The Akron Zips (0-1) came out on the wrong end of many close games last year — they did the same to start their 2023 season. The Temple Owls (1-0) overcame a 21-7 first half deficit with 17 unanswered points to defeat Akron to give themselves a home win in their season opener.
While Temple made some big plays, Akron made some avoidable mistakes, leading to the loss. This was summed up well by a sequence late in the fourth. A DJ Irons interception on an underthrown ball on second and short stalled a potential game tying-or-winning drive with Temple ahead 24-21.