No. 21 Temple Looks To Clinch AAC Title Game Berth Saturday At USF

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It will be another road game for Temple on Saturday night as the Owls visit the University of South Florida with a chance to clinch a berth in the American Athletic Conference Championship game.

The Owls, now ranked 21st in both major polls, improved to 8-1 this past Friday night as they traveled down to Dallas, Texas, and won a wild game with SMU, 60-40.

"I was proud of them," Temple head coach tells KYW Newsradio about his team. "Each game's a different animal. We got up early, they fought their way back in it, which we expected. They're going through a hard year, but they are playing a bunch of young guys, they have a lot of pride. I was really proud of our kids because with so many guys banged up and out, a bunch of young kids stepped up for us and I was proud we got the result we got."

Listen to the entire interview with Temple's Matt Rhule:

One of the young kids who made an impact against the Mustangs was freshman running back Jager Gardner. He finished with a game-high 110 yards rushing on just six carries. He did the bulk of his damage on Temple's second play from scrimmage when he sprinted 94 yards, virtually untouched, for a touchdown. It was the longest run in Temple football history.

"He's a great kid," Rhule says. "He's been doing it all year in practice. He's usually going against the defense, giving them a look, getting them ready for the game. He's been patient, he's waited his turn and he got his turn and it didn't take him very long to enter the record books. So I think his future's going to be extremely bright. He's got a lot of talent."

On Saturday, the Owls will be on the road for the third time in their last four games as they match-up with a USF team that is 5-4. Since a 1-3 start, the Bulls have won four of five. This past Saturday, South Florida won at East Carolina, 22-17.

"They are really dynamic on offense," Rhule says. "Quinton Flowers is their quarterback, he's a dual threat kid. They are averaging 200 yards a game rushing so statistically they are one of the better teams in the conference offensively. Defensively, they have a bunch of freaky talented kids. So they are putting it all together. They lost some games early, they're surging now and playing really good football. It will be a great game."

The Owls are 5-0 in the American Athletic Conference and a win over USF would allow them to clinch the East division, giving them their first-ever berth in the conference title game. Rhule says everyone is aware about what's on the table.

"I always try to be really honest with the guys on Monday and tell them exactly where we are," Rhule says. "So I brought it up (Monday) morning in our meetings, pointed out, hey, this is the game, this is what would happen if we were to win, this is what would happen if we were to lose. Just really kind of where we are. And then, from there, I try to move on. I think we're a really good team when all we focus on is ourselves and how we're playing. So versus against a great team like USF, we have to focus on playing really good football, doing everything we're supposed to do and that will be our focus for the rest of the week."

Temple and USF will kickoff at 7:00pm on Saturday.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.