CFB Bowl Preview 2025: Bush's Boca Raton Bowl of Beans
Toledo Rockets vs Louisville Cardinals
By Rory Daniels
Bowl season is in full swing, and we will be previewing every bowl game this year. This year’s Boca Raton Bowl will be contested between the Toledo Rockets and Louisville Cardinals. Let’s take a look at the key matchups.
Where and When
Location: Flagler Credit Union Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida
Date: Tuesday 23 December
Time: 2pm ET / 7pm GMT
Story So Far...
Toledo was the pre-season favourite for the MAC championship, and despite another strong showing, they came up just short. They finished fourth with a 6-2 conference record, ending the season unbeaten at home and on a 4-game winning streak. Now the bad news, the program’s all-time winningest Head Coach, Jason Candle, accepted the same role at UConn at the end of the year. Candle oversaw the Rockets’ huge success, including 10 consecutive winning seasons, eight bowl appearances, and two MAC championships. That leaves QB coach Robert Weiner as interim head coach for the bowl game.
In a down season for the ACC as a whole, one that ended with their champion not even earning a spot in the College Football Playoff, Louisville failed to take advantage. They shot out to a 7-1 record and a no.14 ranking in the AP Poll, beating Pitt and Miami along the way, but things went downhill rapidly. A three-match run of losses to Cal, Clemson and SMU derailed any playoff hopes. Despite that, Head Coach Jeff Brohm was linked with multiple jobs, including Penn State and Florida. Any doubt about his future was put to rest with a mid-November contract extension, and he will look to build an ACC champion in 2026.
The Quarterbacks
Toledo QB Tucker Gleason had an excellent season, improving his stats across the board from his first year as a full-time starter in 2024. He threw for 2,517 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. However, he suffered an injury at the end of the year, leaving him in doubt for this one. Freshman Kalieb Osborne will replace him and had 239 passing yards and a couple of TDs in relief of Gleason through the season. It will be interesting to see how the 6’4, 204lbs 3-star recruit fares as a full starter.
For Louisville, USC transfer Miller Moss will continue to lead the Cardinals. Moss was highly regarded when he left USC and would have been hoping to boost his draft profile with a year under Brohm. Unfortunately, he struggled behind a poor pass-blocking offensive line. Moss took 20 sacks, a big jump from the nine he took for USC in 2024. The number of turnover-worthy plays jumped from 9 to 20 in Louisville red. The fifth-year senior will look for some consistency in this one to cap off his college career.
Who to Watch
Toledo
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Safety
McNeil-Warren is the clear star of the Rockets’ defense. He was second in tackles with 73, playing predominantly as a box safety. His coverage grade with PFF was 91.5, and he logged two interceptions and four pass breakups. He could be 50/50 for this one, given his Senior Bowl acceptance and likely early-round draft status.
Louisville
Caullin Lacy, Wide Receiver/Kick Returner
Slot receiver and kick returner Lacy looks like he should play and will have a significant role, considering the no.1 receiver, Chris Bell, is out injured. The speedster led the Cardinals in receiving yards after the catch with 409. McNeil-Warren will likely play a role in stopping Lacy from receiving the ball across the middle and breaking loose.
Prediction
It’s challenging to see Toledo winning this one; they are 6.5-point underdogs, and it’s understandable with the coaching upheaval caused by Jason Candle’s departure. Louisville is missing Bell and some running back depth, but Miller Moss has shown flashes of quality play, and I trust him to get it done in this one.
Toledo 14-26 Louisville
Rory-Joe Daniels
COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.