The first step toward the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy will be on Saturday as the Air Force Falcons (2-1, 1-0 in the Mountain West Conference) heads to Annapolis to take on the Midshipmen of the U.S. Naval Academy (3-0, 1-0 in the American Athletic Conference).
How to watch Air Force vs. Navy on TV or online, plus 3 things to know
The marquee matchup for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.
Pardon the pun for the Service Academies, but this should be a heck of a shootout between a pair of evenly matched teams that are each averaging 40.3 points per contest. The two academies are separated by just seven spots in the S&P+ rankings, and Air Force’s 30-21 win last season lone blemish on the Commnder-in-Chief’s Trophy resume. Navy has dominated the series for most of the 21st century with seven wins in a row from 2003-09, but since 2010 the Air Force has the edge, 3-2.
Both squads run triple-option style attacks that average more than 360 rushing yards per game, with Navy led by star senior quarterback Keenan Reynolds and his nation-leading nine rushing touchdowns, and Air Force paced by running back D.J. Johnson. Five different players for the Air Force come into this game with 100 or more rushing yards, including three backs. Seven different players have scored touchdowns for Air Force this season.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network
Online streaming: CBS Sports Link
Spread: Navy favored by 6 points.
Make friends: Fans of the Midshipmen can talk about this one at Underdog Dynasty, while Air Force fans can chat over at Mountain West Connection.
Three big things to know
1. Keenan Reynolds
The Middie quarterback is wrapping up a career that really will go down in the record books. Among quarterbacks he’s the all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, and also owns the single-game and season marks. His 24 career wins is more than even Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach.
2. Option football and America
The option is the single greatest football play ever invented, and watching Navy and Air Force run it will be a clinic for people who enjoy the variety that makes this sport so damn fun. Both teams average about 61 runs per game compared to less than 100 yards passing, so if you like a fast pace this game should fly by.
3. Air defense?
The Falcons rank 27th in the nation in yards per play allowed, ahead of more heralded defenses like West Virginia, Notre Dame and Texas A&M. Air Force also ranks 16th in run defense, allowing just 93 yards a game. That might be where the rubber meets the road versus Reynolds and Co.
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