The University of Tulsa celebrates its 100th Homecoming this weekend as the Golden Hurricane (2-5, 0-4 American) welcome the Temple Owls (4-3, 2-1) to H.A. Chapman Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, on ESPN+.
Weather, Schedule, and Festivities
Due to the threat of inclement weather, several Homecoming events have been moved indoors. Friday night’s pep rally and honorees program will now be held inside the Donald W. Reynolds Center from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m., following Tulsa volleyball’s match against North Texas at 5:30.
The annual bonfire at Dietler Commons will still go on, rain or shine, directly in front of McFarlin Library. Saturday’s tailgate begins at 11:45 a.m. inside the Reynolds Center, featuring live entertainment from popular YouTubers and UTulsa alumni B Lou and Zias, who will host a hot dog-eating contest and fan games. At 12:30, Levon takes the stage before the Sound of the Golden Hurricane leads fans into Chapman Stadium at 2 p.m.
Series History
This will be the 10th all-time meeting between Tulsa and Temple. The Golden Hurricane lead the series 5-4, including a 3-1 mark in games played in Tulsa. Temple won last season’s matchup in Philadelphia, 20-10, but the Hurricane have captured the last two at home, including a 48-26 win in 2023 the most points Tulsa has ever scored against the Owls.
Centennial Homecoming
Saturday’s matchup marks Tulsa’s 100th Homecoming game. The Golden Hurricane are 55-41-3 all-time on the occasion and have averaged over 35 points per game in the last four Homecoming contests. Last season’s rally from 28 points down to beat UTSA, 46-45, stands as one of the most memorable comebacks in program history.
A Chance to Reset
Head coach Tre Lamb’s first season has featured flashes of growth but frustration as well. Tulsa enters Homecoming on a four-game conference skid after falling 41-27 at East Carolina. The Golden Hurricane have struggled to complement each other on both sides of the ball Lamb said the team is still learning to play as one unit.
“We’re not good enough right now to overcome those mistakes,” Lamb said. “Our margin for error is very thin.”
Freshman Progress
Redshirt freshman quarterback Baylor Hayes set career highs last week with 251 passing yards and two touchdowns. His connection with tight end Brody Foley has become one of Tulsa’s most explosive weapons the pair has accounted for the team’s last three plays of 35 yards or more.
Foley’s six-catch, 126-yard effort at ECU was the first 100-yard game by a TU tight end since 2011. His 19.2 yards per catch rank second nationally among FBS tight ends.
Defensive Leaders
Linebacker Ray Coney continues to anchor Tulsa’s defense, ranking fifth nationally and first in the American with 10.9 tackles per game. Safety Elijah Green remains among the nation’s interception leaders with five, the most by a TU player since 2013.
Temple’s Perspective
First-year Temple coach KC Keeler brings a veteran squad that has won two of its last three. Keeler praised Tulsa’s physicality and toughness, saying the Hurricane may not yet realize how talented they are.
“When you look at the tape, you can see they’ve done some really good things,” Keeler said. “They’ve played a tough schedule and have a lot of passion.”
Temple defensive lineman Alan Hay also returns to Tulsa for the first time since suffering a serious leg injury at Chapman Stadium two years ago — one that required months of rehab. Hay credited Tulsa fans for their compassion that night and said he’s excited for the full-circle moment.
How to Watch
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Big Country 99.5 FM (Bruce Howard, Rick Couri, Jeremie Poplin)
The Bottom Line
Tulsa enters Homecoming weekend looking for a spark and perhaps some sunshine as the program celebrates a century of tradition. With Baylor Hayes settling in, Brody Foley emerging as a big-play threat, and the defense anchored by Ray Coney, Saturday’s matchup with Temple offers a chance to turn competitive flashes into a long-awaited win before a home crowd ready to celebrate, rain or shine.
