Score Predictions
3
Game Guide: Army - Temple
- Broadcast ESPN PHILADELPHIA – Temple football returns to Lincoln Financial Field on Friday, September 25, as the Owls open American Conference play against Army.
- The Black Knights lead the series 8-7 and have won four straight after Temple previously won six in a row.
defensegame_breakdownlbmentions_armymentions_floridamentions_south_floridamentions_toledomentions_utsaoffenseprediction
Game Breakdown
1
Temple-Army early preview: Key metrics and matchups
- The 2026 Army preview expects Ajani Sheppard to quarterback Temple again with Jaxon Smolik slowed by a foot injury. Against Toledo, the article's cited PFF grades were 54.0 for Sheppard's passing and 80.9 for his rushing. The expected assignment is not a confirmed permanent quarterback change or a recovery timetable for Smolik.
- Through three 2026 games, Temple's cited PFF passing grade ranks 131st of 138 FBS teams and its receiving grade 114th, despite 221.3 rushing yards per game and an 83.7 rushing grade. The preview identifies a pronounced run-pass imbalance entering Army, not evidence that the passing attack has already improved.
- Temple's 2026 coverage grade is 62.1, ranked 106th in the preview's PFF figures, after a 48.4 coverage grade against Toledo. Its pass rush ranks 109th and has generated 28 pressures over three games. These are current coverage and pressure concerns, not an announced change in defensive scheme or starters.
- Temple enters the 2026 Army game with a cited 90.7 PFF run-defense grade, ranked 19th, and has held each of its first three opponents to no more than 4.7 yards per carry. Defensive lineman Kevin Hornbeak's 89.9 run-defense grade leads the team; the early results do not establish how the front will handle Army's option attack.
- The 2026 preview identifies Jackson Pruitt as Temple's highest-graded offensive lineman through three games. Its cited PFF figures give him an 89.1 pass-blocking grade, sixth among 878 interior linemen, and a 71.4 run-blocking grade. That is an early blocking assessment, not a new position or starting-lineup announcement.
qbinjuriesoffensepersonnelwrrbdbdldefenseschematicsol
Quarterbacks
9
Football Drops First Conference Contest to Army - Temple
- PHILADELPHIA - Temple football fell to Army, 21-17, in its American Conference opener Friday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field.
- The Owls moved to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while the Black Knights improved to 2-1 and 1-1 in the American.
defenselbmentions_armymentions_floridamentions_memphismentions_south_floridamentions_virginia_techoffensepracticepredictionqbrb
Around CFB
- QB/LB: Read where Nebraska’s QB went into NDSU’s locker before the game and taunted players.
lbmentions_indianamentions_ohiomentions_ohio_statementions_oregonoffenseqb
- Pick/market: Toledo’s final three possessions after trailing Temple 42-28 with 2:57 left in the fourth quarter: -10 plays, 83 yards, TD -successful onside kick -2 plays, 49 yards, TD -2 plays, 25 yards, TD QB...
mentions_templeoffensepredictionqb
Sheppard
- QB/LB: Clarke will be back to being a main target once Temple’s QB situation is sorted out.
depth_chartlboffenseqb
The Aftermath
- QB/RB: Brown reminds me of of the RB 10 years ago or so Gardner with his size and running style.
dllbmentions_penn_stateoffenseqbrbwr
Who starts at QB?
- QB/OL: The OL can run block, Brown is the real deal, and Sheppard is a load.
lboffenseolqb
Toledo’s thrill of victory is Temple’s agony of defeat
- QB/DL: The DL has done a way better job in the run game this year not letting holes open up (which was a huge problem at times last year) They probably grade out as one...
defensedlmentions_toledooffensepracticeqbschematics
Sheppard
- QB: If Jahny was a great throwing QB, then he would have gone to a P4.
offenseqb
Everything
10
American Conference Expansion
- Intel: It would be cool for football but would only work if it was separate bball conferences to keep multiple autobids and then everyone just having an unofficial football conference/scheduling alliance and pooled media right...
mentions_armymentions_navymentions_uconn
Around CFB
- Intel: CUSA game with conference title at stake sells out 17k stadium- Breaking news brought to you by j diddy low major news
mentions_delawarementions_liberty
American Conference Expansion
- Intel: Rhode Island and only if they want to move up to FBS is the only A10 that would join, (unless Saint Louis, Dayton and VCU leave for the big east*) Unless Saint Louis and...
mentions_north_texasmentions_texasmentions_uabmentions_uconn
- Intel: The full Badger Connect Podcast is now available to watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Temple 26th in FBS
- Intel: I’m just community noting him and trying to take him through though exercise.
Temple 26th in FBS
- Intel: “I think football loses 15 million becuase xyz” “That’s wrong but I’m not going to explain why and A10 sucks”
Football Pressers
- LB: It’s a tough break if you can’t make the game because you have to work but thousands won’t be shut out because of a 4pm Friday game.
lbmentions_charlottementions_uconn
Football Pressers
- Intel: If you are a college graduate who can’t skip out of work a few hours early on a Friday afternoon, you chose the wrong major…