College Football Rankings: Projected Top 25, Week 8 – Down goes Georgia
By Zach Bigalke
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. won 30-28 vs. No. 23 Memphis. 10/19 at SMU. player. Temple Owls. 25. 885
Temple pulled out to a 16-0 lead at home against No. 23 Memphis, then held on for dear life as the Tigers clawed their way back into the contest. But the Owls held on for the 30-28 victory, claiming their second win over an AP Top 25 program and staking their own claim on a position in the poll once the dust settles on Week 7.
A bend-but-don’t-break defense gave up 363 passing yards to Brady White, but they also forced the Memphis quarterback to cough up the football four times over the course of the contest. Turning those mistakes into three field goals and a touchdown, turnovers ended up proving the difference for Temple on their home field.
Looking set to push up into the AP Top 25 this week, Temple should be ranked as they head to Dallas for another tough interdivisional showdown in Week 8 against undefeated SMU. That speaks to the depth in the American Athletic Conference this year, and the door is fully open for the Owls to challenge for a New Year’s Six bid as the top Group of Five team.