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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.
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Around CFB
- QB/LB: Read where Nebraska’s QB went into NDSU’s locker before the game and taunted players.
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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.
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- 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...
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Sheppard
- QB/LB: Clarke will be back to being a main target once Temple’s QB situation is sorted out.
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The Aftermath
- QB/RB: Brown reminds me of of the RB 10 years ago or so Gardner with his size and running style.
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Who starts at QB?
- QB/OL: The OL can run block, Brown is the real deal, and Sheppard is a load.
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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...
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Sheppard
- QB: If Jahny was a great throwing QB, then he would have gone to a P4.
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