The 2020s Temple Owls only know 3-9. Temple finished 1-6 in an abbreviated pandemic year to launch the decade, but from 2021-24, the program spun its wheels by producing an identical record four-consecutive times. This offseason, K.C. Keeler was brought in to solve a half-decade of futility after the 66-year old head coach led an impressive turnaround at Sam Houston.
One conference game in, Keeler’s impact already showed. The first-year Temple coach led the Owls to a 27-21 victory as touchdown underdogs
to UTSA, protecting Lincoln Financial Field and registering win No. 3 — this time, just five games into the season.
Temple didn’t seamlessly coast to victory in Philadelphia. The Owls needed to overcome adversity in order to have their moment. UTSA established a 14-3 halftime lead after two touchdowns by tight end Patrick Overmyer. Meanwhile, Temple punted on three of its four first half possessions, but one thing the Owls didn’t do was lose a backbreaking turnover. In fact, Temple remains the only FBS team without committing a single turnover in 2025 after Alabama and UConn coughed up their first ones of the season Saturday.
Temple’s supreme ball security went a long way in securing the comeback effort. Temple turned the game upside down in a 21-7 third quarter where Evan Simon found his favorite receiver JoJo Bermudez for a touchdown, and then Hunter Smith flew through an open gap on a 54-yard rushing score. Speaking of ball security, Smith’s touchdown was a 1-play drive set up by a Jamere Jones interception. UTSA’s offense shed off the turnover and quickly retook the lead at 21-17 on a touchdown strike from Owen McCown to Devin McCuin, but the Owls’ third quarter offensive masterclass wasn’t over yet. To close the frame, Simon delivered his second touchdown pass of the day, this one to tight end Peter Clarke to rewrite the score to 24-21.
Early in the fourth quarter, the turnover battle played into Temple’s favor once more. Driving for the go-ahead score on the Temple 15-yard line, UTSA’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Temple strong safety Avery Powell made a leaping grab off the deflection to secure the team’s second interception of the day and deny a Roadrunner red zone opportunity. UTSA received two additional fourth quarter possessions with a chance to take the lead, but Temple’s defense ensured it would never cross midfield. The Roadrunners turned it over on downs on consecutive tries against an Owl unit which broke up six passes and generated three sacks in a commendable performance.
Temple also limited UTSA star running back Robert Henry Jr. Averaging an FBS-best 156 rushing yards per game heading into Saturday, Henry only managed 42 on 12 attempts against the feisty Owls. It was his first game without a 70+ yard breakaway run all year, and the talented senior tailback finally saw his 6-game streak of 140+ yard performances come to a conclusion. Temple out-gained UTSA 128-70 on the ground, and that was a key element to pulling off the upset.
UTSA (2-3, 0-1 American) dropped its conference opener for the second-consecutive year. The Roadrunners look to bounce back at the Alamodome next Saturday when in-state rival Rice pulls into town. Temple (3-2, 1-0 American) won its first American opener since 2021. The Owls already matched their win total from the last four seasons, yet there are still seven opportunities to exceed it. Next up for Keeler and Co. is undefeated Navy, which visits Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 11.
