Temple to open 2021 AAC football schedule against Memphis

Temple will open its eight-game American Athletic Conference football schedule with an Oct. 2 meeting at Lincoln Financial Field against Memphis and close it on Nov. 27 at home against Navy.

While the nonleague dates had been previously released, the AAC announced the eight-team conference schedule on Thursday.

The two conference teams Temple won’t play are Tulane and SMU, both of which beat the Owls last season. Game times will be announced at a later date.

Ten of the games are scheduled for Saturdays. The Owls will face defending AAC champion Cincinnati on Friday, Oct. 8 when they visit the Bearcats in an ESPN game.

Temple is also scheduled for a Thursday game (Nov. 4) at East Carolina, but it’s possible that game could be moved to Saturday, Nov. 6.

The Owls’ first four games are nonleague matchups, beginning with the Sept. 4 opener at Rutgers.

Temple had a 1-6 mark in a season shortened by COVID-19. After all of its nonconference games were postponed, Temple had just eight AAC games, but the final one at home against Cincinnati was canceled due to positive COVID-19 cases and the ensuing contact tracing of the athletes at both schools.

Coach Rod Carey enters his third season guiding the Owls, who were 8-5 in 2019, his first year.

Sat Sept. 4 at Rutgers

Sat. Sept. 11 at Akron

Sat. Sept. 18 Boston College

Sat. Sept. 25 Wagner

Sat. Oct. 2 Memphis

Fri. Oct. 8 at Cincinnati

Sat. Oct. 23 at South Florida

Sat. Oct. 30 Central Florida

Thurs. Nov. 4 at East Carolina

Sat. Nov. 13 Houston

Sat. Nov. 20 at Tulsa

Sat. Nov. 27 Navy