Gunner Kiel vs. Toledo: Stats, Highlights, Twitter Reaction

Making his Cincinnati debut on Friday night, Gunner Kiel ended any trace of a quarterback controversy by carving up Toledo's defense during a 58-34 victory.

The Notre Dame transfer, getting the nod for the Bearcats' season debut, went off for 418 passing yards and six touchdowns. 

CMP./ATT.	Pass YDs	YDs/ATT.	TDs	INTs
25/37 (67.6%)	418	11.3	6	0

According to SportsCenter's Twitter handle, his total of six TD passes sets a college football record among debuting quarterbacks.

He also tied a school record in the process, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Info.

The sophomore displayed remarkable accuracy, completing 67.6 percent of his passes. He also mixed in a few long completions, including a 52-yard catch-and-run to Mekale McKay and a 41-yarder to Johnny Holton.

At one point during the opening half, he had more touchdowns than incompletions, per SportsCenter.

ESPN College Football's Twitter page shows his fourth touchdown of the evening, an 11-yard strike to Nate Cole.

And to think Kiel engaged in a battle for the starting job with senior Munchie Legaux and junior Jarred Evans. After Sunday's practice, he told the Cincinnati Enquirer's Tom Groeschen that he's not overly concerned about who starts games, but rather who ends them.

"I know it's a competition, but all three of us have the same goal in mind, and that's to play," Kiel said. "For us it doesn't matter who starts; it's who's going to finish the game for us. We're all friends, we all get along, we all watch tape. It's all positive."

After Friday's rousing performance, he'll certainly do both going forward, pending another blowout.

Next on the schedule, Cincinnati has 0-2 Miami (Ohio), which surrendered 261 yards and three touchdowns to Marshall's Rakeem Cato two weeks ago. Then Kiel will receive the first significant test of his career against the Ohio State Buckeyes, who have slipped down the rankings after losing injured quarterback Braxton Miller for the season.

As of now, the former 247Sports 5-star recruit looks well worth the wait.