Temple to open 2012 season against Villanova in Mayor’s Cup

By Kevin Kelley -

The Temple Owls will open the 2012 football season against the Villanova Wildcats in the 4th annual Mayor’s Cup.

Temple will host the fourth and final game of the Mayor’s Cup series at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012. Kickoff time and television coverage, if any, will be announced at a later date.

This year’s game marks the 33nd meeting between the Owls and the Wildcats since 1908. Villanova holds a 16-14-2 series advantage. Last season, the Owls rolled to a 42-7 victory.

Temple’s 2012 football schedule also includes non-conference games against Maryland (Sept. 8), at Penn State (Sept. 22) and at Army (Nov. 17).

In MAC play, the Owls are slated to host Akron, Eastern Michigan, Ohio and UMass and travel to Buffalo, Kent State, Miami (OH) and Western Michigan.

There is a possibility that Temple may leave the MAC for the Big East for the 2012 season. Last week, the New York Time and CBS Sports both reported that Temple was likely to join the Big East.

Temple’s annual Cherry & White Spring football game is scheduled for Saturday, April 14, 2012.