recovers fumble
Louisville tries a trick play, and it backfires into a fumble recovery by Toledo. Miller Moss throws a backwards pass, and it falls off the tip of the hands of Cardinals’ wide receiver Antonio Weeks and is recovered by Rockets’ linebacker Hudson Miller.
Toledo catches a break after it had its punt blocked by the Cardinals.
Louisville blocks Toledo punt
Louisville will get the ball back in great field position after Micah Carter blocks a punt. The Rockets were called for their second equipment violation of the game after the block, but the Cardinals elected to decline the penalty and take over at Toledo’s 37-yard line.
Louisville punts
After driving down the field for an opening drive touchdown to begin the game, Louisville’s offense has gone cold. The Cardinals send out the punt unit for the first time.
The Cardinals have created just 49 yards across 12 plays on their last drives.
End of first quarter: Louisville 7, Toledo 3
Toledo cuts deficit with field goal
Toledo is unable to recover from back-to-back penalties on third-down and sends out the field goal unit looking to get on the board. Robert Hammond hits the 43-yard field goal attempt to put the Rockets on the board. It’s the first career field goal made for Hammond.
The scoring drive was 10 plays for 34 yards and took 4:55 off the game clock. Louisville leads 7-3 going into the second quarter.
Toledo sacks Miller Moss, Louisville misses FG attempt
Martez Poynter sacks Miller Moss for a loss of 6 yards, and Louisville sends out the special teams unit for the first time on the afternoon. It’s the second sack of the drive for the Rockets defense, with the first one coming from Avery Dunn on first-and-15 for a loss of 10 yards.
Louisville was set to punt the ball away, but a 5-yard penalty against Toledo for an equipment violation moved the Cardinals into field goal range. However, Cooper Raniver’s 53-yard attempt is blocked.
It’s a missed opportunity for the Cardinals to extend their lead after starting the drive at the Toledo 49-yard line.
Louisville recovers fumble
Louisville comes up with the game’s first takeaway as DJ Kelly recovers the fumble from Toledo quarterback Kalieb Osborne on the quarterback keeper. The Cardinals take over in great field position at the Rockets’ 49-yard line.
Miller Moss gives Louisville lead with TD
Miller Moss connects with Treyshun Hurry for a 17-yard touchdown pass to give Louisville an opening drive score. It’s a well-placed ball thrown by Moss and a well-constructed drive by the Cardinals to open up the Boca Raton Bowl.
The scoring drive is eight plays for 75 yards and took 4:34 off the game clock.
Keyjuan Brown starts game with 31-yard carry
Louisville is already in push territory after just one play thanks to a 31-yard carry up the middle from running back Keyjuan Brown. Nice run by Brown and a nice block and lane created by the Cardinals’ offensive line.
Toledo wins coin toss, Louisville offense up first
Toledo wins the coin toss and defers the kickoff to the second half. That means Miller Moss and Louisville will be out on the field first. Just about underway down in Boca Raton at FAU!
Pregame
Isaac Brown warming up for Louisville
Louisville running back Isaac Brown is warming up on the field in Boca Raton. Brown has missed the last four games with an injury.
Report: Kalieb Osborne to start for Toledo in Boca Raton Bowl
According to On3’s Brett McMurphy, Tucker Gleason will not start for Toledo at quarterback in the Boca Raton Bowl due to injury. Starting in Gleason’s place will be freshman quarterback Kalieb Osborne. It will be the seventh game this season that Osborne has appeared in.
In six games this season, Osborne has completed 15-of-24 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns with two additional rushing touchdowns.
Louisville arrives for Boca Raton Bowl
The Cardinals are on site for the Boca Raton Bowl against Toledo. Louisville is looking for its second consecutive bowl win and its third in the last four years.
Toledo arrives for Boca Raton Bowl
The Rockets have arrived at Flagler Credit Union Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida for the 2025 Boca Raton Bowl against Louisville. Toledo is looking for its third bowl win in the last five years.
Louisville running back update in Boca Raton Bowl
As noted by the Louisville Courier-Journal’s Alexis Cubit, Louisville coach Jeff Brohm told reporters on Tuesday that Braxton Jennings is expected to take most of the snaps at running back ‘as of now’ in the Boca Raton Bowl. Brohm went on to mention there is a chance for fellow backs Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown to ‘give it a go, but we’ll see.’
‘It’s still a game time decision,’ Brohm said. ‘Can we have one or two play? Yes. Can we have one or two play and not finish? Maybe yes. But I do think we might get a couple to try.’
What channel is Toledo vs Louisville on today?
TV Channel: ESPN
Livestream: ESPN app Fubo (free trial)
Toledo vs Louisville will broadcast nationally on ESPN for the Boca Raton Bowl. Jay Alter and Rocky Boiman will call the game from the booth at Flagler Credit Union Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, with Ashley Stroehlein reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Toledo vs Louisville time today
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 23
Start time: 2 p.m. ET
The Toledo vs Louisville game starts at 2 p.m. ET from Flagler Credit Union Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida.
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Toledo vs Louisville predictions, picks, odds
Spread: Louisville -7
Over/under: 44.5 points
Moneyline: Louisville (-250) | Toledo (+200)
Prediction, Craig Meyer (USA TODAY Network): Louisville 27, Toledo 16
The Cardinals are a bare-bones operation offensively, with many of their top pieces out for the bowl game, but they showed against Kentucky that they can run the ball even with fourth- and fifth-stringers. Pair that with a top-20 total defense and Louisville should be able to come away with a comfortable-enough victory.
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Toledo football schedule 2025
Here’s a look at Toledo’s schedule in 2025:
Saturday, Aug. 30: Kentucky 24, Toledo 16
Saturday, Sept. 6: Toledo 45, Western Kentucky 21
Saturday, Sept. 13: Toledo 60, Morgan State 0
Saturday, Sept. 20: Western Michigan 14, Toledo 13 *
Saturday, Sept. 27: Toledo 45, Akron 3
Saturday, Oct. 4: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 11: Bowling Green 28, Toledo 23 *
Saturday, Oct. 18: Toledo 45, Kent State 10 *
Saturday, Oct. 25: Washington State 28, Toledo 7
Saturday, Nov. 1: BYE
Wednesday, Nov. 5: Toledo 42, NIU 3 *
Wednesday, Nov. 12: Toledo 24, Miami (OH) 3 *
Saturday, Nov. 22: Toledo 38, Ball State 9 *
Saturday, Nov. 29: Toledo 21, Central Michigan 3 *
Tuesday, Dec. 23: vs. Louisville ** | 2 p.m. ET | ESPN (Fubo)
* Denotes MAC game
** Denotes Boca Raton Bowl
Louisville football schedule 2025
Here’s a look at Louisville’s schedule in 2025:
Saturday, Aug. 30: Louisville 51, Eastern Kentucky 17
Friday, Sept. 5: Louisville 28, James Madison 14
Saturday, Sept. 13: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 20: Louisville 40, Bowling Green 17
Saturday, Sept. 27: Louisville 34, Pitt 27 *
Saturday, Oct. 4: No. 24 Virginia 30, Louisville 27 (OT)
Saturday, Oct. 11: BYE
Friday, Oct. 17: Louisville 24, No. 2 Miami 21 *
Saturday, Oct. 25: Louisville 38, Boston College 24 *
Saturday, Nov. 1: Louisville 28, Virginia Tech 16 *
Saturday, Nov. 8: Cal 29, Louisville 26 (OT)
Friday, Nov. 14: Clemson 20, Louisville 19 *
Saturday, Nov. 22: SMU 38, Louisville 6 *
Saturday, Nov. 29: Louisville 41, Kentucky 0 *
Tuesday, Dec. 23: vs. Toledo | 2 p.m. ET | ESPN (Fubo) **
* Denotes ACC game
** Denotes Boca Raton Bowl