Oklahoma Travels to Philadelphia for Rare Temple Road Game Amid Evolving College Football Landscape

Why is Oklahoma Playing Temple on the Road? A Look at This Unusual Matchup

The Oklahoma Sooners, ranked No. 13, are set to face the Temple Owls on the road in Philadelphia this Saturday, September 13, 2025. This unusual matchup stems from a "two-for-one" agreement made almost a decade ago, under very different circumstances in college football, and brings the Sooners to the Northeast for a rare appearance.

The Origin of the Deal: A Stadium Dream

Back in 2016, Temple's athletic department, under then-athletic director Pat Kraft, was aiming high after consecutive 10-win seasons under coach Matt Rhule. The goal was to build a football stadium for the Owls, who play their home games at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. Kraft tasked his chief of staff, Sean Padden, with finding a "blue blood" program willing to play a road game against Temple to boost support for the stadium project. Padden contacted several major programs, but Oklahoma was the most enthusiastic taker.

The "two-for-one" series announced in June 2016 stipulated that Temple would open the 2024 and 2028 seasons in Norman, while Oklahoma would play in Philadelphia on September 13, 2025. Joe Castiglione, Oklahoma's athletic director, saw it as a valuable opportunity to reach fans in the Northeast Corridor and a good value play compared to guarantee games.

Temple's Current State and Game Day Excitement

Temple has struggled since the agreement, winning only 13 games from 2020-2024. However, first-year coach K.C. Keeler has led the Owls to a 2-0 start this season with decisive wins against UMass and FCS Howard. Keeler views the Oklahoma game as a significant challenge and an opportunity to generate enthusiasm for the program in a city dominated by professional sports.

The Temple athletic department, led by Arthur Johnson, has been working on marketing strategies to capitalize on the game. This includes a pep rally on campus and "Temple Night" at a Phillies game. Although Oklahoma received a larger ticket allotment than usual (4,000), Temple is hopeful the game will draw a substantial crowd, surpassing the combined 27,220 fans from their first two games.

Oklahoma's Perspective and the Changing Landscape of College Football Scheduling

While the hoped-for new stadium didn’t materialize, Oklahoma still saw benefits in the deal, including the chance to play in an NFL stadium. However, a scheduling conflict prevents former Sooners like Jalen Hurts, Lane Johnson, and Grant Calcaterra from attending the game, as the Eagles have a Super Bowl rematch against the Chiefs on Sunday.

Dave Brown, founder of Gridiron, a scheduling software company, suggests that "two-for-one" arrangements might become less common as the market for guarantee games shifts. With the SEC moving to nine conference games and new FBS schools entering the market, there will be more options for lower-level FBS teams seeking lucrative "buy games."

Looking Ahead: Temple's Future Scheduling Preferences

While Temple has engaged in home-and-home series with power conference teams, their focus is shifting towards more regional matchups. Coach Keeler expressed a desire to play Penn State, Pitt, Maryland, and Rutgers in the future to fill Lincoln Financial Field. Despite this future vision, Keeler acknowledges the unique opportunity to play a "blue blood" program like Oklahoma this weekend.

Streaming and Betting Information

The game between Oklahoma and Temple will be broadcast on ESPN2 and streaming live on demand. Here's how you can watch:

• Watch Live: Stream the game for free with DirecTV (free trial), Fubo (free trial), or ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month).

Here are the latest betting odds: