Game Guide: Charlotte

Date

Saturday, Oct. 17

Time

1:00 p.m.

Location

Philadelphia, Pa.

Broadcast

ESPN+

PHILADELPHIA – Temple football continues its homestand on Saturday, October 17, as the Owls welcome American Conference foe Charlotte to Lincoln Financial Field for Kids Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET, with the contest airing on ESPN+. Temple enters at 2-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Charlotte is 0-6 and 0-2 in the American.

Game Central: Charlotte

Watch Listen Live Stats Game Notes Tickets

Follow The Owls

Instagram

Things to Look for in Week 7...

Ten Out of Ten

Peter Clarke caught his 10th career receiving touchdown against UConn, tying Randy Grossman (1970-73) for the most by a tight end in Temple history. With one more touchdown reception, Clarke would become the outright program leader at the position. His 29-yard score against UConn came on a pass from wide receiver Colin Chase, the first passing touchdown of Chase's career.

Big Plays Through the Air

Ajani Sheppard has thrown four touchdown passes of at least 50 yards this season. The last Temple quarterback to accomplish that feat was P.J. Walker in 2016. Temple also seeks consecutive 250-yard passing games for the first time since October 2024, when the Owls threw for 316 yards against Tulsa and 294 at East Carolina.

The Bounce-Back Factor

Across his head coaching stops at Delaware, Sam Houston and Temple, K.C. Keeler is 60-41 in games immediately following a loss. One of his four such victories at Temple came against Charlotte last season, when the Owls won 49-14 following a one-point defeat to Navy.

Birds of a Feather

Two teams from Charlotte, N.C., visit Lincoln Financial Field on consecutive days. Temple hosts the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday before the Philadelphia Eagles welcome the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. A similar pairing occurred in 2015 when Temple defeated Tulane, 49-10, and the Eagles beat the New Orleans Saints, 39-17.

Running Ahead of the Pack

Temple has rushed for 1,211 yards through six games, an average of 201.8 per contest, with at least 100 yards in every outing and four games of 200-plus. The Owls are averaging 54.4 more rushing yards per game than their 2025 mark of 147.4.

Defensive Gold

Temple scored twice on defense in its 49-14 victory at Charlotte in 2025, finding the end zone on both an interception return and a fumble recovery. The Owls have outscored the 49ers 134-37 across three all-time meetings.

Temple leads the all-time series with Charlotte, 3-0, and has scored at least 37 points in each meeting, outscoring the 49ers 134-37 overall.
Temple scored two defensive touchdowns against Charlotte last season, one on an interception return and one on a fumble recovery.
Temple has surpassed 100 rushing yards in all six games this season, including four games of at least 200 yards.
Charlotte enters Saturday seeking its first victory of the season and has lost 15 straight games.

Last Time Out

Temple fell to UConn, 34-20, in its Homecoming contest at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday. The Huskies scored on their opening drive, but the Owls responded immediately as Ajani Sheppard connected with JoJo Bermudez for a 79-yard touchdown on Temple's first offensive snap. After UConn regained the lead, wide receiver Colin Chase found tight end Peter Clarke for a 29-yard touchdown to tie the game at 14. The score was Clarke's 10th career receiving touchdown, tying the program record for a tight end.

Carl Hardin connected on a 26-yard field goal to put Temple ahead, 17-14, in the second quarter, but UConn entered halftime leading 24-17. The Owls held the Huskies scoreless in the third quarter and pulled within four on Hardin's 29-yard field goal. UConn added a fourth-quarter touchdown and field goal to secure the 34-20 win.

Top Performer: Peter Clarke • 29-Yard TD Reception • Tied Temple TE Career TD Record (10)

Series History

All-Time SeriesTemple leads, 3-0

Last MeetingTemple, 49-14 • 2025

Last Temple Win2025 • W, 49-14

Current StreakTemple has won three straight

Temple By the Numbers

10Peter Clarke Career Receiving TDs, ties temple record for tight ends

4Ajani Sheppard TD Passes of 50+ Yards

3-0Temple All-Time Record vs. Charlotte

1,211Temple Rushing Yards Through Six Games

Scouting Charlotte 0-6 (0-2 American)

Last Time Out

50-10 loss at North Texas

Quarterback Watch

Conner Harrell • 15-22, 218 YDS, 1 TD vs. North Texas

Team Trend

Charlotte has lost 15 consecutive games

Charlotte enters Saturday at 0-6 overall and 0-2 in American Conference play under second-year head coach Tim Albin. The 49ers are looking for their first win of 2026 and have dropped 15 consecutive games. Their season opened with a 43-41 triple-overtime defeat against The Citadel, followed by a 41-9 loss at No. 9 Ole Miss. Charlotte has also suffered conference defeats to Memphis and North Texas.

Cole Gonzales has played in five games at quarterback, throwing three touchdowns and seven interceptions. Charlotte turned to Conner Harrell as its starter against North Texas, and he completed 15-of-22 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The 49ers average 16.0 points per game and have allowed 42.2 per contest, including 109 points over their last two games.

Up Next

Temple at East Carolina

Saturday, Oct. 31TBDGreenville, N.C.TBD

View Schedule