AAC Football: Most Important Non-Conference Games in 2017

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Sep 17, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Jake Cooper (33) looks to pressure Temple Owls quarterback Phillip Walker (8) during the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Temple 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports /

Temple got hot at the right time, winning six straight to close out the regular season and then taking down Navy in Annapolis in an AAC title game upset.

The Owls also lost both of their showdowns against Power Five opponents, falling by seven points at Penn State in September and eight points against Wake Forest in the Military Bowl. With head coach Matt Rhule now at Baylor, though, their most important test of 2017 is also the first for new coach Geoff Collins.

Collins starts his career at the helm with a trip to South Bend. The Owls have played Notre Dame only twice, and both games came within the past five years.

In 2013, Temple fell 28-6 on the road. Two years later, Notre Dame escaped Philadelphia with a 24-20 win over the Owls.

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The Fighting Irish are not likely to be national contenders this year after collapsing in 2016 and losing talent to the NFL, and Temple could set up an AAC title defense and position itself for a New Year’s Six bid by taking down the Irish for the first time in school history.

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