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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