Here are the best college football games for local fans to watch this season

by Kerith Gabriel

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Aug. 30: Temple at Oklahoma

In a year of firsts, the Owls travel to No. 16 Oklahoma for their first-ever meeting. Meanwhile, the Sooners look to kick off their first year in the highly competitive Southeastern Conference on the right foot — at Temple's expense.

Aug. 30: Temple at Oklahoma

In a year of firsts, the Owls travel to No. 16 Oklahoma for their first-ever meeting. Meanwhile, the Sooners look to kick off their first year in the highly competitive Southeastern Conference on the right foot — at Temple's expense.

Sept. 21: Villanova at Maryland

Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

Coming off a conference championship season, the Wildcats will have an early test against a Big Ten opponent — on the road. However, with a senior-laden squad and quarterback Connor Watkins, Villanova has the tools to pull off the upset.

Sept. 21: Villanova at Maryland

Coming off a conference championship season, the Wildcats will have an early test against a Big Ten opponent — on the road. However, with a senior-laden squad and quarterback Connor Watkins, Villanova has the tools to pull off the upset.

Sept. 21: Coastal Carolina at Temple

OK, so it’s not Oklahoma. But it'll be a tough test. And a victory over Coastal Carolina (2 p.m., ESPN+), a team coming off an 8-5 record last season and a win over San Jose State in the Hawaii Bowl, would look real good on Temple’s résumé.

Sept. 21: Coastal Carolina at Temple

OK, so it’s not Oklahoma. But it'll be a tough test. And a victory over Coastal Carolina (2 p.m., ESPN+), a team coming off an 8-5 record last season and a win over San Jose State in the Hawaii Bowl, would look real good on Temple’s résumé.

Sept. 26: Temple at Army

It’s the first year the service academy will compete as a member of the American Athletic Conference, but it’s not the first time these two teams will face each other. In fact, the Owls hold a 7-6 all-time record against the Black Knights.

Sept. 26: Temple at Army

It’s the first year the service academy will compete as a member of the American Athletic Conference, but it’s not the first time these two teams will face each other. In fact, the Owls hold a 7-6 all-time record against the Black Knights.

Oct. 5: UCLA at Penn State

It’ll be one game that the Bruins have circled on their calendars. Earlier this month, a number of members of the team noted that playing against the Nittany Lions in their first Big Ten season is at the top of their list.

Oct. 5: UCLA at Penn State

It’ll be one game that the Bruins have circled on their calendars. Earlier this month, a number of members of the team noted that playing against the Nittany Lions in their first Big Ten season is at the top of their list.

Oct. 12: Penn State at USC

For the second week in a row, Penn State will take on a Big Ten opponent from the West Coast, in its first-ever conference meeting with the Trojans. The last time these two played was in 2017, in a 52-49 thriller at the Rose Bowl.

Oct. 12: Penn State at USC

For the second week in a row, Penn State will take on a Big Ten opponent from the West Coast, in its first-ever conference meeting with the Trojans. The last time these two played was in 2017, in a 52-49 thriller at the Rose Bowl.

Oct. 25: Penn at Yale

What better way to test where you stand in the conference than a game against the reigning champions? Technically, Yale was co-champion, as the Bulldogs split last year’s title with Harvard.

Oct. 25: Penn at Yale

What better way to test where you stand in the conference than a game against the reigning champions? Technically, Yale was co-champion, as the Bulldogs split last year’s title with Harvard.

Nov. 2: Ohio State at Penn State

Many believe this could be the year Penn State finally makes it into the College Football Playoff, which has been expanded to 12 teams. But in the immediate, could this be the year the Nittany Lions win against the Buckeyes?

Nov. 2: Ohio State at Penn State

Many believe this could be the year Penn State finally makes it into the College Football Playoff, which has been expanded to 12 teams. But in the immediate, could this be the year the Nittany Lions win against the Buckeyes?

Nov. 23: Penn at Princeton

This game (1 p.m., ESPN+) could feature a very likely scenario in which the Quakers are in a must-win situation to capture the conference and are in a do-or-die with an Ivy League rival. Here's hoping we're right.

Nov. 23: Penn at Princeton

This game (1 p.m., ESPN+) could feature a very likely scenario in which the Quakers are in a must-win situation to capture the conference and are in a do-or-die with an Ivy League rival. Here's hoping we're right.

Nov. 23: Delaware at Villanova

There's nothing better than a highly anticipated rematch between two rival schools — in this case, two schools that will soon be rivals no more, as Delaware plans to move up into the FBS ranks and join Conference USA for the 2025 season.

Nov. 23: Delaware at Villanova

There's nothing better than a highly anticipated rematch between two rival schools — in this case, two schools that will soon be rivals no more, as Delaware plans to move up into the FBS ranks and join Conference USA for the 2025 season.