Navy travels to Air Force Saturday afternoon for the first leg of the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, one of the most prestigious prizes that college football’s regular season offers. For those unaware, Army, Air Force and Navy have competed every year since 1972 for the CIC Trophy, which is awarded to the service academy with the best record against its brothers in arms.
Navy hasn’t won the CIC Trophy since 2019, while Air Force last captured it in 2022 amid its third 10-win season in four years. But Navy and Air Force’s rivalry predates the trophy. The two teams first met in Baltimore in 1960, making Saturday’s game the 57th meeting all time between the two sides.
Air Force holds a 34-22 advantage in previous meetings, bolstered by a recent four-game winning streak. Air Force outscored Navy 93-26 and allowed just 169 yards per game in that span.
The Midshipmen have beat the Falcons just twice since 2016, with their most recent win coming in that 2019 season. Navy hasn’t won in Colorado since 2012.
All that said, the outlook around this game does feel different. Navy is off to a 4-0 start in its second year under coach Brian Newberry, while Air Force is mired in a 1-3 record without a win against an FBS opponent.
Navy vs. Air Force: Need to know
Watch out for Navy’s… air attack?: Don’t worry, Navy didn’t change its offensive philosophy overnight. The Midshipmen still lean almost entirely upon the triple option to wear down opponents. But they have taken advantage of quarterback Blake Horvath’s arm to catch opponents unaware. Horvath threw touchdown passes of 77 and 74 yards in a Week 5 win against UAB and is the only FBS quarterback to complete two 70-yard touchdown throws in the same game this year.
The Mids are averaging 178.8 yards passing per game, which isn’t a lot for most teams but it is their highest total since joining the American Athletic Conference almost a decade ago. Horvath’s versatility is a big reason why Navy is averaging 46 points per contest, the most scoring production they’ve had this early in 106 years.
Air Force looking to stop skid: While Navy’s offense has been lighting opponents up, Air Force’s has struggled to establish any sort of momentum this year. It’s not an exaggeration to call the Falcons one of the worst offenses in the entire nation. Just take a look at the numbers:
- Points per game: 12.5 (131st in FBS)
- Yards per game: 243 (131st)
- Yards rushing per game: 176.8 (Fewest since 1981)
- Passing touchdowns: Zero (Only school in FBS without one)
Air Force’s struggles extend well beyond this season. After a scorching 8-0 start to the 2023 campaign, in which the Falcons earned their first College Football Playoff ranking in program history, they’re 1-7 in their last eight games. Take out a win against FCS Merrimack, and that translates into 0-7 against FBS opponents since Oct. 28, 2023. The Falcons haven’t started a season 1-4 since 2017.
Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, by the numbers: Though a loss doesn’t immediately eliminate either school from CIC contention, there’s obviously a lot on the line in Saturday’s game. Navy has lost its last four combined games against Army and Air Force — its longest skid in the series in 30 years. Air Force, meanwhile, hasn’t been swept in the CIC series since 2017. Both Navy and Army, off to respective 4-0 starts for the first time since 1945, are shaping up to be formidable opponents.
How to watch Navy vs. Air Force live
Date: Saturday, Oct. 5 | Time: Noon ET
Location: Falcon Stadium — Air Force Academy, Colorado
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
Streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime (Try It Free)
Navy vs. Air Force prediction, picks
Although history certainly isn’t on Navy’s side, this is a game — on paper, at least — that the Midshipmen should win hand handily. Air Force has last each of its three games against FBS opponents by at least two possessions. The Falcons haven’t been particularly great on either side of the ball. They scored in double digits for just the second time this season by putting 19 points on the board against Wyoming in Week 5 and they still lost 31-19. Two of Air Force’s opponents this year have broken the 30-point mark, and now it has to face a Navy team that leads the AAC in scoring with 46 points per game. Pick: Navy -9.5 (-113)
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