Owls hope for different result vs. UCF

Well, it didn’t go so well under Friday Night Lights last week.

The Owls, looking to solidify their spot atop the AAC standings, were unable to compete with Houston’s dynamic defense in a 31-10 loss last week.

But they have another conference opponent ahead in UCF, and will play again on national TV at 5 p.m. on CBS Sports.

“I think everyone in the building is mad and disappointed with the way they we performed on Friday night,” Temple head coach Matt Rhule said. “I don’t think we can say anyone coached well or played well. At the end of the day, it starts with me, that’s my job. Obviously we didn’t get it done and we didn’t play our brand of football. It’s one thing to lose, but the way we lost was not the way we want to play.”

The Owls still look poised to make a run at a bowl berth, sporting four wins so far and a defense that had been stellar (the Houston game aside).

Central Florida has won its last four games in a row after starting 0-2 against Missouri and Penn State.

Once again, the Owls will have a tough test. But they have extra motivation. Last year, the Knights, ranked No. 15 in the country, defeated Temple in Philadelphia 39-36 on a ridiculous one-handed catch at the end of the game.

“It’s two 4-2 teams playing on national TV,” Rhule said, “a team we obviously have history with from last year. Are we going to be the same team we saw Friday night or are we going to be that we’ve seen at other times? I think our teams is hopefully going to be ready to play this week and not let Friday happen.”