As I sit down to analyze the Temple Owls' upcoming football season, I can't help but draw parallels from an entirely different sport that recently caught my attention. I was absolutely captivated when I read about Angel Nitura's incredible achievement in UAAP women's volleyball - becoming the first player to rack up four 30-pieces in a single season with three elimination round games to spare. Now, you might wonder what volleyball has to do with football, but hear me out. This kind of dominant individual performance demonstrates exactly what the Temple Owls need to replicate across their entire roster if they want to dominate their matchups this season.

Looking at the Owls' schedule, I'm particularly excited about their potential offensive firepower. Having followed college football for over fifteen years, I've noticed that teams with multiple offensive weapons tend to overwhelm opponents in ways that remind me of Nitura's volleyball dominance. The Owls need to develop what I call the "30-piece mentality" - having at least three players capable of delivering game-changing performances week after week. Last season, their quarterback threw for approximately 2,800 yards with 22 touchdowns, but what stood out to me was the distribution - no single receiver dominated consistently. This season, they need to identify their version of Nitura, that player who can consistently deliver 100+ yard games or multiple touchdowns. From what I've seen in spring practices, there are at least two receivers and one running back who have that potential.

Defensively, the numbers tell a compelling story that needs addressing. Last season, the Owls allowed an average of 28.3 points per game, which frankly isn't good enough for a team with championship aspirations. I've always believed that defense wins championships, and Temple's defensive coordinator needs to implement what I'd describe as a "volleyball block mentality." Just like how a dominant volleyball player can shut down opposing hitters, the Owls' defensive line must become that impenetrable wall. They recorded 31 sacks last season, but I'm predicting they'll need at least 40 this season to truly dominate their conference. The addition of that transfer linebacker from Ohio State could be exactly what they need - he made 87 tackles last season, and I suspect he'll push that number past 100 with Temple.

Special teams often get overlooked, but in my experience covering college football, they've decided approximately 18% of close games I've witnessed over the past decade. Temple's kicking game needs significant improvement - they only converted 72% of field goals last season, and in tight conference matchups, those missed opportunities become heartbreaking losses. I remember specifically their game against Cincinnati where a missed 38-yard field goal cost them the game in overtime. This season, they've brought in a new special teams coach who revolutionized East Carolina's unit last year, improving their field goal percentage from 68% to 85% in just one season. If he can work similar magic with Temple, we're looking at 2-3 additional wins right there.

What really excites me about this Temple team is their schedule alignment. They have what I consider to be the perfect storm of home games at critical moments. In November, when championship hopes are made or broken, they play three of their four games at Lincoln Financial Field. Having attended countless games there, I can tell you that the home-field advantage during cold weather games gives them at least a 7-point edge against warm-weather teams visiting from the south. Their toughest opponent, Central Florida, has to travel to Philadelphia in late November, and having seen UCF struggle in cold conditions before, I'm predicting Temple wins that game by at least 10 points.

The coaching philosophy needs to embrace what made Nitura's volleyball achievement so remarkable - consistency in excellence. Head coach Stan Drayton has been implementing what he calls "performance benchmarking" during training camp, setting specific statistical targets for each position group. I spoke with him last month, and he mentioned wanting each offensive unit to achieve what he called "Nitura numbers" - consistent elite performance markers. For quarterbacks, that means completing at least 65% of passes; for receivers, minimum 80 yards per game; for running backs, at least 4.5 yards per carry. These might seem like ambitious targets, but in my opinion, this is exactly the kind of specific, measurable goals that separate good teams from great ones.

Player development will be crucial, particularly for their sophomore class that showed so much promise last year. I've got my eye specifically on running back Joquez Smith, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry in limited action last season. If they can get him 18-20 carries per game, I'm projecting he could rush for approximately 1,200 yards this season. That kind of ground game would open up play-action passes that could add another 300-400 yards to their passing attack. It's this kind of synergistic improvement that creates truly dominant teams rather than just good ones.

As the season approaches, I'm more optimistic about Temple's chances than I've been in several years. They have the pieces in place for what could be a special season, provided they embrace the consistency and dominance exemplified by athletes like Nitura in other sports. The key will be translating individual brilliance into team success, ensuring that when one player has an off day, two others step up with standout performances. If they can achieve this balance while maintaining defensive intensity throughout all four quarters, I genuinely believe we could be looking at Temple's first conference championship since 2016. The foundation is there - now they need to build upon it with the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines all truly great teams.