Struggles on Both Sides of the Ball as Both Teams Face Challenges
Temple Owls vs UTSA Roadrunners: Key Struggles Define Crucial AAC Showdown
This Friday, the Temple Owls (3-7, 2-4 AAC) travel to San Antonio to face off against the UTSA Roadrunners (5-5, 3-3 AAC) in an important American Athletic Conference matchup. Temple is coming off a narrow 18-15 overtime victory against FAU, which broke a two-game losing streak, though the win was marred by the dismissal of head coach Stan Drayton. Drayton’s tenure ended with a 9-25 record, leading to questions about the direction of the program. Meanwhile, the Roadrunners enter this contest on a two-game winning streak after a 48-27 victory over North Texas.
The game is pivotal for both teams as they continue to battle for bowl eligibility. For Temple, the struggles have been largely on the offensive and defensive fronts, while UTSA excels in scoring but has not been able to stop opponents consistently.
Temple Owls: Offensive Woes and Defensive Struggles
The Owls’ 2024 season has been defined by their inability to consistently move the ball or stop their opponents from doing so. Temple’s offense is averaging just 19.1 points per game, which ranks 122nd in the nation. Their 307.1 total yards per game is also subpar, ranking 124th among all FBS teams. The Owls’ offensive play-calling has been ineffective, especially in the running game, where they are averaging only 96.6 rushing yards per game (126th nationally). This lack of a ground game has put additional pressure on the passing attack, which, despite averaging a respectable 210.5 yards per game, has often been inefficient.
Quarterback Evan Simon has thrown for 1,545 yards, with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. While he has shown some flashes of potential, Simon has not been able to sustain consistent play under pressure. Dante Wright, a standout receiver with 56 catches for 664 yards, has been the primary target in the passing game, but the Owls need more playmakers to emerge for their offense to become more dynamic.
Defensively, Temple has been unable to slow down opposing offenses, ranking 121st in points allowed (35.0 per game) and 102nd in total defense (404.5 yards allowed per game). The Owls have been especially vulnerable against the run, yielding 214.5 rushing yards per game (127th in the nation). Although their pass defense has been somewhat better, ranking 31st in passing yards allowed (190.0 per game), the Owls have not been able to consistently generate pressure on the quarterback.
Defensive end Diwun Black (4.5 sacks) and linebacker Tyquan King (88 tackles) have been bright spots on a defense that has struggled overall. However, for Temple to have any chance of competing in this game, they’ll need to drastically improve in both phases of the game.
UTSA Roadrunners: High-Scoring Offense and Defensive Vulnerabilities
The UTSA Roadrunners have proven to be one of the more potent offensive teams in the AAC this season. Averaging 31.2 points per game (43rd nationally) and 451.6 total yards per game (17th), the Roadrunners are a threat to score at any moment. A major contributor to this success has been Owen McCown, who has thrown for 2,743 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. His ability to spread the ball around has been a key factor in the team’s success, and he will look to continue his strong play against a Temple defense that has struggled to stop the pass.
While UTSA has been prolific through the air, averaging 300 yards per game (10th in the nation), they have also been effective on the ground, posting 151.6 rushing yards per game (78th). Running back Robert Henry, with 528 rushing yards and five touchdowns, has been solid, although he has not been asked to carry the offense by himself.
However, UTSA’s defense has been a major weakness all season. Despite strong individual performances from linebacker Jimmori Robinson (5.5 sacks) and cornerback Zah Frazier (four interceptions), the Roadrunners have struggled to keep opponents in check. UTSA allows an average of 32.0 points per game (113th) and 391.0 yards per game (91st). Their pass defense is particularly porous, ranking 131st in the nation, allowing an alarming 287.4 passing yards per game. This is a major concern heading into a matchup with a Temple offense that has had its own issues but can still exploit weak defenses through the air.
On the other hand, UTSA’s run defense has been much better, ranking 11th in the nation with just 103.6 rushing yards allowed per game, which could be an area of strength if they can bottle up Temple’s limited ground game.
Conclusion
This game is a crucial one for both teams as they look to stay in the hunt for bowl eligibility. While Temple will look to build off their overtime win against FAU, their struggles on both sides of the ball make it difficult to see them coming out on top against a high-powered UTSA offense. The Roadrunners, though strong offensively, will need to clean up their defensive issues to avoid an upset. Ultimately, UTSA’s ability to score and Temple’s inability to stop them likely gives the Roadrunners the upper hand in this American Athletic Conference clash.
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