Temple (2-1, 0-0) vs. No. 21 USF (3-0, 0-0)

Quick Facts on Temple

·      Head Coach: Geoff Collins (first season)

·      Collins served as Florida’s defensive coordinator from 2015-2016 before accepting the position as head coach at Temple.

·      2016 American Athletic Conference Champion (defeated Navy in title game, 34-10)

·      USF’s lone loss in 2016 conference play

 

The last time these two teams met, Matt Rhule and Willie Taggart were roaming the sidelines as head coaches. Both are now off at Power Five schools – Taggart at Oregon (Pac-12) and Rhule at Baylor (Big 12).

USF and Temple each went 7-1 in conference play last season, but that October 21st meeting in Philadelphia determined everything. The Owls won at home, 46-30, and would fend off the Bulls for a Division, and then conference title.

 

Get to know Temple

This is not your 2016 Owls. This is a younger crew led by a young quarterback. Sophomore Logan Marchi has been sacked more times (6) than he has thrown touchdowns (5). Junior running back Ryquell Armstead is a name Bulls fans should remember as he torched USF for a career-best 210 rushing yards in last season's matchup. But this is a team that had to fend off UMass last week (29-21) and Villanova the week before (16-13). They opened the season with a dreadful 49-16 loss in South Bend against Notre Dame. If the Irish can rush for 422 yards, then USF fans must be salivating for a chance to see what the Bulls can do to the Owls defense.

 

Home Field Advantage

Last season Temple won by 16 points. In 2015, down here in Tampa, USF won 19 points in a 44-23 rout. Quinton Flowers, a sophomore at the time, had three total touchdowns that evening at Ray Jay.

Remember That Night in Philly…

The Bulls' loss to Temple last October would end up costing them a trip to the AAC Championship game. 

 “When you look at what it cost us last year, it is definitely in the back of our minds,” says sophomore defensive end Greg Reaves. “I’m not saying that is the only thing. We come out, we prepare each and every week. This is conference play. It’s a big game.”

“Just from what happened last year and how big of an impact that was,” says senior running back Darius Tice, who remembers sitting in Tampa with an injury watching his Bulls fall up north. “You can’t forget about nothing. You have to take that on!”

No one has more to prove than the Bulls Defense - one that is determined rid itself of the 46 points to the Owls. 

 “This is the same unit as last year,” said junior corner back Ronnie Hoggins. “We just believe in each other more. These guys have been together and we just love each other and love playing for each other.”

 “You can’t worry about last season,” said head coach Charlie Strong. Even though he was not the coach of USF in 2016, Strong wears that loss like a badge around his players. “We just have to stay locked in and go play our game. We gotta go out and execute and play physical. Play with some enthusiasm and some passion.”

The Bulls defense is 2nd in the nation with 8 interceptions and the players are hungry for more against Temple.

 “The defense has improved this year and we are ready to go,” said Hoggins.

 

Fun Fact

Not so fun for USF fans, but something to keep an eye on Thursday night: Temple has 17 blocked kicks over the last three seasons. Remember that blocked extra point on Friday against Illinois? Here’s hoping the USF special teams got extra work in on a short week.

 

Name(s) to Watch

Ryquell Armstead, junior running back - 210 rushing yards (career best) against USF last season. He is coming off his best performance of this season with 91 rushing yards against UMass last weekend.

Keith Kirkwood, senior wide receiver – Kirkwood leads the team with two touchdowns on the season. He also leads all receivers with 12 catches and 185 yards in 2017.