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Most Important College Football Game for Each Top 25 Team During 2016 Season

By Zach Bigalke

Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) moves past Mississippi Rebels linebacker DeMarquis Gates (3) during the fourth quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) moves past Mississippi Rebels linebacker DeMarquis Gates (3) during the fourth quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 3, 2016; Annapolis, MD, USA; Temple Owls defensive back Nate Hairston (15) celebrates defensive back Delvon Randall (23) and wide receiver Ventell Bryant (1)after intercepting Navy Midshipmen quarterback Zach Abey (not pictured) pass during the second quarter at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Annapolis, MD, USA; Temple Owls defensive back Nate Hairston (15) celebrates defensive back Delvon Randall (23) and wide receiver Ventell Bryant (1)after intercepting Navy Midshipmen quarterback Zach Abey (not pictured) pass during the second quarter at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

24. Temple Snatches AAC Crown in 34-10 Title Win over Navy (Dec. 3)

Unfortunately for Navy, they ran into Temple in the AAC championship game. The Owls opened the season 1-2 after losses to Army and Penn State, and they were just 3-3 at the midway point following a defeat at Memphis. But Matt Rhule’s team rattled off six straight wins on the back end of the season, including the win at home over South Florida that secured the AAC East, and managed to claw their way into a showdown with Navy in Annapolis for the conference crown.

Everything went right for Temple in the title game on the road. They scored a touchdown on the opening drive, a 12-play, 75-yard march that culminated in a 15-yard Jahad Thomas run for the points. The defense held Navy on downs the first time the Midshipmen had the ball, and the Owls turned the next drive into another TD. On the next Navy possession, Sean Chandler forced a Darryl Bonner fumble that was recovered by Avery Williams, and Temple made them play with Phillip Walker’s second touchdown pass of the game.

The teams traded field goals before the intermission, and Navy pulled within two touchdowns midway through the third quarter, but the result was effectively sealed by halftime. The win allowed the Owls to squeak into every Top 25 list for the first time of the season, and positioned them to play a bowl game against Wake Forest in… Annapolis, site of their last glory for the AAC title.

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