Notre Dame-Temple Preview Capsule

No. 9 Notre Dame (6-1) at No. 21 Temple (7-0)

Line: Notre Dame by 10.

Series: Notre Dame 1-0.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The biggest game in the history of Temple football. The Owls have never been 7-0 and it's been more than 30 years since they were ranked. Beat a top-10 Notre Dame team and Temple can start lobbying for inclusion in the College Football Playoff conversation. The Fighting Irish's playoff hopes are very much still alive.

KEY MATCHUP

Notre Dame defensive tackles Daniel Cage and Jerry Tillery vs. Temple center Kyle Friend. Looking for a reason Temple could pull the upset? The Fighting Irish are 101st in the nation in rushing defense at 4.79 yards allowed per attempt. The Owls are a run-first, work-the-clock offense, with Friend as the anchor of that power game. He is one of the best centers in the country. The Irish will throw a couple of 300-pounders at him. Tillery, the freshman, has star potential.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Notre Dame: WR Will Fuller is one of the most explosive receivers in the country. He averages 22 yard per catch and has eight touchdowns.

Temple: LB Tyler Matakevich leads the Owls in tackles at 9.29 per game and has four sacks. He is the only player in FBS to lead his team in tackles every game this season.

FACTS AND FIGURES

The Irish are 1-6 in their last seven road games and have lost five straight road games to ranked teams. Their last road win against a ranked opponent was a 30-13 victory over No. 8 Oklahoma in 2012. ... Temple ranks tops in the American Athletic Conference and 13th in the nation in time of possession at 33:11 per game. ... Temple RB Jahad Thomas leads the American in rushing with 117 yards per game. ... QB DeShone Kizer has a passer rating of 156.9, 14th nationally. Only three Notre Dame quarterbacks have had better seasons: Jimmy Clausen in 2009 (161.4); Bob Williams in 1949 (161.4) and Brady Quinn in 2005 (158.4). ... Notre Dame is 15-0-0 on Halloween, its best record on any date.