Last year's matchup in Kelly/Shorts Stadium was the polar opposite. The Chippewas came out of the gates determined to dominate the Rockets and win the Mid-American Conference West Division title — their first in a decade.

CMU did just that in winning 49-7, scoring the game's first 28 points.

This year's matchup will have the similar intensity but will not carry the same weight last year's matchup did. There won't be a division title on the line, but that is not stopping the Chippewas.

There is still plenty for CMU to play for in the finale. Senior running back Kobe Lewis stepped up — as he has several times this season — after Saturday's loss to Ball State and stressed the importance of the final game of the season.

Senior fullback/tight end Hunter Buczkowski has embraced the team's mindset going into the season finale.

"We can't be complacent, we have to start fast, we can't just be a second-half team," Buczkowski recalled Lewis saying to the team. "Start fast, pedal to the floor the whole time and hopefully we can show teams that we can compete next year."

Starting fast and maintaining momentum will be important against Toledo, which averages 37.2 points per game on offense and allows 24.6 points per game on defense. CMU scores 33.0 points per game and allows 31.4 per game.

Brock returns at QB

Offensively, CMU will again roll with redshirt junior quarterback Ty Brock after an adequate performance in his first-career start against Ball State. Brock was 14-of-20 passing for 188 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also had an 82-yard TD run.

"Ty did some really good things for us," said coach Jim McElwain. "There were some throws I'm sure he'd like back, which I'm sure can be said for anyone of us who has played the game."

Redshirt freshman Daniel Richardson is available in emergency. Other starters will be out for Saturday's finale.

Rockets ready for CMU

Sophomore Bradley Carter is slated to get the starting nod against the Chippewas. He started last year's game and finished 13-of-21 passing for 121 yards. This season, he has appeared in three games and is 37-of-56 for 584 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.

Senior wide receiver Bryce Mitchell is the team leader with four touchdowns to go along with 264 yards and is one receiver for Toledo to watch out for. Another is junior Isiah Winstead. He is the team's receiving leader with 389 yards on 22 catches (both team-highs) and two touchdowns.

CMU's mental fortitude

McElwain said he has learned a lot about his team amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental toughness his guys have displayed since March have impressed the second-year head coach.

"The holidays will be a great time for them to sit back and say, 'Wow, wasn't that something we just went through,'" McElwain said. "(They can) be proud of what we did go through and where we ended with it."

"This is a special group I'll always remember."

Matchup to watch: Toledo RBs vs. CMU D-Line

Toledo junior running back Bryant Koback has put together a decent season as he has totaled 399 yards on 99 carries and has played in all six games. He has scored four touchdowns this year. Redshirt freshman running back Micah Kelly has supplemented the offense with 191 yards and two touchdowns.

CMU's rushing defense is third-best in the MAC (Toledo's is first), as it allows 131.4 yards per game on the ground (Toledo allows 115.6). The line combination of senior defensive end Troy Hairston, senior defensive tackles Mo Diallo and Robi Stuart and sophomore defensive end Tico Brown will have a tough task to slow the Koback-Kelly tandem down.

Whichever unit pulls through could give their team a significant edge in the rest of the game, and could even lead to a victory.

GAME INFORMATION:

Central Michigan (3-2) at Toledo (3-2)

All-time series: Toledo leads 26-19-3

Time: 3 p.m.

Date: Dec. 12, 2020

Stadium: Glass Bowl Stadium

Location: Toledo, Ohio

Odds: Toledo -11.5

Over/Under: 53

TV/Stream: ESPN3 (Dave Wilson, Marcus Ray)

Radio: 98.5 WUPS (Adam Jaksa, Brock Gutierrez)