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Temple Owls (@Temple_FB)

K. C. Keeler (2nd year) (5-7) #36
Record: 0 - 0 (0 - 0)  |  Proj: 6 - 6 (#70)  |  SOS: (#111)
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Updated Mar 30, 2026Early OffseasonOutlook: Cautiously Optimistic

Jaxon Smolik (PSU transfer) has taken a clear lead in Temple's QB competition after throwing three TD passes in the March 28 spring scrimmage, with HC KC Keeler targeting a starter announcement before the April 11 spring game — TE Peter Clarke, who caught scores from both QBs, is the offensive anchor regardless of the outcome. The biggest concern is a secondary that beat writers and Keeler's own staff describe as 'very green,' even as the front seven added bulk through the portal; the defense is physically larger on paper but entirely unproven, and the CBs have the thinnest experience of any unit on the roster. Temple faces Penn State in Week 2 of a schedule that also includes Toledo, Army, and South Florida in a treacherous five-game opening stretch that will define bowl eligibility hopes. With 43 new players integrated and Samuel Brown V (Rutgers transfer) already flashing in spring, the Owls have the offensive roster depth to reach six wins — but a 2026 bowl bid hinges on whether the rebuilt secondary can hold up by mid-October.

Key Storylines

  • Jaxon Smolik (PSU transfer) has seized early momentum in the QB competition after throwing 3 TDs in the March 28 scrimmage; Keeler wants to name a starter before the April 11 Cherry & White Game, with Smolik currently working with the first-team offense
  • TE Peter Clarke is the offense's most reliable weapon regardless of QB — he caught TDs from both Smolik and Sheppard in scrimmage and is the top G5 tight end option heading into 2026
  • Defense is physically larger after the portal class but the secondary is a genuine concern: CBs are described as 'very green' and the unit's improvement is unproven after just a few spring practices
  • Temple integrated 43 new players into spring camp (22 via portal including RB Samuel Brown V) — cohesion and depth on both lines are the critical development storylines before fall camp
  • A Week 2 home game vs Penn State looms as a massive test; Temple needs to be bowl-eligible for the first time since 2019, and Keeler's 'do-it-right-now' mandate sets the stakes for this roster
Temple's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5Temple vs Rhode Island-17
Sat 9/12Temple vs Penn State+16
Sat 9/19Temple at Toledo+3.5
Sat 9/26Temple vs Army+2.5
Sat 10/3Temple at South Florida+8.5
Sat 10/10Temple vs UConn-3.5
Sat 10/17Temple vs Charlotte-22
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/31Temple at East Carolina+9
Sat 11/7Temple at Navy+9
Sat 11/14Temple vs UAB-13.5
Thu 11/19Temple vs Rice-12
Fri 11/27Temple at Memphis+10
Record Prediction: 6 - 6  #70
Schedule Rating:  #111
Future 2027 Schedule
Temple's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30Temple at Massachusetts-3.0W42–1051.5W42–10OY
Sat 9/6Temple vs Howard-28.0W55–747.0W55–7OY
Sat 9/13Temple vs Oklahoma+23.5L3–4250.5L3–42UN
Sat 9/20Temple at Georgia Tech+24.5L24–4552.5L24–45OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/4Temple vs UTSA+6.5W27–2158.5W27–21UY
Sat 10/11Temple vs Navy+10.0L31–3252.5L31–32OY
Sat 10/18Temple at Charlotte-10.0W49–1447.5W49–14OY
Sat 10/25Temple at Tulsa-4.5W38–3752.5W38–37ON
Sat 11/1Temple vs East Carolina+5.5L14–4558.5L14–45ON
Sat 11/8Temple at Army+7.5L13–1445.5L13–14UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/22Temple vs Tulane+7.5L13–3754.5L13–37UN
Fri 11/28Temple at North Texas+20.0L25–5265.5L25–52ON
2025 Schedule Rating:  #81
2025 Record: 5 - 7 (AAC: 3 - 5)
Spread Record 7 - 5 - 0 | O/U 8 - 4
Opponents: 0 Elite, 1 Good, 3 Avg, 4 Bad, 3 Poor
Reg Season Opponents: 1 Elite, 2 Good, 2 Avg, 3 Bad, 3 Poor

Show Past Schedules
2026 class: 192 points   #62
2025 class: 134 points   #129
2024 class: 153 points   #101
2023 class: 160 points   #81
2022 class: 122 points   #109

Average Class Ranking:   #96
Average Recruiting Points: 152

Four Year Crootin Profile
Improving Average G5
4 Year Class:  #93 - Best:  #62 Worst:  #129



CFB Crootin Averages
American Athletic Class: 158  #105
Group of 5 Class: 169  #101
FBS Class: 198  #70


2021 class: 124 points   #131
2020 class: 149 points   #101
2019 class: 139 points   #113
2018 class: 154 points   #83
2017 class: 108 points   #108

Average Class Ranking:   #107
Average Recruiting Points: 135
 
Transfer Portal Classes
2026 Portal Class  #90 - 23 players, 84 Avg
2025 Portal Class  #79 - 26 players, 84 Avg
2024 Portal Class  #90 - 17 players, 84 Avg
2023 Portal Class  #87 - 11 players, 89 Avg
Transfer Portal Classes
Transfer Portal Classes
2022 Portal Class  #51 - 12 players, 84 Avg
2021 Portal Class NR - players, 0 Avg
2020 Portal Class NR - players, 0 Avg
2019 Portal Class NR - players, 0 Avg
Offensive Coordinator Tyler Walker (in his second season) #45
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Hunter Smith6240326.572
Keveun Mason2816716.029
Colin Chase126905.821
Samuel Brown V (Tr)163802.49
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Jayce Freeman (Tr)41774818.965
Jovanni Bermudez39501412.838
Peter Clarke30483616.150
Colin Chase40414410.442
(Tr) - new transfer in 2026

Defensive Coordinator Brian Smith (in his second season) #135
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Curly Ordonez698113
Avery Powell541001
Eric Stuart442010
Pooh Lawton232001
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
JaMair Diaz (Tr)141120
Curly Ordonez698113
Russell Sykes134100
Earl Kulp50000
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Curly Ordonez698113
Jayvant Brown121001
Avery Powell541001
Returning Production
Overall Returning Production: 58%  #107
Offense Returning Production: 73%  #61
Defense Returning Production: 43%  #127
Temple's Official Roster

Transfer Portal
2026 Portal Class  #90
23 Commits, 83.9 Avg Rating
33% of 2026 Roster from Portal, 24% TY
Team Talent
2026 Talent Rating: 596.00  #82
Offense Talent  #75 | Defense Talent  #91
2025  #114 | 2024  #121 | 2023  #86 | 2022  #77


2026 - 2023 Records
2026 Record: 0 - 0
2026 Conf Record: 0 - 0
Spread: 0 - 0 - 0 | Totals: 0 - 0

2025 Record: 5 - 7
2025 Conf Record: 3 - 5
Spread: 7 - 5 - 0 | Totals: 8 - 4

2024 Record: 3 - 9
2024 Conf Record: 2 - 6
Spread: 6 - 6 - 0 | Totals: 6 - 6

2023 Record: 3 - 9
2023 Conf Record: 1 - 7
Spread: 3 - 9 - 0 | Totals: 6 - 6

Four Year Record: 11 - 25
Four Year Record vs. Spread: 16 - 20 - 0
Four Year Conference Record: 6 - 18
2022 - 2019 Records
2022 Record: 3 - 9
2022 Conf Record: 1 - 7
Spread: 8 - 4 - 0 | Totals: 6 - 6

2021 Record: 3 - 9
2021 Conf Record: 1 - 7
Spread: 2 - 10 - 0 | Totals: 7 - 5

2020 Record: 1 - 6
2020 Conf Record: 1 - 6
Spread: 2 - 5 - 0 | Totals: 3 - 4

2019 Record: 8 - 5
2019 Conf Record: 5 - 3
Spread: 8 - 5 - 0 | Totals: 7 - 6

Eight Year Record: 26 - 54
Eight Year Record vs. Spread: 36 - 44 - 0
Eight Year Conference Record: 15 - 41

Temple Recent Bowl History
DateBowlMatchupSpreadTotalResult
2019Military Bowl Temple vs North Carolina+6.056.5L 13 - 55
2018Independence Bowl Temple vs Duke-3.556.5L 27 - 56
2017Gasparilla Bowl Temple vs Florida International-7.057.5W 28 - 3
2016Military Bowl Temple vs Wake Forest-12.542.0L 26 - 34
Power Ranking Stats (2025)
 Teams                  Offense PPAOffense ExplOffense SuccessOffense Pts Per OppAvg Start FP3rd Down %4th Down %Defense PPADefense ExplDefense SuccessDefense Pts Per OppOpponent FP
2025.2 (46)1.18 (110)44% (46)4.58 (13)28.2 (92)38%74%.28 (132)1.26 (69)46% (125)4.77 (136)25.7 (0)
 Teams                  Offense PPAOffense ExplOffense SuccessOffense Pts Per OppAvg Start FP3rd Down %4th Down %Defense PPADefense ExplDefense SuccessDefense Pts Per OppOpponent FP
2024.04 (128)1.34 (29)32% (132)3.57 (97)28.2 (89)32%42%.23 (100)1.35 (108)41% (63)4.18 (106)31.8 (119)



More Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDs
20251230:0818.338%74%550.30.31.34.61.31
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDs
20241230:1215.632%42%5.645.121.33.81.21



Overall Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesPPGHomeRoadSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun Rate  Pass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
2025 Offense1227.823.831.844.4% (46)4.58 (13)0.3183451481984.550% (63)49% (68)44% (60)45% (37)14% (52).2 (46)
2025 Defense1229.730.728.746.3% (125)4.77 (136)1.3 - - - - - 57% (130)42% (6)49% (130)43% (88)15% (94).28 (132)
 Teams                  GamesPPGHomeRoadSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun Rate  Pass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
2024 Offense1219.622.316.832.4% (132)3.57 (97)216309932162.945% (107)55% (30)32% (133)33% (127)20% (125).04 (128)
2024 Defense1235.424.746.241.2% (63)4.18 (106)1.3 - - - - - 57% (128)42% (8)43% (67)40% (63)12% (126).23 (100)



Run Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
2025 Offense1250% (63)44% (60)33.2147.84.513 (78).09 (82)2.8 (97)60% (130)9% (67)0.86 (116)
2025 Defense1257% (130)49% (130) - - - - .22 (128)3.37 (133)74% (90)9% (86)0.97 (75)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
2024 Offense1245% (107)32% (133)32.193.32.910 (122)-.04 (128)2.58 (127)71% (86)13% (123)0.94 (81)
2024 Defense1257% (128)43% (67) - - - - .23 (119)3.18 (94)78% (100)7% (126)1.17 (126)



Pass Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs     Ints     PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
2025 Offense1249% (68)45% (37)17.929197.56.81128 (8)2 (1).35 (36)1.5 (87)31% (64)27% (99).2 (107)5% (35)1.8 (127)
2025 Defense1242% (6)43% (88) - - - - - - 7 (38).39 (123)1.7 (114)28% (127)33% (110).42 (117)6% (81)1.8 (19)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs     Ints     PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
2024 Offense1255% (30)33% (127)20.234.32166.310.716 (87)14 (115).13 (116)1.7 (38)39% (132)23% (129).18 (112)7% (105)2.1 (48)
2024 Defense1242% (8)40% (63) - - - - - - 9 (76).27 (84)1.6 (79)30% (100)29% (48).29 (62)5% (105)1.9 (41)




Overall

Team Info

Power #93SP+ #102
Coaching staff Rank  #80

2025 Record

5 - 7
AAC 3 - 5

Vs Spread7 - 5 - 0Totals8 - 4
One Score Games '25: (2-2)(2-2 under K.K.)

5 Year Profile

Consistent Below Avg G5

'26 Profile

Remains Below Avg G5
Performance #79
Special Teams #94

Returning Production

From 2025

55% #111
QB Jaxon Smolik (PSU Portal) likely starter
Offense 73% #61
Defense 43% #127
Returning Starters: 10 (Off: 7) - (Def: 3)
Proj Portal Starters: 2 (Off: 1) - (Def: 1)
Exp'd Depth: 8 (Off: 2) - (Def: 6)
OL Prod: 81% #224 starters, 0 exp'd depth
OL Snaps: 3,109  #59From Portal: 36 #112
Rush Prod: 38% #113
Rec Prod: 92% #19
Front Seven: 48% #113
Secondary: 36% #132

Roster

Talent Info

Talent #82
Blue Chips (3%) #69
Portal Class  #9023 players (84 Avg)
Crootin '26 Class  #624 YR Class Rating #93

Talent Profile

Improving Average G5
33% of Roster from Portal, 24% TY
71% of '26 Roster are New (Fr + Portals)

(OC) Tyler Walker 2

 #45

(DC) Brian Smith 2

 #135

2026 Schedule

Information

SOS #111

Temple plays 1 opps off a byeARMY
OppsElite: 0, Good: 1, Avg: 3, Bad: 4, Poor: 3
2025 Record: 5 - 7 (7 - 5 - 0) (AAC: 3 - 5)
2024 Record: 3 - 9 (6 - 6 - 0) (AAC: 2 - 6)

Win History

Past 5 years 3.4

Avg under K. K 5
4 Yr Record (11 - 25)
8 Yr Record (26 - 54)

Notes

Live Team Notes

Vibes: Excited, Owls should bowl, strong run game
TE Peter Clarke top 10 via PFF, big target/weapon
HC Keeler a good one, look to bowl after 5 wins
QB1? Smolik (PSU) vs Sheppard (WSU) likely
RB H Smith back, Brown (RU) added. Have depth
WR has a decent stable, 2 productive FCS adds
OL has 4 good starters and depth options. Strong
DL is a ?, LB unit looks strong. CBs very green

Roster Experience

Snaps & Starter Info

Snaps Returning

10,732 (55%) #105

78%of Snaps by Upperclass
Offense: 6,213 #84
Defense: 4,519 #122
Players with Starting Exp (21) 10 on Off, 11 on Def

Upperclass

Starters 9 of 22 (40.9%)2-Deep 14 of 44 (31.8%)
Senior/Gr starters: 8 (36.4%) (Off: 5, Def: 3)
Upperclass Two-Deep: 14 of 44 (31.8%)
Upperclass on Roster: 43.8%(53 of 121)

Portals

Top '26 Incoming Portals

Jayce Freeman (WR)3★ (.86)
Joey Schlaffer (TE)3★ (.85)
John Stone (IOL)3★ (.85)
Kenedy Uzoma (WR)3★ (.85)
Samuel Brown V (RB)3★ (.84)
Ajani Sheppard (QB)3★ (.84)
Lamar Fairfax Jr. (DL)3★ (.84)
Kevin Hornbeak (DL)3★ (.84)

Top Players

Top Performers on Roster

Peter Clarke (TE)483 Yds, 6 TD
Giakoby Hills (T)B Block Grade
Eric King (G)B- Block Grade
JoJo Bermudez (WR)501 Yds, 4 TD
Curly Ordonez (LB)69 Tac, 8 TFL
Jackson Pruitt (G)C+ Block Grade
Colin Chase (WR)414 Yds, 4 TD
Carl Hardin (K)11/14 (78.6%)

Recruits

Top '26 Incoming Recruits

John-Patrick Oates (ATH)3★ (.88)
Karon Spencer (OT)3★ (.86)
Brody Norman (QB)3★ (.86)
Hunter Watson (WR)3★ (.86)
R.J. Blount (RB)3★ (.86)
Alex Hanks (S)3★ (.86)
Josh Nengite (EDGE)3★ (.86)
John Watkins (IOL)3★ (.86)

Overall

Four Year Ratings Profile

#129 #128 #102 #98

Offense

Four Year Ratings Profile

#114 #128 #67 #78

Defense

Four Year Ratings Profile

#131 #120 #123 #113
 

Offense

2025 Ratings

Power #84SP+ #72
Profile:Balanced offense, Pass: 49%, Run: 50%
Off Success #46
Off Expl #110
Run Success #60
Run Expl #116
Pass Success #37
Pass Expl #87

OLine

Run Blk #24Pass Blk #42
OL Yds #97
Stuff Rate #87

Misc

Poss Time #423 & Out #102
Scoring Zone Off #13
TO's #3

Defense

2025 Ratings

Power #108SP+ #117
Def Success #125
Def Expl #69
Run Success #130
Run Expl #75
Pass Success #88
Pass Expl #114

Misc

Havoc #94
Stop Rate #127
3 & Out #41
Pass Rush #86
Cov #119
Run Def #106
Tackle #66
Scoring Zone Def #136
TO's #102

Scoring

Overall: 28 - 30 (-1.9)

Home: 24 - 31 (-6.9)Road: 32 - 29 (3.1)

Net Efficiency

Overall #81

Pts Per Drive

Offense PPD #70Defense PPD #128

Pts Per Play

Offense PPP #21Defense PPP #123

(OC) Tyler Walker 2

 #45

(DC) Brian Smith 2

 #135

Records

4 Yr Record11 - 25

20255 - 720243 - 9

Offense

Four Year Offense Pts Per Play

#100 #116 #123 #21

Defense

Four Year Defense Pts Per Play

#103 #125 #121 #123

Overall

Four Year Net Pts Per Play

#111 #127 #128 #81