Miller’s late 68-yard touchdown seals Toledo’s 39–24 win at Ball State

CJ Miller ran 68 yards for a touchdown with 1:35 remaining as Toledo beat Ball State 39–24 Saturday in Muncie. The late score ended the Cardinals' final comeback attempt after they had narrowed Toledo's lead to eight points less than a minute earlier.

Miller finished with 196 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Connor Walendzak added 103 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts, giving Toledo two runners above the 100-yard mark. The Rockets totaled 352 rushing yards and 553 total yards, using the ground game to turn an early deficit into a second-half lead.

Ball State opened with Keldric Luster's four-yard touchdown pass to Alex Scherle. Reice Griffith made field goals from 43 and 21 yards for Toledo, but Brody Boehm's 38-yard field goal kept the Cardinals ahead 10–6 in the second quarter. A Toledo safety narrowed the gap before the Rockets finally moved in front.

John Alan Richter found Daryl Barnett Jr. for an 11-yard touchdown at the end of the half. Toledo led 15–10 at the break, then extended its advantage with Walendzak's 30-yard scoring run in the third quarter. Ball State immediately answered through TJ Horton's 66-yard touchdown run, keeping the game within one possession.

Miller scored from two yards early in the fourth quarter. Griffith's 24-yard field goal with 3:30 remaining made it 32–17, but Luster found Jabari Smith for a 33-yard touchdown at 2:09. Ball State again had a route back into the game until Miller broke loose on Toledo's ensuing possession.

The Cardinals got the ball back after his long touchdown, moved into Toledo territory and then lost their final chance when Luster threw an interception. Toledo finished with kneel-downs. The Rockets had avoided interceptions themselves, with Richter completing 19 of 35 throws for 201 yards and one touchdown.

Adjatay Dabbs led Toledo's receivers with six catches for 82 yards. Barnett caught three for 34, including the touchdown that established the halftime lead. The Rockets converted eight of 18 third downs and succeeded on two of four fourth-down tries, providing enough continued possessions to support their rushing advantage.

Luster completed 21 of 33 passes for 224 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Horton ran nine times for 90 yards, most of it coming on his long touchdown. Donovan Hamilton caught six passes for 70 yards, and Smith's six receptions gained 60.

Ball State produced quick scoring plays when it needed them, but Toledo answered its last touchdown with Miller's longest run. The Rockets' two leading rushers combined for 299 yards and three touchdowns, supplying the decisive production in a road win that stayed competitive until the final minutes.

Toledo's official game report put the rushing performances in program context: both Miller and Walendzak set career highs, and it was the Rockets' first game with two 100-yard rushers since October 7, 2023. The report also identified the victory as Mike Jacobs' first MAC win as Toledo's coach. The Rockets next host Buffalo on October 10 at 3:30 p.m.