The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Battle of I-75

Bowling Green30-33-1Toledo
Regional Program IV#118 of 138▲National Program II#46 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Fri Nov 20 · 7:30 pm ET, 16 days away.

2 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Toledo leads the all-time series 33-30-1. They've met 64 times since 1962. Toledo once took 9 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Bowling Green
Transfer portal
-9
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -38
Toledo
Transfer portal
-1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -23

Stature & the series, 1962–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeBowling GreenToledoevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Bowling Green won, gray: Toledo won)198020002020

The identity war

Bowling Green has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Bowling Green led 16 and Toledo led 7.

more passmore runBowling GreenToledo2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262010Bowling Green 13.5 ptsToledo won 33-142007Bowling Green 10.7 ptsBowling Green won 37-102014Bowling Green 8.7 ptsToledo won 27-20
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Bowling Green by 38 in 1981. The biggest crowd, 30,147, was in 2016.

The coaching duels

Gary Blackney vs Gary Pinkel5-5
Don Nehlen vs Jack Murphy4-2
Gregg Brandon vs Tom Amstutz3-3
Scot Loeffler vs Jason Candle3-3
Dennis Stolz vs Chuck Stobart4-1
Dennis Stolz vs Dan Simrell1-3

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
21-32
Toledo leads
1st-rounders
0-2
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Bowling GreenToledo
1960s2-3
1970s6-5
1980s2-2
1990s3-3
2000s4-6
2010s2-6
2020s2-7

Best picks, either side

1993Dan Williams Defensive End · Denver BroncosRd 1, pick 11#11 overall
2024Quinyon Mitchell Cornerback · Philadelphia EaglesRd 1, pick 22#22 overall
1971Phil Villapiano Linebacker · Oakland RaidersRd 2, pick 19#45 overall
2026Emmanuel McNeil-Warren Safety · Cleveland BrownsRd 2, pick 26#58 overall
1973Fred Sturt Offensive Guard · St. Louis CardinalsRd 3, pick 7#59 overall
2025Darius Alexander Defensive Tackle · New York GiantsRd 3, pick 1#65 overall
2008John Greco Offensive Tackle · St. Louis RamsRd 3, pick 2#65 overall
2019Diontae Johnson Wide Receiver · Pittsburgh SteelersRd 3, pick 2#66 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Bowling Green1.44×its own average home crowd
Toledo1.22×its own average home crowd
2025Bowling Green28-23
2024Bowling Green41-26Toledo — Toledo routed by 15
2023Toledo32-31
2022Bowling Green42-35
2021Toledo49-17
2020Toledo38-3
2019Bowling Green20-7Toledo — Toledo favored by 27.0
2018Toledo52-36
2017Toledo66-37
2016Toledo42-35
2015Toledo44-28Bowling Green — Bowling Green routed by 16
2014Toledo27-20
2013Toledo28-25
2012Toledo27-15

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Bowling Green’s chance to win through that meeting. Bowling Green is 2-1 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025Bowling Green 28-23Bowling Green won 28-23 vs Toledo. Chance to win started at 23%, low 1%, high better than 99%.
2024Bowling Green 41-26Bowling Green won 41-26 at Toledo. Chance to win started at 51%, low 46%, high better than 99%.
2023Toledo 32-31Bowling Green lost 31-32 vs Toledo. Chance to win started at 22%, low 10%, high 89%.Busy
2022Bowling Green 42-35Bowling Green won 42-35 at Toledo. Chance to win started at 16%, low 16%, high better than 99%.
2021Toledo 49-17Bowling Green lost 17-49 vs Toledo. Chance to win started at 20%, low under 1%, high 28%.
2020Toledo 38-3Bowling Green lost 3-38 at Toledo. Chance to win started at 6%, low under 1%, high 6%.
2019Bowling Green 20-7Bowling Green won 20-7 vs Toledo. Chance to win started at 7%, low 3%, high better than 99%.
2018Toledo 52-36Bowling Green lost 36-52 at Toledo. Chance to win started at 7%, low 1%, high 20%.

Meetings with their own story page

10 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.