Philadelphia: There is a certain feel when a new college football season arrives & that is what we had on Saturday as the Temple Owls would open the 2026 season as they would battle the Rhode Island Rams from the Linc. Temple, led by 2nd-year head coach KC Keeler, faced the Rams, who made their way to Philly after a win over Merimack.

Temple Captains for week 1

Temple won the toss & elected to receive to start the gam

How the game went:

Going into the game, who would be the starting QB for the Owls & it would be announced that Jaxon Smolik got the start for the Owls & he would lead them right down the field for the Touchdown as Smolik connected with Jayce Freeman from 18 yards out  to start the season

Rhode Island would not waste any time as they responded with 35 yard TD to get things tied at 7 with 9:31 left in the 1^st quarter. Later on, Temple would retake the lead at 10-7 on 34 yard FG with 5:28 left in the 1^st quarter. The Owls would have a new QB to start the next drive, & it would be Ajani Sheppard would come into the game for the Owls. Temple would take a 10-7 lead at the end of the 1st quarter. The Owls would increase the lead to 17-7 on a pick-6 in the 2nd quarter from Jamarcus Pierre, his 1st career INT

After the pick-6, Rhode Island tried to get back into the game with a nice, time-consuming drive that ended in a touchdown, cutting the Owls’ lead to 3 at 17-14 with 2:22 left until halftime. Jaxon Smolik would be back at QB for the Owls to close out the 1st half & they would score a yard TD by Keveun Mason from 1 yard out & Owls would lead 24-14 & that would be the score at halftime.

 

Based on what we saw in the first half, can the Owls keep the pressure on the Rams? In the 3rd quarter, Temple would go for it on 4th down on 2 separate times, made it the 1st time & on the 2nd time they would get stopped, but replay review would show that the Owls picked up the 1st down & kept the drive going & it would end with 2nd rush touchdown of game by Keveun Mason, the drive would go 17 plays, 82 yards, 8:16 & the Owls would lead 31-14 with 1:05 left in 3rd quarter.

 

During the 4th quarter, the Owls’ defense would ice the game with 2nd pick 6, this one from Tyree Aluana from 66 yards for a 38-14 lead. A crowd of 13,484 in attendance to see the Owls get off on the right side as they take down Rhode Island 38-14

Postgame:

Temple Coach K.C. Keeler

Final Numbers:

What is next:
Temple will go to battle with Penn State next week at Lincoln Financial Field at Noon on ESPN2