2021 Temple Owls football team

2021 American Athletic Conference football standings

Team	W		L	W		L
No. 4 Cincinnati y$^	8	–	0	13	–	1
No. 17 Houston y	8	–	0	12	–	2
UCF	5	–	3	9	–	4
East Carolina	5	–	3	7	–	5
Tulsa	5	–	3	7	–	6
SMU	4	–	4	8	–	4
Memphis	3	–	5	6	–	6
Navy	3	–	5	4	–	8
Tulane	1	–	7	2	–	10
South Florida	1	–	7	2	–	10
Temple	1	–	7	3	–	9
Championship: Cincinnati 35, Houston 20
^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021 Temple Owls football team represented Temple University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls were led by third-year head coach Rod Carey and played their home games at Lincoln Financial Field, competing as a member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC).

Preseason

American Athletic Conference preseason media poll

The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at the virtual media day held August 4, 2021.^[1] Cincinnati, who finished the 2020 season ranked No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021 preseason media poll.

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
Media poll
1	Cincinnati	262 (22)
2	UCF	241 (2)
3	SMU	188
4	Houston	181
5	Memphis	168
6	Tulsa	153
7	Tulane	132
т-8	East Carolina	85
т-8	Navy	85
10	Temple	46
11	South Florida	43

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	12:00 p.m.	at Rutgers*	SHI Stadium Piscataway, NJ	BTN	L 14–61	52,519
September 11	3:30 p.m.	at Akron*	InfoCision Stadium Akron, OH	ESPN+	W 45–24	14,474
September 18	12:00 p.m.	Boston College*	Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA	ESPNU	L 3–28	25,290
September 25	12:00 p.m.	Wagner*	Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA	ESPN+	W 41–7	20,179
October 2	12:00 p.m.	Memphis	Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA	ESPNU	W 34–31	28,573
October 8	7:00 p.m.	at No. 5 Cincinnati	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH	ESPN	L 3–52	37,978
October 23	7:00 p.m.	at South Florida	Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL	ESPN+	L 14–34	25,430
October 30	12:00 p.m.	UCF	Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA	ESPN+	L 7–49	19,595
November 6	3:00 p.m.	at East Carolina	Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium Greenville, NC	ESPN+	L 3–45	32,817
November 13	12:00 p.m.	Houston	Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA	ESPN+	L 8–37	18,440
November 20	4:00 p.m.	at Tulsa	H.A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, OK	ESPN+	L 10–44	16,731
November 27	12:00 p.m.	Navy	Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA	ESPNU	L 14–38	16,708
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

Source:^[2]

Game summaries

At Rutgers

Temple at Rutgers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	0	7	7	0	14
• Scarlet Knights	12	14	14	21	61

Date: September 4, 2021
Location: SHI Stadium
Piscataway, NJ
Game start: 12:02 p.m. EDT
Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes
Game attendance: 52,519
Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NW 4 MPH
Referee: Jeff Servinski
TV announcers (Big Ten Network): Joe Beninati (play-by-play), Matt McGloin (analyst), and Michelle McMahon (sideline)

Pregame line	Over/under
RUT –14.5	52

Statistics	Temple	Rutgers
First downs	12	21
Total yards	261	365
Rushing yards	113	220
Passing yards	148	145
Turnovers	5	0
Time of possession	24:23	35:37

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Temple	Passing	D'Wan Mathis	8/24, 148 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Edward Saydee	12 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Jose Barbon	2 receptions, 48 yards
Rutgers	Passing	Noah Vedral	15/27, 138 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Noah Vedral	9 carries, 71 yards
	Receiving	Bo Melton	6 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD

At Akron

Temple at Akron

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Owls	7	17	14	7	45
Zips	14	3	0	7	24

Date: September 11, 2021
Location: InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field
Akron, OH
Game start: 3:35 p.m. EDT
Elapsed time: 2 hours and 25 minutes
Game attendance: 14,573
Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SSW 15 MPH
Referee: Greg Sujak
TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Je'Rod Cherry (analyst)

Pregame line	Over/under
TEM –6.5	52

Statistics	Temple	Akron
First downs	19	26
Total yards	432	362
Rushing yards	177	171
Passing yards	255	191
Turnovers	0	2
Time of possession	27:51	32:09

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Temple	Passing	Justin Lynch	19/23, 255 yards, 2 TDs
	Rushing	Tayvon Ruley	6 carries, 62 yards
	Receiving	Randle Jones	7 receptions, 170 yards, 2 TDs
Akron	Passing	DJ Irons	12/22, 109 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Jonzell Norrils	15 carries, 66 yards
	Receiving	Michael Mathison	8 receptions, 101 yards

Boston College

Boston College at Temple

	1	2	3	4	Total
• RV Eagles	14	7	0	7	28
Owls	0	0	0	3	3

Date: September 18, 2021
Location: Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia, PA
Game start: 12:03 p.m. EDT
Elapsed time: 3 hours and 22 minutes
Game attendance: 25,290
Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NW 9 MPH
Referee: Gary Patterson
TV announcers (ESPNU): John Schriffen (play–by–play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)

Pregame line	Over/under
BC –15.0	56

Statistics	Boston College	Temple
First downs	13	13
Total yards	221	245
Rushing yards	179	84
Passing yards	59	161
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	28:40	31:20

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Boston College	Passing	Dennis Grosel	7/15, 59 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Pat Garwo III	17 carries, 48 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	CJ Lewis	2 receptions, 21 yards
Temple	Passing	Justin Lynch	17/24, 161 yards
	Rushing	Justin Lynch	21 carries, 27 yards
	Receiving	Jadan Blue	3 receptions, 40 yards

Wagner

Wagner at Temple

	1	2	3	4	Total
Seahawks	7	0	0	0	7
• Owls	0	17	17	7	41

Date: September 25, 2021
Location: Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia, PA
Game start: 12:05 p.m. EDT
Elapsed time: 3 hours and 4 minutes
Game attendance: 20,179
Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NW 5 MPH
Referee: Nate Black
TV announcers (ESPN+): Bill Spaulding (play–by–play) and Barrett Brooks (analyst)

Pregame line	Over/under
TEM –36.5	55

Statistics	Wagner	Temple
First downs	8	22
Total yards	159	407
Rushing yards	123	115
Passing yards	36	292
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	30:54	29:06

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Wagner	Passing	Guenson Alexis	4/8, 36 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Rickey Spruill	14 carries, 73 yards
	Receiving	Jeremiah Lorick	3 receptions, 33 yards
Temple	Passing	D'Wan Mathis	22/32, 292 yards, 2 TDs
	Rushing	Kyle Dobbins	13 carries, 61 yards, 3 TDs
	Receiving	Jose Barbon	8 receptions, 130 yards

Memphis

Memphis at Temple

	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	3	14	6	8	31
• Owls	0	17	7	10	34

Date: October 2, 2021
Location: Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia, PA
Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes
Game attendance: 28,573
Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SW 12 MPH
Referee: Hank Johns
TV announcers (ESPNU): Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)

Over/under

Statistics	Memphis	Temple
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Memphis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Temple	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At No. 5 Cincinnati

Temple at Cincinnati

	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	0	3	0	0	3
• No. 5 Bearcats	10	7	28	7	52

Date: October 8, 2021
Location: Nippert Stadium
Cincinnati, OH
Game start: 7:05 p.m. EDT
Elapsed time: 3 hours and 18 minutes
Game attendance: 37,978
Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SE 2 MPH
Referee: Edwin Lee
TV announcers (ESPN): Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst), and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline)

Pregame line	Over/under
CIN −28	54.5

Statistics	Temple	Cincinnati
First downs	14	23
Total yards	235	542
Rushing yards	85	279
Passing yards	150	263
Time of possession	31:59	28:01

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Temple	Passing	D'Wan Mathis	16/27, 120 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Justin Lynch	3 carries, 29 yards
	Receiving	Jose Barbon	5 receptions, 45 yards
Cincinnati	Passing	Desmond Ridder	22/30, 259 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Jerome Ford	15 carries, 149 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Alec Pierce	6 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD

At South Florida

Temple at South Florida

	1	2	Total
Owls			0
Bulls			0

Date: October 23, 2021
Location: Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, FL
Game start: 7:00 EDT
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN+): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Brandon Weeden (analyst)

Over/under

Statistics	Temple	South Florida
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Temple	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
South Florida	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

UCF

Central Florida at Temple

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Knights	7	14	21	7	49
Owls	0	0	0	7	7

Date: October 30, 2021
Location: Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia, PA
Game start: 12:00 EDT
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross (play-by-play) and Leger Douzable (analyst)

Over/under

Statistics	UCF	Temple
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UCF	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Temple	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At East Carolina

Temple at East Carolina

	1	2	Total
Owls			0
Pirates			0

Date: November 6, 2021
Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
Greenville, NC
Game start: TBD EDT
Elapsed time:
Game attendance:
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN+): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Brandon Weeden (analyst)

Over/under

Statistics	Temple	East Carolina
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Temple	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
East Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Houston

Houston at Temple

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Cougars	7	3	14	13	37
Owls	0	0	0	8	8

Date: November 13, 2021
Location: Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia, PA
Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST
Elapsed time: 3 hours and 16 minutes
Game attendance: 18,440
Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: S 13 MPH
Referee: Edwin Lee
TV announcers (ESPN+): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Leger Douzable (analyst)

Line	Over/under
HOU –25.0	53

Statistics	Houston	Temple
First downs	24	10
Total yards	446	218
Rushing yards	217	99
Passing yards	229	119
Turnovers	0	3
Time of possession	39:22	20:38

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing	Clayton Tune	21/34, 224 yards, 2 TDs
	Rushing	Alton McCaskill	21 rushes, 129 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Seth Green	7 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD
Temple	Passing	Justin Lynch	11/24, 119 yards, 2 INTs
	Rushing	Justin Lynch	14 rushes, 78 yards
	Receiving	Randle Jones	5 receptions, 36 yards

At Tulsa

Temple at Tulsa

	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	0	0	10	0	10
• Golden Hurricane	10	17	7	10	44

Date: November 20, 2021
Location: Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium
Tulsa, OK
Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST
Elapsed time:
Game attendance: 16,731
Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
Referee:
TV announcers (ESPN+): Ted Emrich (play-by-play) and Brandon Weeden (analyst)

Over/under

Statistics	Temple	Tulsa
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Temple	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tulsa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Navy

Navy at Temple

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Midshipmen	7	10	7	14	38
Owls	0	7	7	0	14

Date: November 27, 2021
Location: Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia, PA
Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST
Elapsed time: 3 hours, 2 minutes
Game attendance:
Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: NW 18 MPH
Referee: 16,708
TV announcers (ESPNU): Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)

Pregame line	Over/under
NAVY –13.5	42.5

Statistics	Navy	Temple
First downs	21	11
Total yards	291	182
Rushing yards	219	84
Passing yards	72	98
Turnovers	1	3
Time of possession	37:11	22:49

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Navy	Passing	Tai Lavatai	5/11, 57 yards, TD
	Rushing	Carlinos Acie	10 carries, 86 yards, TD
	Receiving	Chance Warren	3 receptions, 43 yards, 2 TD
Temple	Passing	Mariano Valenti	10/14, 73 yards
	Rushing	Tayvon Ruley	9 carries, 68 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jose Barbon	5 receptions, 34 yards

References

^ "Cincinnati Chosen as Favorite in American Preseason Media Poll". theAmerican.org. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
^ "2021 Temple Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 20, 2021.

[1] "Cincinnati Chosen as Favorite in American Preseason Media Poll". theAmerican.org. Retrieved August 4, 2021.

[2] "2021 Temple Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 20, 2021.

[1]

[2]

Temple Owls football
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Culture & lore	Hooter T. Owl
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
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