Temple Tops Undefeated USF on the Road

Saturday, October 3

Tampa, Fla.

7:30 p.m.

Temple University

2-3 , 1-1

South Florida

4-1 , 1-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Temple	0	10	0	7	17
South Fla.	3	0	7	3	13

Temple Tops Undefeated USF on the Road

10.3.26 | Football

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. - Temple football handed previously undefeated South Florida its first loss of the season Saturday night, rallying for a 17-13 victory at Raymond James Stadium. The Owls improved to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in American Conference play, while the Bulls fell to 4-1 and 1-1 in the league.

Trailing 13-10 in the fourth quarter, Temple marched 96 yards before Ajani Sheppard broke free for a 34-yard touchdown run on third down with 3:08 remaining. The Owls' defense forced a turnover on downs on USF's ensuing possession, and Asa Locks recovered a fumble on the final play to seal the victory.

Sheppard led Temple with 87 rushing yards, including the game-winning score, while Curly Ordonez recorded a team-high 10 tackles in his home state. The Owls rushed for 182 yards, reaching at least 176 yards for the fifth consecutive game.

Game Highlights

Sheppard Delivers the Winner

Ajani Sheppard led the Owls with 87 rushing yards and broke loose for a career-long 34-yard touchdown run to finish a 10-play, 96-yard drive with 3:08 remaining.

Defense Holds Strong

Temple held USF to 108 yards and three points in the first half. Curly Ordonez led the Owls with 10 tackles, and Asa Locks recovered a fumble on the final play to secure the victory.

History on the Road

Temple defeated an opponent with at least four wins and no losses on the road for the first time since its 28-24 upset of No. 14 Virginia Tech on Oct. 17, 1998.

JoJo Bermudez caught a 24-yard touchdown from Sheppard with 45 seconds left in the first half.
Temple rushed for 182 yards and has reached at least 176 yards in each of its first five games for the first time since 2011.
Temple and USF each recorded four tackles for loss.
The Owls held an opponent without a first-half touchdown for the first time since Oct. 19, 2024, against Tulsa.

How It Happened

USF opened the scoring with a field goal, but Temple settled in defensively and held the Bulls to three first-half points. Carl Hardin tied the game with a 34-yard field goal early in the second quarter before Ajani Sheppard connected with JoJo Bermudez for a 24-yard touchdown with 45 seconds left in the half, giving the Owls a 10-3 lead at the break.

The Bulls tied the game on their first possession of the second half, finishing a 14-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard D.J. Crowther touchdown run. Temple responded with a promising drive that included a 29-yard completion to Jayce Freeman and a 34-yard Hunter Smith run, but Sheppard lost a fumble near the goal line that USF recovered in the end zone for a touchback. Nico Gramatica's 49-yard field goal early in the fourth put the Bulls ahead, 13-10.

After the defense forced a USF punt, Temple took over at its own four-yard line with 8:32 remaining. The Owls worked their way downfield, aided by a pass-interference penalty and a key third-down completion to Freeman. Facing third-and-seven, Sheppard broke free for a 34-yard touchdown run to cap the 96-yard drive and give Temple a 17-13 lead with 3:08 left.

Temple's defense forced an incompletion on fourth-and-eight to stop USF's next drive. The Bulls got the ball back with 51 seconds remaining, but Asa Locks recovered a fumble on the final play to secure the win.

Inside the Box Score

182Temple Rushing Yards

87Sheppard Rushing Yards

10Ordonez Tackles

96Yards on Winning Drive

Temple rushed for 182 yards, led by Ajani Sheppard with 87.
Curly Ordonez recorded a team-high 10 tackles.
The Owls and Bulls each finished with four tackles for loss.
Temple held USF to 108 total yards and three points in the first half.
The game-winning drive covered 96 yards in 10 plays and took 5:24 off the clock.

What It Means

Temple improved to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in American Conference play, handing USF its first loss of the season. It was the Owls' first win over a team that entered with at least four victories and no losses since beating No. 23 Memphis, 30-28, on Oct. 12, 2019.

A Historic Road Victory

Temple earned its first road win over an opponent that entered with at least four victories and no losses since defeating No. 14 Virginia Tech, 28-24, on Oct. 17, 1998. USF entered Saturday at 4-0.

Temple last defeated an opponent with at least four wins and no losses on Oct. 12, 2019, when it beat No. 23 Memphis, 30-28, at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Owls have rushed for at least 176 yards in all five games this season, their first such five-game stretch to open a season since 2011.

Up Next

Temple vs. UConn

Saturday, Oct. 103:45 p.m.Philadelphia, Pa.ESPNU