Game Guide: Toledo

Date

Saturday, Sept. 19

Time

3:00 p.m.

Location

Toledo, Ohio

Broadcast

CBSSN

PHILADELPHIA – Temple football hits the road for the first time this season on Saturday, September 19, as the Owls travel to Toledo to face the Rockets at the Glass Bowl. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.

Game Central: Toledo

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Things to Look for in Week 3...

Running Toward History

Temple has rushed for at least 176 yards in each of its first two games. If the Owls reach 176 rushing yards again Saturday, it will mark the first time since 2011 that Temple has rushed for at least 176 yards in three straight games.

Road Trippin'

Saturday marks Temple's first road game of the 2026 season. K.C. Keeler is 12-11 in the first road game of a season as a head coach since 2002, with his teams averaging 29 points in those contests. Last season, Temple opened on the road with a 42-10 win at UMass.

Back to the Glass Bowl

Temple is looking for its first win over Toledo since 2009, when the Al Golden-led Owls defeated the Rockets 40-24 in Ohio. Two of Temple's three wins in the all-time series have come on the road.

Owls in Ohio

Several Owls will return to their home state Saturday, led by Toledo native Kevin Hornbeak. The senior defensive tackle attended Whitmer High School, just 4.9 miles from the Glass Bowl. Davier Bishop, Earl Kulp, Josiah Jackson and Reis Stocksdale are also Ohio natives, while offensive coordinator Tyler Walker previously played and coached in the state.

A win Saturday would be Temple's sixth against current Mid-American Conference programs since 2015. The Owls' lone loss in that stretch came against Toledo in the 2015 Boca Raton Bowl.
Mike Jacobs is one of six first-year head coaches Temple will face during the 2026 season.
Keveun Mason has rushed for 234 yards through two games, the most by a Temple running back through the first two games of a season since Jahad Thomas had 328 in 2015.

Last Time Out

Temple's defense stood tall early against No. 16 Penn State, twice keeping the Nittany Lions out of the end zone after they moved inside the Temple five-yard line. Jaxon Smolik helped turn the second goal-line stand into a 91-yard scoring drive, highlighted by a career-long 47-yard rush and a third-and-12 completion to Peter Clarke. Carl Hardin capped the drive with a 24-yard field goal to give Temple a 3-0 lead.

Penn State took a 10-3 lead into halftime and created separation after the break, scoring 17 unanswered points in the second half. Temple answered on its final possession when Ajani Sheppard connected with Jayce Freeman for 39 yards before Sheppard scored on a three-yard run for the first touchdown of his career, producing the 27-9 final.

Top Performer: Curly Ordonez • 12 Tackles (9 Solo) • 1.0 Sack

Series History

All-Time SeriesToledo leads, 8-3

Last MeetingToledo, 32-17 • 2015

Last Temple Win2009 • W, 40-24

Current StreakToledo won last meeting

Temple By the Numbers

234Keveun Mason Rushing Yards Through Two Games

201.5Temple Rushing Yards Per Game

100%Temple Red-Zone Scoring (6-for-6)

21.5JoJo Bermudez Punt Return Average

Scouting Toledo 1-1 (0-0 MAC)

Last Time Out

W, 63-10 vs. Central Connecticut State

Key Player

QB John Alan Richter • 15-24, 252 YDS, 3 TD

Team Trend

Held CCSU to 139 total yards and seven first downs

Toledo enters Week 3 at 1-1 under first-year head coach Mike Jacobs. The Rockets opened the season with a 30-20 loss at Michigan State, a game in which running back Connor Walendzak gave Toledo a fourth-quarter lead before the Spartans pulled away. Jacobs arrived at Toledo after leading Mercer to a 20-6 record across the 2024 and 2025 seasons and earning back-to-back SoCon Coach of the Year honors.

The Rockets bounced back with a 63-10 win over Central Connecticut State. Quarterback John Alan Richter completed 15-of-24 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns, while Rico Bond caught four passes for 135 yards. Toledo was also dominant defensively, holding CCSU to 139 total yards and seven first downs.

Up Next

Temple vs. Army

Friday, Sept. 254:00 p.m.Philadelphia, Pa.ESPN

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