Lead: Louisville closed the 2025 season with a 27-22 victory over Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 23 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla. Miller Moss threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns while Isaac Brown broke off a decisive 53-yard run late. Toledo mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback — including a blocked extra-point returned for two points and a touchdown by Chip Trayanum — but fell short, finishing 8-5. The Cardinals end 2025 at 9-4, securing back-to-back wins to finish the year.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Louisville 27, Toledo 22; game played Dec. 23, 2025, at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla.
- Louisville QB Miller Moss finished 16-of-24 for 153 yards and two passing touchdowns, closing his college career with the win.
- Isaac Brown accounted for two rushing touchdowns for Louisville, including a 53-yard scoring run late in the fourth quarter.
- Keyjuan Brown rushed for 112 yards for Louisville, complementing the Cardinals’ balanced attack.
- Toledo QB Kalieb Osborne made his first start, completing 17 of 28 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown as the Rockets rallied late.
- Toledo collected 17 fourth-quarter points — highlighted by a 50-yard field goal from Robert Hammond III and a blocked extra-point returned for two by Avery Smith — but could not complete the comeback.
- Toledo played under interim coach Robert Weiner after Jason Candle left for UConn earlier in December; Tucker Gleason was sidelined with two fractures in his back but joined the trip in an informal mentoring role.
Background
The Boca Raton Bowl is one of the postseason games that cap the college football calendar; this matchup paired Louisville, a program led by Jeff Brohm, against Toledo, which had a late-season coaching change. Louisville entered the game seeking to finish the 2025 season with momentum after a late surge, while Toledo aimed to overcome upheaval after head coach Jason Candle’s departure earlier in the month for UConn.
FAU Stadium carries historical resonance for Louisville: the venue and its naming pay tribute to Howard Schnellenberger, who coached both Miami and later Louisville and helped lay the groundwork for the FAU program. That backdrop added narrative weight for several participants and fans who noted the interwoven histories of the programs involved.
Main Event
Louisville led for most of the contest. Miller Moss managed the offense efficiently, hitting 16 of 24 throws and connecting on plays that set up scoring drives. Treyshun Hurry and Antonio Meeks each caught touchdown passes that contributed to a multi-faceted Cardinals attack, while Keyjuan Brown provided a consistent rushing presence with 112 yards.
Toledo’s offense struggled to produce early, managing just a field goal across its first eight possessions. The Rockets’ fortunes shifted in the fourth quarter when Jacob Peterson hauled in a 26-yard touchdown on fourth-and-11, fighting through multiple defenders to reach the end zone and bring Toledo back into the game with 10:42 remaining.
The Rockets then tightened the margin with a 50-yard Robert Hammond III field goal and a two-point swing when Avery Smith returned a blocked extra point for two points with 5:03 left. Chip Trayanum followed with a 3-yard touchdown run to cut Louisville’s lead to five, but Toledo could not reclaim the lead in the remaining minutes.
Late in the game, Isaac Brown’s 53-yard rushing score put distance between the teams and proved the decisive play. With the clock winding down, Moss took a knee to end the contest and exchanged the ball with an official as a keepsake after his final snap as a collegian.
Analysis & Implications
Louisville’s victory reinforces the program’s resilience under Jeff Brohm, demonstrating an ability to mix efficient quarterback play with timely rushing bursts. Moss’s 16-of-24 performance and two touchdowns reflect a short, controlled passing game that complemented the running attack. The Cardinals’ balanced approach allowed them to withstand Toledo’s late surge and close the season 9-4.
For Toledo, the result highlights both promise and instability. Kalieb Osborne, thrust into his first start because Tucker Gleason was sidelined by back fractures, produced a serviceable passing line (17 of 28, 167 yards). The late offensive explosion showed the Rockets’ potential, but early offensive stagnation and special-teams miscues ultimately proved costly.
The coaching turnover in Toledo, with Robert Weiner serving as interim after Candle’s move to UConn, raises questions about continuity and recruiting momentum heading into 2026. Louisville’s program can use the win as recruiting and morale fuel heading into a season-opening neutral-site matchup on Sept. 5 or 6, 2026, against Mississippi in Nashville.
Comparison & Data
| Team | QB (Comp/Att) | Pass Yds | Notable Rush |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | M. Moss 16/24 | 153 | Isaac Brown: 2 rush TDs (incl. 53-yd) |
| Toledo | K. Osborne 17/28 | 167 | Chip Trayanum: 3-yd TD (4th Q) |
The table highlights contrasting quarterback box lines and the biggest game-breaking rushes. Louisville gained a late, explosive rushing score that Toledo could not match, while the Rockets produced more fourth-quarter scoring but lacked the earlier offensive consistency.
Reactions & Quotes
“Really happy for this group of guys that we were able to finish the season off the way that we did,” said Miller Moss, reflecting on his final collegiate game and the team’s closing push.
Miller Moss, Louisville QB
“We finished strong. We didn’t play perfect, but we played hard, we played tough, we played to the end,” coach Jeff Brohm said, emphasizing the team’s resolve in a game that required closing out a late charge.
Jeff Brohm, Louisville head coach
Assistant-like presence Tucker Gleason described his role on the trip as an opportunity to pass experience to younger players while continuing his recovery from two fractures in his back.
Tucker Gleason, Toledo (player on staff)
Unconfirmed
- No independent confirmation of the specific timeline for Tucker Gleason’s full recovery beyond reports he suffered two fractures in his back.
- Any internal decisions about Toledo’s long-term coaching staff changes beyond the interim assignment to Robert Weiner have not been independently verified.
Bottom Line
Louisville’s 27-22 win over Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl marked a season-closing victory built on balanced offense and a late, decisive rushing play. Miller Moss’s efficient passing and Isaac Brown’s 53-yard touchdown were the difference-makers in a game that turned wild in the fourth quarter.
Toledo showed late resilience under first-time starter Kalieb Osborne and interim leadership, but early struggles and special-teams setbacks left the Rockets short of a comeback. The result carries roster and coaching implications for both programs as they head into the 2026 offseason and prepare for next season’s opening matchups.