The first of four consecutive winnable games for Toledo is Tuesday against Eastern Michigan in the Glass Bowl.
If UT ends the season on a five-game win streak, its 6-2 record could get the Rockets to the Mid-American Conference championship game.
There are a lot of moving parts, including the need for Northern Illinois to lose three games down the stretch. Regardless, if Toledo can close the season with an unbeaten November, momentum for the program will be going in the right direction.
The Eagles, with their high-scoring offense and capable defense, will not be a walkover for Toledo, which has played in three games decided by one possession and another that had a safety on the final play to push the margin to 10 points.