Wake Forest running back Cade Carney (36) looks to help steer his team to victory against Temple.
No. 23 Temple is red hot, having won seven games in a row and nine of its last 10 to check into the Military Bowl with a 10-3 record. Wake Forest comes in on the other side of the spectrum, having lost three straight outings and six of its last eight for a 6-6 overall mark. Both teams are making their second Military Bowl appearance and have met just once before: a 36-0 Temple victory on Nov. 1, 1930 – the first night game played at Temple Stadium. The Owls have won consecutive East Division titles in the American Athletic Conference while posting back-to-back 10-win seasons, and they are seeking a school-record 11th win. The Demon Deacons are making their first bowl appearance since 2011, but they have already doubled their win total from a season ago.
Game info
Temple (10-3) vs. Wake Forest (6-6)
Dec. 27, 2016
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland
How to watch
Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel: ESPN
Live stream: You can live stream the game here.
Players to watch
- Temple has a pair of running backs who have each totaled 918 rushing yards in senior Jahad Thomas and sophomore Ryquell Armstead. The latter, however, has done so on 51 fewer carries and leads the team with 14 touchdowns — although Thomas is just one behind, with 13. Armstead’s yard-per-carry average is a juicy 6.2.
- Quarterback John Wolford is hardly spectacular, but he has served as a dual threat for the Demon Deacons. The junior has thrown for 1,591 yards with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions, completing 55.7 percent of his passes. Wolford is Wake’s second-leading ground gainer, with 523 rushing yards and a team-leading six scores.
Key stats
- Temple is coming off a 34-10 victory over then-No. 20 Navy in the AAC championship game, earning its first conference title since 1967.
- Owls defensive lineman Haason Reddick leads the nation with 21.5 tackles for loss.
- Wake Forest features all-ACC placekicker Mike Weaver, second-team All-ACC linebacker Marquel Lee and third-team All-ACC defensive end Duke Ejiofor.
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- Phillip Walker has started 46 consecutive games for the Owls and is the school’s all-time leader in attempts (1,410), completions (901), passing yards (10,273), touchdowns (73), total offense (11,100 yards) and wins by a starting quarterback (28).
- Wake Forest is 6-4 all-time in bowl games.
- Temple ranks No. 3 in the country in total defense.
- This is the third time in five years that the Military Bowl has featured a nationally ranked team.
