Saturday, September 5, 2026. Kickoff 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Temple opens its second season under K.C. Keeler against Rhode Island, and this is not a soft opener. The Rams have won back to back CAA titles, are ranked in the FCS top 10, and already played a game last week at Merrimack. Temple went 5 and 7 last year and lost its final four to miss a bowl.
| Kickoff | 2 p.m. ET · 1 p.m. CT · noon MT · 11 a.m. PT |
| TV | None. Streaming only. |
| Streaming | ESPN+ (ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited in the ESPN app) |
| Venue | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Line | Lightly posted. Where a line exists, Temple is favored by roughly a touchdown to 10 points. |
Prediction and Odds
This is the FCS visitor most likely to spring a Week 1 surprise on the East Coast. Rhode Island has a game under its belt, a veteran coach in Jim Fleming and a program that has learned how to win close games in the CAA. Temple has a defense that was among the best in the American against the pass last year but an offense that faded badly down the stretch. The Owls should win on talent and depth, but anything inside 10 points is very live for the Rams.
Our pick: Temple 27, Rhode Island 20. Temple wins; Rhode Island covers at anything above a touchdown.
Why This One Matters
Temple gets Penn State at the Linc next Saturday, the first Nittany Lions visit since the Owls’ 27 to 10 upset in 2015, and then a road trip to Toledo. A loss here would make an already hard September look impossible. Rhode Island is chasing a third straight CAA title and a deep FCS playoff run, and an FBS win on the resume helps seeding.
How to Watch Without Cable
ESPN+ is the only way to watch. ESPN Select carries every ESPN+ game; ESPN Unlimited adds the linear ESPN networks and ABC. More in our streaming guide.
The Bottom Line
Rhode Island at Temple kicks off at 2 p.m. ET Saturday, September 5 on ESPN+. Temple is our pick in a game closer than the matchup suggests. Result on our live scoreboard.