OwlScoop.com - The Scoop

Is Saturday’s road game at Toledo (3 p.m, CBS Sports Network) the most important game to date of the K.C. Keeler era at Temple?

We think so.

We’ll tell you why on this week’s podcast and bring you the latest injury updates, our perspective on the Penn State loss, and what the Owls can expect from the Rockets this weekend.

Intro: 0:00 – 3:58

Can Temple grow from its 27-9 loss to Penn State?: 3:58 – 20:03

A mostly promising injury report: 20:03 – 25:02

Previewing Saturday’s road game at Toledo: 25:02 – 39:24

It looks like Derrian Ford is back: 39:24 – 42:43

Mailbag: 42:43– end

The last time Temple played Penn State at Lincoln Financial Field, the Owls sacked Christian Hackenberg 10 times and turned in the program’s first win over the Nittany Lions in 74 years on a memorable day in South Philadelphia. But 11 years later, K.C. Keeler’s Temple team is facing some significant injury challenges along the offensive line and still trying to find its starting quarterback as a 16^th-ranked Penn State team under new head coach Matt Campbell comes to the Linc. We broke down some of Saturday’s key matchups, answered more mailbag questions, and talked to Blue White Illustrated Senior Editor Nate Bauer to give you an inside look at what Temple is facing Saturday. And beyond football, Bauer talked about why he thinks Temple has the right coach leading its men’s basketball program in Adam Fisher.

Intro: 0:00 – 2:26

Recapping Temple’s 38-14 win over Rhode Island: 2:26 – 14:51

No. 16 Penn State awaits Saturday: 14:51 -22:10

Blue White Illustrated’s Nate Bauer talks about the Nittany Lions - and Adam Fisher: 22:10 – 55:19

Mailbag: 55:19 – end

Temple’s season opener is quickly approaching Saturday, with the Owls set to host a top-10 FCS program in Rhode Island at 2 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field. We broke down some of Saturday’s key matchups, talked about who we expect to start at quarterback, and answered close to a dozen mailbag questions. Oh, and there’s the possibility of a familiar face rejoining Temple’s men’s basketball roster, too.

0:00 – 5:53: Intro

5:53 – 9:48: The QB question and injury updates

9:49 – 15:41: A closer look at Rhode Island and key matchups

15:41 – 38:06: Mailbag

Frank Sinatra once sang about having a few regrets. Geoff Collins has them, too.

The biggest, he told OwlScoop.com this week on The Scoop, was departing Temple in 2018 after two successful seasons as the program’s head football coach.

“The best two years of my life,” Collins said, “and my biggest regret was leaving.”

Collins opened up about a story he said he had only previously told his wife, Jennifer. Just before Collins left Temple to take the head coaching job at Georgia Tech, former Temple and NFL head coach Bruce Arians told him not to take it. 

“There’s a lot of things that people try to tell you, and a lot of times, they’re right,” Collins said. “And sometimes you listen, sometimes you don’t, and that’s one of those moments.”

Listen to OwlScoop.com’s full interview with Collins on this week’s bonus podcast episode here. Collins talked to OwlScoop Editor John DiCarlo about several topics, including moving on after getting fired at Georgia Tech, returning to Temple last week to spend time with current Owls head coach K.C. Keeler and his staff, memories of coaching future NFL stars like Fletcher Cox and Darius Slay and what's ahead for him in his career. 

Temple still has not named a starting quarterback just 10 days ahead of its season opener against Rhode Island, and offensive coordinator Tyler Walker said it’s possible that both Jaxon Smolik and Ajani Sheppard could play. He offered some insight into last Saturday’s scrimmage, and you’ll also hear from Special Teams Coordinator Brian Ginn on this week’s podcast, along with answers to your mailbag questions.

0:00 – 1:36 – Intro

1:36 – 4:19 – A look at our upcoming coverage and schedule

4:19 – 12:03 – Saturday’s scrimmage summary and audio from Tyler Walker and Brian Ginn

12:03 – 31:10 - Mailbag

Ray Dunne joined us on The Scoop this week to talk about his role as the new midday host at 97.5 The Fanatic and his work broadcasting Temple men’s and women’s basketball games. Just four years removed from graduating from Temple’s Klein College of Media and Communication, Dunne has carved out a sports talk radio career in the nation’s fifth-largest media market and was on the air when the news broke of LeBron James signing with the 76ers last month. Dunne shared his expectations for the seasons ahead for Diane Richardson and Adam Fisher and explained why he’s bullish on K.C. Keeler’s coaching and tight end Peter Clarke’s future.

Speaking of Clarke, he was one of five additional players announced by the team Thursday night to join Dante Atton and Colin Chase in earning a single digit, along with linebacker Eric Stuart, running back Sam Brown V, safety Saboor Karriem and center Grayson Mains. We’ll tell you why Keeler still hasn’t named his starting quarterback yet, and we’ll also tell you why the Owls’ cornerback room is turning the corner as the Sept. 5 season opener approaches.

Intro: 0:00 – 3:55

A preview of this week’s camp coverage: 3:55 – 5:56

97.5 The Fanatic’s Ray Dunne joins the show: 5:58 – 1:00:00

News on the quarterbacks and the cornerbacks: 1:00:00 – 1:10:40

Temple announces its new single digit players: 1:10:40 – 1:12:35

Mailbag: 1:12:35 – end

Timestamps are approximate due to advertisements.

In 33 previous years as a college head coach, K.C. Keeler has never encountered two consecutive losing seasons. Maybe that’s a sign of good things on the horizon for a Temple program that went 5-7 in 2025, Keeler’s first season with the Owls. He, along with his general manager, Clayton Barnes, talked about that and several other topics in their interview with OwlScoop.com for this week’s podcast. They discussed roster management, how they’ll approach their recruitment of the 2027 class, tight end Peter Clarke’s future, the quarterback position and what else they would do to try to improve the sport.

And this week’s mailbag tackles questions about things like the Penn State game, punter Dante Atton and Philadelphia fandom.

Intro: 0:00 – 4:09

K.C. Keeler and Clayton Barnes join the show: 4:09 – 37:03

News and notes from Monday’s practice: 37:03 – 43:53

Mailbag: 43:53 – end

August is here, and the beginning of Temple’s preseason football camp is marked by another quarterback battle, this one between Penn State transfer Jaxon Smolik and Washington State transfer Ajani Sheppard. We shared our notes from the Owls’ first practice, talked about positions of strength and concern, and answered questions from a full mailbag as we kicked off our 12^th season.

And although this was a football-heavy episode, we also talked about why fans should keep an eye out for one more name to be added to Adam Fisher’s Temple men’s basketball roster.

Intro: 0:00 – 12:30

Injuries, Sekou Kromah and other preseason camp updates: 12:30 – 19:51

K.C. Keeler talks about the ongoing QB battle: 19:51 – 31:16

Positions of strength and concern: 31:16 – 40:55

Temple announces its 2026 Hall of Fame class: 40:55 – 41:44

Mailbag: 41:44 – end

* Timestamps are approximate due to advertisements. 

While it was important for head coach Adam Fisher to replenish his roster with nine transfers and an incoming freshman, maintaining some continuity on the roster with a player like rising sophomore guard Cam Wallace was important, too. Wallace, a former start at the Westtown School, played in just 19 games as a true freshman and averaged 2.1 points per game, but a full college offseason in the weight room and a month of workouts with his new teammates have him feeling more confident heading into his sophomore season on North Broad Street. Wallace talked about all of that and much more on this week’s podcast, which also includes part of our interview with class of 2027 Temple verbal commit Jackson Pritts, a 5-star recruit and the nation’s sixth-ranked kicker according to Kohl’s kicking camps.

Intro: 0:00 – 2:48

Cam Wallace joins the show: 2:48 – 22:30

5-star kicker Jackson Pritts on why he chose Temple: 22:30 – 29:00

* Timestamps are approximate due to advertisements. 

What’s in a name? Temple forward Sir Issac Herron had plenty to say about that on this week’s episode of The Scoop.

The 6-foot-10 forward who joined the Owls via the transfer portal from Louisiana Tech talked about the origins of his name, recovering from two injuries, and why he feels better than he ever has as he attempts to build upon last season and improve coach Adam Fisher’s frontcourt.

Herron had some high praise for fellow Temple big man Christian Beam and forwards Edwin Suarez and Baboucarr Njie, and we’ll tell you why you should keep your eyes peeled for another Temple football verbal commitment this week.

Intro: 0:00 – 4:32

Sir Issac Herron joins the show: 4:32 – 48:35

A football verbal is on the way: 48:35 – 50:01

Mailbag: 50:01- end