The Temple Owls began the 2024 season against No. 16 Oklahoma, celebrating the 100th year of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in front of a crowd of 83,329. The Owls lost to the Sooners, 51-3.

Self-inflicted turnovers were the story of the game for Temple. Six turnovers leading to 34 points prevented the Owls from gaining any solid footing. When not being handicapped by quick possessions and short field position, Temple's defense was able to hold Oklahoma to five three-and-outs.  The offense made some big plays but were not able to sustain a successful drive until it was too late.
 
How it Happened

• After a three-and-out on Temple's first offensive series, Oklahoma drove into TU territory and faced a 4th-and-1 at the 15-yard line. Despite a push from the defensive line, OU's Gavin Sawchuk reached the line to gain and extended the drive. The Sooners took advantage on the next play, as Jackson Arnold lofted a pass over the outstretched arm of a Temple defender to Bauer Sharp to give the home team a 7-0 lead.
• TU looked as though it was building some momentum offensively on the next series, with Dante Wright taking a jet sweep around the right side for a first down. A turnover near midfield gave the ball back to the Sooners, who extended their lead to 14-0 on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Arnold to Deion Burks.
• Three TU turnovers over four possessions helped the Sooners to a 20-0 lead by the 8:01 mark of the second quarter.
• The Temple defense made it difficult for Oklahoma holding the Sooners to 0-7 on third downs. However, the Sooners were able to convert on multiple short fourth down tries and capitalize on short-field opportunities to take a 34-0 halftime lead.
• After trading punts to start the second half, Temple forced the Sooners to earn a 24-yard field goal with an eight-play, 52-yard drive. Temple responded with its best drive of the game. The Owls marched into the red zone on a 10-play possession. Two big defensive plays knocked them back and limited the drive to 44-yards. But Maddux Trujillo showed off his strong leg, nailing a 49-yard field goal for the Owls' first points.
• Two more Temple turnovers led to two fourth quarter touchdowns for the Sooners making the final score  51-3.

Statistically Speaking

• This game marked 84 years, 30,596 days to be exact, since the last time the Owls visited Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. 
• It is the fourth longest stretch between visits for one school to play another at the same venue in college football history. 
  • The longest time between games by two schools at the same venue: 
    • 99 - Samford at Florida; Ben Hill Griffin Stadium; 1922-2021
    • 94 - Nevada at USC; Los Angeles Coliseum; 1929-2023 
    • 94 - Rice at Oklahoma State; Lewis Field/Boone Pickens Stadium; 1922-2009
    • 84 - Temple at Oklahoma; Oklahoma Memorial Stadium; 1940-2024
• Sophomore punter Dante Atton unleashed a career-long 58-yard punt in the first quarter and averaged 43.8 yards per punt on six punts.

Notes

•  The Owls have now opened the season with a different starting quarterback for the fifth straight season, with Forrest Brock starting for Temple against Oklahoma. Anthony Russo (2019-20) was the last to start in consecutive years.
• 27 players made their debut for Temple, including four who played in their first collegiate game.
• Senior Andreas Keaton, graduate student Dante Wright, senior James Della Pesca, and redshirt junior Demerick Morris served as game captains.
• Redshirt senior Latrell Jean, a transfer from Florida Atlantic, recorded the first sack of his Temple career late in the first quarter to help force an Oklahoma three-and-out.
• Another Owl also recorded his first career sack in the contest, as junior Tyquan King knifed through the offensive line to pull down Arnold and create a third-and-long.

Up Next
The Owls travel to Annapolis, Md., to take on conference rival Navy next Saturday, September 7, for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.