Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Before this college football season started, the Army Black Knights made a very good business decision.
The team from West Point, New York joined the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in late 2023. After competing as an independent for the past 20 years, the Army resumed playing in an athletics conference beginning this fall.
Other than seven years (1998-2004) in Conference USA, the Army West Point has played college football as an independent going back to 1890.
Will someone please come outside and play ball with us?
Since head coach Jeff Monken took the top job at Army in 2014, many college football teams have hesitated to add Army to their schedule. Though Army’s football teams are still a little undersized compared to today’s major college football powers, the Black Knights confuse opponents by operating an unusual offense called the “flexbone”.
Much like the triple option offensive formations run by Oklahoma during the Coach Barry Switzer years, Army’s flexbone offense utilizes a slotback (instead of halfbacks in the backfield). Instead of having one or two tight ends, the two slotbacks are there to block, take pitches from the quarterback, or may become short-passing targets, too.
Army’s offense is quite efficient. The #1 rushing team (335 yards per game) is also ranked #2 in the major college FBS group by completing nearly 54% of its third down opportunities.
The offense is also ranked #2 in time of possession as it controls more than 34 minutes (out of 60) per game.
Most major college teams do not face a team which operates such a sophisticated and disciplined offense.
As Army started winning more games in the past decade under Coach Jeff Monken, the Black Knights started to run out of quality opponents to play against as an independent.
That’s the biggest reason why Army became a member of the AAC starting this fall.
Don’t forget about the #1 defense in the land!
Through last weekend’s games, Army’s defense is allowing just 10.3 points per outing this season.
Though much of their defensive success is attributable to the team’s run-first offense keeping opponents off the field, the Black Knights defense is #6 in the country in turnover margin. They have snagged 14 interceptions in their first nine games.
If an opponent enters the red zone (inside of the 20 yard line), the Black Knights are ranked #1 in that statistic, too. Army has allowed only 10 total scores (eight touchdowns and two field goals) in twenty opponent chances.
Army has blasted its competition in 2024
Beginning in 2016, Coach Monken’s Army teams have produced just one losing season (5-8 in 2019). In 2024, the Army is rolling along at high speed with a perfect 9-0 record.
Army’s unbeaten season this fall has been hard to judge as six victories have been against struggling teams. Wins over a couple of 2-8 squads (Florida Atlantic and UAB) and a quartet of 3-7 teams (Air Force, Rice, Temple, and Tulsa) have raised concerns about how good Army may really be this season.
Regardless, Army has marched to seven straight American Athletic Conference wins this fall. They have locked-up a spot in the AAC title game against 8-2 Tulane on Friday, December 6 at 7PM CST on ABC.
The Army’s annual match-up against long-time foe Navy will then be played on Saturday, December 14 at 2PM CST at the NFL stadium home of the Washington Commanders.
If the Black Knights should finish undefeated for the year, a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoffs is nearly certain.
One very formidable obstacle is blocking Army’s way
Army will face another of “America’s Teams” as they face-off with 9-1 Notre Dame on Saturday night at 6PM CST on NBC. The game will be played in a baseball stadium. Yankee Stadium in New York City will host this weekend’s epic football game.
This week, the Associated Press ranked Notre Dame at #6 while placing 9-0 Army at #19. My SwampSwamiSports.com Top 25 placed UNBEATEN Army (one of only three undefeated teams remaining) at #3 this week with the Fighting Irish at #6.
Notre Dame started the year with a 22-13 win at Texas A&M in Week #1. Surprisingly, the Fighting Irish then lost a 16-14 shocker – at home – to 5-5 Northern Illinois the following week.
Since then, Notre Dame has rolled-off eight straight convincing wins.
The Fighting Irish defense has allowed less than 11 points per game during the current winning streak. Those wins have been by an average margin of more than 32 points.
Although Notre Dame remains an independent in football, they are eligible to participate in the College Football Playoffs as one of the eight “at-large” teams. Even if Notre Dame should move up into the top four ranked teams, they cannot become one of the top four playoff seeds based on this season’s CFP rules.
A loss to Army on Saturday night (combined with their surprising loss to Northern Illinois) may be enough to bump Notre Dame completely out of the 12-team playoff race.
Uh-oh! Army was just provided with some bulletin board material by Notre Dame
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (a transfer from Duke) gave Army some added inspiration for Saturday night’s game.
When asked about facing unbeaten Army this weekend, Leonard said, “I don’t think that there is any team that really intimidates us too much.”
Northern Illinois (Notre Dame’s only loss) begs to differ.
Much like Army, Notre Dame’s schedule hasn’t exactly been filled with tough opponents. Other than wins against 8-2 Texas A&M and 6-4 Louisville, the Fighting Irish have beaten struggling teams such as 1-9 Purdue, 1-9 Florida State, and 3-7 Stanford.
After this week’s game against 9-0 Army, Notre Dame will end its season on the road next weekend at 5-5 USC. The Irish want to leave a positive impression on the College Football Playoff committee with an emphatic win on national television against Army on Saturday night in New York City.
The history favors Notre Dame
In a series which began 111 years ago in 1913, the Fighting Irish own the all-time edge 39-8-4.
Notre Dame has won 15 straight games against Army. The Black Knights’ last win over Notre Dame came in October, 1958 by a 14-2 final score in South Bend.
The last time these two teams met was in November, 2016 at the AlamoDome in San Antonio, Texas. Notre Dame dominated that game 44-6.
In 2016, Coach Jeff Monken was in his third year as Army’s head coach. His team finished that season with an 8-5 record and played in a bowl game for the first time in six years.
Interestingly, Notre Dame’s coach for the last meeting against Army in 2016 was the current LSU head coach, Brian Kelly.
That season’s Fighting Irish team finished just 4-8.
That still remains Coach Kelly’s worst year in 35 seasons as a college head football coach.
Everything is pointing to a Notre Dame win…except???
Like most major college football teams, Notre Dame has successfully participated in the NCAA’s transfer portal and NIL cash machine to improve their team in 2024.
Contrast that to Army. The military academy’s rules do not permit them to provide lucrative NIL deals to their players. Transfer to another school? Not a chance!
Army West Point graduates will serve as officers in the US Army for a minimum of five years on Active Duty (full-time) and an additional three years in the Army Reserves (part-time). For many, their training at West Point will transition into a long-time military career.
At the beginning of the junior year, West Point cadets must take an oath committing themselves to fulfill their service obligation.
Notre Dame (America’s most famous Catholic university) has millions of football fans in the United States and around the world. The Army likely has even more.
Notre Dame and Army are two “America’s teams” which should provide a very entertaining game on Saturday night. Kickoff is at 6PM CST on NBC.
The odds makers have established Notre Dame as a 17-point favorite against Army.
My Dad (WWII) and my brother-in-law (Desert Storm and Iraq) are both departed. They served in the United States Army.
Even after recently learning that I do have a wee bit of Irish blood, ol’ SwampSwami emphatically says, “Go Army!”