Boca Raton Bowl: Louisville Outlasts Toledo — 5 Takeaways and What’s Next
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The 2025 Boca Raton Bowl wasn’t anything pretty, but it was at least interesting.
Louisville looked and played rusty, Toledo threw everything it could into the bowl, and it was a fight to the finish in a 27-22 Cardinal win.
Here are five takeaways from the game that had a little bit of everything, along with what’s next for both the Cardinals and Rockets.
What Happened in the Boca Raton Bowl and What is Next for Both Teams
5. It took one drive for the Toledo defense to settle in
Louisville looked like it would rip up the Rockets after the first drive.
The Cardinals rolled easily down the field, Miller Moss found TreyShun Hurry for a 17-yard touchdown pass, and it seemed like another Power Four blowout over a Power Five program. Instead, the Toledo defense that was so good all year stepped up and held firm on drive after drive.
The Rockets ended up outgaining the Cardinals, and roared back after getting down 21-3 in the fourth, but …
4. Penalties and mistakes took over Toledo
The Rockets stayed alive with a blocked field goal early, and another blocked kick after Isaac Brown ripped off a long touchdown, taking it back for two points to keep the game alive. They scored eight unanswered points, but they couldn’t get the ball back partially because the mistakes didn’t stop.
Toledo only turned it over once, but the 14 penalties kept crushing the momentum – including two flags for players with the same uniform numbers on the field at the same time.
The Cardinals still would’ve likely pushed through, but it would’ve been a much more interesting game late without the mistakes.
3. Jeff Brohm closed out another good season at Louisville
Before 2023, Louisville hadn’t enjoyed a nine-win season since 2016, but over the last three years, it had the best three-year run by far since moving into the ACC.
Jeff Brohm now has three straight seasons with nine or more wins, he won his second bowl game in a row, and while beating a MAC team in the Boca Raton wasn’t what the program was hoping for six weeks ago, closing out with a 41-0 dropkicking of Kentucky and a bowl win isn’t bad.
Even if this performance didn’t exactly represent Louisville’s best work.
2. What’s next for Toledo going into the offseason?
Toledo brought the energy, and in the end, it surprised by bringing the players – just three players opted out. Interim head coach Robert Weiner did a nice job getting his team ready, even with all the mistakes.
In comes FCS veteran head man Mike Jacobs. His Mercer team was among the best in the nation at winging the ball around, the run defense was terrific, and the offensive line was a rock that worked great in the time of possession battle.
Freshman quarterback Kalieb Osborne led the team in rushing in the bowl with 77 yards, and he kept his poise throughout against the Louisville pressure. If he gets the job in the new offense, he’ll be a statistical star with a solid young group of receivers expected to return.
The defense will likely have more replacements than the offense, losing just about everyone. The portal will play a massive role, but the secondary should be an early plus compared to the front six.
1. What’s next for Louisville going into the offseason?
As long as Jeff Brohm is returning – and he almost certainly will (don’t buy into the social media rumors about Michigan) – the Cardinals will be terrific again.
You name the star quarterback in the portal, and he’s in the mix to be Brohm’s man under center to replace Miller Moss.
The skill spots should be loaded, even with a few losses at receiver, and the offensive line is undergoing an overhaul, but the depth isn’t bad.
All eyes will be on who the new quarterback is, but it’s the other side that has to get the parts.
The defense will need all the parts it can get from the portal. The O will rumble, but the D will need plenty of replacements.
Related: 2025 JLab Birmingham Bowl Prediction: Georgia Southern vs App State
This story was originally published by College Football News on Dec 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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