Behind Enemy Lines (Opponent Preview): Air Force Falcons - Game #8
Fast Facts:
Location: Falcons Stadium – Colorado Springs, CO
Kickoff time: 12 PM Eastern/10 AM Mountain, Saturday, November 1st
Surface: Field Turf Classic HD
Weather: High 61, Low 39, 56 degrees at kickoff, sunny
TV: CBS
Team Name: Falcons
Conference Affiliation: Mountain West
Head Coach: Troy Calhoun (133–93 overall)
2025 Record: 2–5 (1–4 MWC)
Program Snapshot:
Air Force football remains a proud and tradition-rich program, with 30 bowl appearances and 5 Commander-in-Chief’s trophies under Calhoun. But after a promising 2023 campaign derailed by turnovers against Army, the Falcons have struggled to regain their footing. Their 2025 season has been defined by offensive fireworks and defensive collapses.
Program History: The US Air Force Academy was founded and began its inaugural FBS/D1 football season in 1955. They spent their first 25 years as an Independent and joined the WAC in 1980. When the Mountain West Conference was formed in 1999, Air Force became one of its inaugural members.
Unlike their service academy rivals, Air Force has enjoyed tremendous success as a program over the last 50 years consistently. They have had only 7 head coaches in school history, and only 2 since 1984. Ken Hatfield took over the program from Bill Parcells in 1979 and he brought the option offense to Air Force to stay.
Fisher DeBerry was the most successful coach in Air Force Academy history. In 1985, he took the Falcons to a 11-1 record and a #5 national ranking in the AP Poll at season’s end. Their only loss was to eventual national champion, Brigham Young.
Air Force has appeared in 30 bowl games with a 16-13-1 record in those bowls. They won 3 WAC championships under Fisher DeBerry and 1 Mountain Division championship under Troy Calhoun (2015). Air Force leads the Commander in Chief’s trophy series 21-17-10.
Troy Calhoun has had a successful tenure at Air Force. He has an 8-5 record in bowl games and has won 5 Commander in Chief’s trophies.
Series History:
Air Force leads the all-time series 38–20–1, but Army has won 6 of the last 8 meetings. This marks the first game in Colorado Springs since 2019, and Army will look to extend its recent dominance in the rivalry.
Air Force Offense:
Led by breakout QB Liam Szarka, the Falcons rank 4th nationally in rushing (283.7 YPG) and 18th in scoring (36.3 PPG). Szarka is a true dual-threat, averaging over 180 passing yards and 100 rushing yards per game.
- Total Offense: 472.1 YPG
- Passing: 188.4 YPG
- Rushing: 283.7 YPG
- 3rd Down Conversion: 51.4% (15th nationally)
- Turnovers: 7 (–3 margin)
Key Players:
- QB Liam Szarka: 1,058 passing yards, 8 TD, 3 INT; 725 rushing yards, 9 TD
- RB Owen Allen: 372 yards, 3 TD (7.2 YPC)
- WR Cade Harris: 492 yards, 2 TD (21.4 YPC)
- WR Quin Smith: 275 yards, 3 TD (27.5 YPC)
Air Force Defense:
The Falcons’ defense has been a liability, ranking bottom three nationally in points allowed (37.3 PPG), passing yards allowed (323.3 YPG), and total defense (484.1 YPG). Youth and inexperience plague the secondary, with seven underclassmen starting.
- Rushing Defense: 177.0 YPG
- Passing Defense: 307.1 YPG
- 3rd Down Defense: 53.5% conversions allowed (2nd worst nationally)
- Turnovers Forced: 4
Defensive Leaders:
- LB Blake Fletcher: 69 tackles
- DB Max Mustell: 2 INT
- DL Daniel Grobe: 3 sacks
Key Matchups:
- Army rushing attack vs. Air Force front seven:
Army’s option offense will test a defense allowing nearly 180 rushing yards per game. Expect heavy doses of Hellums and the Fullbacks. - Liam Szarka vs. Army linebackers:
Szarka is the Falcons’ engine. Army must contain his scrambling and deep shots to Cade Harris and Quin Smith. - Time of possession and turnovers:
Army leads the nation in TOP; Air Force has a negative turnover margin and a vulnerable secondary.
Takeaway:
This game features two elite rushing offenses, but only one defense capable of stopping the run. Army’s physicality and ball control should wear down the Falcons, especially if Szarka is forced into obvious passing situations.
Prediction:
Army’s defense will bend but not break, and the offense will grind out long drives to control the clock. Expect a few explosive plays from Air Force, but not enough to overcome their defensive woes.
Final Score: Army 24 – Air Force 23
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