Boca Raton Bowl

NO. 24 TEMPLE (10-3) VS. TOLEDO (9-2) SITE FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla. TIME (TV) 6 p.m. Central (ESPN) LINE Temple by 2 SERIES Toledo leads 7-3

WHAT’S AT STAKE Both programs established themselves as top 25 contenders this season with victories over Power Five conference teams. Toledo’s 35-30 loss to Western Michigan forced a three-way tie for the Mid-American Conference West Division title, and Northern Illinois advanced to the conference championship game as a result of winning the tiebreaker. Temple lost to Houston, 24-13, in the AAC title game.

KEY MATCHUP Temple’s front seven vs. Toledo’s four-pronged rushing attack. The Owls allowed just 126.3 rushing yards per game, while Toledo pounded the ball on the ground for an average of 213.2 yards per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Temple QB P.J. Walker is a dual threat in the backfield and can carve up defenses with his arm and his legs. He gained 325 rushing yards on 71 attempts and completed 222 of 390 passes for 2,736 yards, 19 yards and 7 interceptions.

Toledo WR Alonzo Russell is a four-time All-MAC selection and became only the third receiver in school history to surpass 3,000 receiving yards (3,044). He and Cody Thompson are among senior QB Phillip Ely’s favorite targets.

FACTS & FIGURES

Toledo is making its fifth bowl trip in six seasons and 15th overall, posting a 10-4 postseason record. … Temple’s past two bowl appearances came as a member of the MAC, where its rivalry with Toledo began, and the current redshirt senior class is the last link to that era. … The last time Toledo played in a bowl game in Florida was the 1971 Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, when the Rockets beat Richmond, 28-3.