Navy loss leaves Western Michigan positioned for Cotton Bowl

The Midshipmen instead are set to play in the Armed Forces Bowl on December 23 in Forth Worth, a destination that became all but certain when Temple (10-3) took a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Owls, who were previously members of the Mid-American and Big East, are playing in the championship game for the second straight season.

Bowl officials are concerned that delaying bowl bids by a week would cause huge logistic and financial hardships on teams, fans and bowl communities.

Seriously, Temple won 11 games from 1991 through 1997. “They’re undefeated and no other team (Navy) is within two games of that”.

A power rushing game created to chew up the clock and wear down opposing defenses.

Time and again on a windy Saturday afternoon against Navy in the American Athletic Championship game, the Owls found themselves in less than optimum circumstances defensively against a program that had put up 298 points since October 22. Navy quarterback Will Worth watched the second half of the crushing Temple loss on crutches with an ankle injury.

For the first time as an FBS program, Temple is the champion of its conference.

Quote-Unquote: “They’re a power running football team”. It would also mark the third season of 10 wins or more during the nine-year tenure of head coach Ken Niumatalolo.

Baylor held the momentum for almost three quarters in the final regular-season game for acting coach Jim Grobe, but that changed on two plays. Navy finished with 306 yards, 168 on the ground. The Midshipmen attempted to go for it on fourth-and-7 after crossing into Temple territory, but they were stopped short. That’s something we pride ourselves on. They used three passes and three runs to cover 59 yards in just six plays for their second touchdown in as many tries. He’s passed for 1,363 yards and rushed for 1,181 more.

“I give a lot of credit to the quarterback”.

Rhule said sophomore running back Ryquell Armstead is doubtful.

If Navy remains behind WMU come Sunday, it will be up to the committee to determine if it needs to see the Army result. Redshirt senior Praise Martin-Oguike is coming off one of his best games of the season last week against East Carolina, in which he had two sacks, including a forced fumble.

This is 10-3 Temple’s first conference title since 1967 in the Middle Atlantic and continues an astounding turnaround that started under Al Golden and continues under Matt Rhule. The Owls, who lost to Houston in last year’s AAC championship, have won six straight games while holding their last four opponents to a total of 23 points. Navy has punted only twice in its last four games.

Under normal circumstances, we’d know the lineups for most of college football’s bowl games by Monday.

Temple wide receiver Keith Kirkwood (89) is unable to make a catch as Navy cornerback Jarid Ryan, back, defends during the first half of the American Athletic Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2. Navy lost to the Bulls 52-45 in Tampa on October 29.

“This offense (Navy’s option) is so tough, most teams play just one defense against it”.

Navy registered a relatively comfortable 42-28 victory over Memphis in Annapolis.

One picture is cleared up and the other clouded. Army, an independent, is also in the mix, no matter how it does against Navy.

Prior to being injured, Worth set the school record with 2,595 yards of total offense this season.

The Midshipmen finally found the end zone for the first time late in a slow-paced third quarter. Linebacker Jarred Alwan had a game-high 13 tackles, plus a half sack.

Temple: The Owls played exceptionally well in proving to be a worthy conference champion.

Temple has to figure out this option thing at some point, right?