Temple Football Enters Game Vs. East Carolina as Ranked Squad

Report From Temple University

When the college football polls were announced this week the 6-0 Temple Owls had a spot in both the Associated Press (AP) Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll. Temple, off to the best start in the history of the program, finds itself 22nd in the AP rankings and 24th in the Coaches Poll heading into Thursday night’s game against East Carolina.

“I’m really proud of our players and it’s a tribute to them that people have noticed how they have played to this point,” said Temple head football coach Matt Rhule. “I am thrilled that we have been able to get off to a 6-0 start. But I’ll repeat what I have said before, it’s a long season and I’ll be happier if we can finish the year ranked among the best in the country.”

This is the first time that Temple is ranked since the end of the 1979 season. After posting a 10-2 record and a victory in the Garden State Bowl over California, the Owls placed 17th in the AP Poll. Twice earlier that season, Temple found itself ranked among the nation’s elite. In 1974, the last time Temple got off to a 6-0 start, the Owls cracked the Top 25 only to lose the following week at Cincinnati 22-20. Temple also entered the AP Poll in 1936 and 1941.

Here is a history of the Owls in the AP Poll:

Temple was last ranked in the Coaches Poll in 1979 when it finished 17^th. The Owls have not been ranked in the Coaches Poll since USA Today began administering the poll in 1991. Prior to that United Press International (UPI) handled the coaches poll. Much of the history prior to 1991 is unavailable.