Notre Dame vs Temple: Is This The Nightmare From Broad St?

Oct 17, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish lines up to sing their school song after the game against the Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame defeats Southern California 41-31. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

A matchup once laughable, now has the horrifying potential of becoming a pivotal game in Notre Dame’s quest for the College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame (6-1) and ESPN College Gameday are both in Philadelphia tonight for the game against Temple (7-0). The Fighting Irish face a tough opponent in the Temple Owls. Before the season started, it was inconceivable that this would be a critical game on Notre Dame’s schedule. Now, the #21 Temple Owls are flying high at 7-0 and are hosting the #9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish tonight in primetime on ABC. The fact it is on Halloween Night makes this even better. This is a Scary matchup for Notre Dame.

The Owls are undefeated and looking for its program-defining signature win. Temple looks to play the spoilers at home with their 14th-ranked defense going head-to-head with Notre Dame’s 17th-ranked offense. Will Notre Dame strike terror in the hearts of the Temple Owls? Or does this become the Nightmare on Broad Street for the Fighting Irish?

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The Fighting Irish have had a week off and plenty of time to focus on this suddenly important matchup. Notre Dame is 1-0-0 in the only time these two teams have ever played before was on August 31, 2013. Back then, Tommy Rees, T.J. Jones, Troy Niklas and Davaris Daniels carved up the Owls for 346 passing yards on the way to a 28-6 win. In 2013, Temple’s head coach Matt Rhule was in his first season in 2013 as his Owls went 2-10 for the season.

Now it will be DeShone Kizer, C.J. Prosise and William Fuller seeking a repeat performance under head coach Brian Kelly. There is some reason why Notre Dame fans may want to be cautious with their predictions for Halloween Night. Notre Dame may be facing a “Nightmare From Broad Street”.

When the Irish enter Lincoln Financial Field, they will be facing a Temple team of a caliber not seen for generations in Philadelphia. This is not your father’s Temple Owls. No, It’s more like your great-grandfather’s Temple Owls. Since 2013, Rhule has turned the program around.

Temple has returned to Associated Press relevance for the first time since Disco was king. The Owls beat Penn State for the first time in 74 years. This is the first time #21 Temple has gone at least 7-0 since 1934 when Pop Warner – yes THE Pop Warner – was their head coach.

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The #9 Fighting Irish are well on their way to the College Football Playoff, but this potential trap game stands in their path. This is a nightmare scenario worthy of a primetime national broadcast on Halloween. Should the Owls do the unthinkable and upset Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish’s aspirations of a championship will be gone. Tonight, Notre Dame must face and overcome the horror of potentially losing their claim to championship contention. Which will it be for Notre Dame? Is this the Nightmare from Broad St. or will they be the Terror of Temple? Tune in tonight at 8:00 pm on ABC to find out.

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