Temple isn’t intimidated by big stage

Rarely in college football can it be said with a high degree of certainty that a school is playing the biggest football game in program history. This is one of those times. No. 21 Temple hosts No. 9 Notre Dame tonight in the first game the Owls have ever played featuring two ranked teams.

Temple is also 7-0 for the first time in school history. And the ultimate stamp of authenticity? ESPN’s College GameDay is setting up shop in Philadelphia this weekend.

For Temple. A program that was an FBS outpost for decades.

Temple football was so bad at one point it was essentially kicked out of the Big East Conference. Now, Temple is playing the game of the week at a sold-out Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.

“People are stopping me on the street,” Coach Matt Rhule said. “They’re excited.”

Notre Dame (6-1) is right at home on the big stage. The Fighting Irish spend much of the season being their opponent’s marquee game, playing in prime time with high stakes.

The Irish are heading down the stretch thinking playoffs. Their only loss came at Clemson on a soggy night when they couldn’t convert a last-minute two-point conversion to tie. If they can avoid another loss, the College Football Playoff selection committee will have to consider the Fighting Irish for the final four. But what about Temple? Yes, it sounds crazy, but the Owls have already beaten Penn State. If they can do the same to Notre Dame and continue winning when they return to American Athletic Conference play, they will have be part of the discussion when it comes time for playoff bids.

Picture this: Undefeated Temple hosting undefeated AAC rival Memphis on Nov. 21. The 16th-ranked Tigers have already nudged their way into the national conversation with a victory against Mississippi.

Temple takes it slow offensively. The Owls lean heavily on tailback Jahad Thomas, who leads the AAC in rushing (117.43), and they are 13th in the nation in time of possession per game (33:11).

Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich leads the Owls in tackles, just as he has done each of his first three seasons. He leads all active FBS players with 420 tackles and is on pace to become the seventh major-college player with four 100-plus tackle seasons.

“I want us to enjoy each and every moment,” Rhule said. “I’m not concerned at all we won’t be ready to play the game. I’m not concerned that the moment will be too big.

“Now are we good enough to hang with Notre Dame? That’s the concern.”