Temple ranked 22nd in final college football playoff ranking, 20th by the Associated Press

                                   
                                     photo by Temple Athletics

This Sunday will be college football’s Bowl Selection Show.  On Tuesday, Temple was ranked #22 in the final College Football Playoff Ranking.

 This past Sunday the Owl’s (10-2) were ranked #20 in the Associated Press Poll, their best AP ranking of the season.

The Owls face Houston (10-2) at Houston this Saturday for the American Athletic Conference football championship.  The game will be at noon (E.S.T.) on ABC television.

Temple hosts Connecticut Saturday in college football

                                 Photo by Temple athletics
     A lot rides on Temple’s college football clash with Connecticut this Saturday. The game is being nationally televised by ESPNU beginning at 7 p.m. (E.S.T.).
     The Owls, (9-2 overall and 6-1 in the American Athletic Conference), clinch the East Division of the AAC with a win. A win also clinches them a berth in the inaugural AAC title game December 5th.
     A Temple loss against Connecticut (6-5 and 4-3) combined with a win by South Florida (7-4 and 5-2) Saturday over UCF (0-11) puts South Florida in the AAC title game.
     Connecticut would love to upset the Owls, who are ranked 25th in the nation by the Associated Press.

   

Temple defeats Memphis 31-12 in college football Saturday

                                         photo: Temple Athletics

A close game Saturday turned into a rout as Temple upset Memphis 31-12 in college football at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Memphis came into the game ranked 21st in the nation by the Associated Press while Temple came in unranked by the Associated Press.

The Owls were coming off an embarrassing 44-23 loss to South Florida on November 15th at South Florida.
 
Temple improved to 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the American Athletic Conference, while Memphis fell to 7-4 and 5-2. The Tigers play in the AAC’s West Division.   Temple is now one game ahead of South Florida for this season’s East Division crown.

For the Owls, quarterback P.J. Walker threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns to lead the way for the Owls.

“That was a great win and a great day (Saturday),” Temple head coach Matt Rhule said on the Owls’ website.  “The challenge this week was to our seniors to take the team to another level.”

Temple can clinch a spot in the very first AAC Championship on December 5th with a win over Connecticut (6-5 and 4-3) this Saturday. The game will be a home game for the Owls in Philadelphia.