HOUSTON (AP) – Greg Ward, Jr. ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns and No. 17 Houston got a 24-13 win over 20th-ranked Temple in the inaugural American Athletic Conference Championship game on Saturday.
The victory makes Houston the Group of Five representative, earning the Cougars a trip to either the Peach Bowl or Fiesta Bowl.
Houston (12-1) jumped to a 17-0 lead with the help of two turnovers by Temple, with one capped by a 47-yard touchdown run by Ward.
Temple (10-3) had a chance to get within a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but Jeremy Winchester knocked down a pass in the end zone and the Owls settled for a field goal that made it 24-13.
They had two more chances to cut the deficit after that, but were stopped on fourth down both times.