Penn State visiting Philadelphia in Week 2. A Friday afternoon game against Army the following week. And a Thursday night home date with Rice closing out the toughest stretch of the season. The Temple Football Schedule 2026 delivers real quality inside Lincoln Financial Field before conference play even settles in.
Temple Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 5 | Rhode Island Rams | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | 2:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Penn State Nittany Lions | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | 12:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Sat, Sep 19 | at Toledo Rockets | Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH | 3:00 PM | CBSSN |
| Fri, Sep 25 | Army Black Knights | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | 4:00 PM | ESPN |
| Sat, Oct 3 | at USF Bulls | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 10 | UConn Huskies (Homecoming) | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Charlotte 49ers | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 24 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 31 | at East Carolina Pirates | Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | at Navy Midshipmen | Navy-Marine Corps Mem. Stadium, Annapolis, MD | 3:30 PM | CBSSN |
| Sat, Nov 14 | UAB Blazers | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Thu, Nov 19 | Rice Owls | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | 7:30 PM | ESPN |
| Sat, Nov 28 | at Memphis Tigers | Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, TN | Time TBA (or Fri., Nov. 27) | — |
| Sat, Dec 5 | American Championship | Site, City TBD | 8:00 PM | ABC |
Rhode Island Opens, Then Penn State Comes to Town
Temple Football Schedule 2026 opens against Rhode Island before Penn State visits Lincoln Financial Field for a marquee Week 2 matchup on September 12. A road trip to Toledo follows before Army visits for an unusual Friday afternoon kickoff on September 25.
USF on the Road, Then UConn for Homecoming
A road trip to USF opens October before UConn visits for Homecoming on October 10. The Temple AAC schedule 2026 then delivers Charlotte at home before a bye week on October 24 gives the Owls time to recover.
East Carolina on the Road, Then a Trip to Navy
A road trip to East Carolina opens the season’s final stretch, followed immediately by a trip to Navy — two demanding road tests inside a single week’s turnaround.
UAB at Home, Then a Thursday Night Against Rice
Temple vs Penn State 2026’s earlier difficulty is echoed by a Thursday night home game against Rice on November 19, coming just five days after UAB visits Philadelphia. The regular season closes on the road at Memphis, though the exact date carries some ambiguity in the official release. If Temple qualifies for the American Championship, that game lands December 5.
The Bottom Line
Between Penn State, the East Carolina-Navy back-to-back, and the UAB-Rice short week, Temple faces a demanding schedule that tests depth as much as talent. The Temple football home games in 2026 offer real support through October, but how the Owls handle the closing road trip to Memphis will decide how the season ends.
FAQ
Q: When does Temple football play its first game in 2026?
A: Temple opens the Temple Football Schedule 2026 at home against Rhode Island on Saturday, September 5, at Lincoln Financial Field.
Q: When is Temple vs Penn State 2026?
A: Temple vs Penn State 2026 is set for Saturday, September 12, at home at Lincoln Financial Field, with Penn State visiting.
Q: How many home games does Temple play in 2026?
A: Temple has eight Temple football home games in 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field: Rhode Island, Penn State, Army, UConn, Charlotte, UAB, and Rice.
Q: What is Temple’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The run from East Carolina (road) through Navy (road) — October 31 and November 7 — is the toughest stretch on the Temple AAC schedule 2026, alongside the season-opening test against Penn State.
