It is always entertaining to watch these two rivals face off. Army (4-3) and Air Force (6-2) will play at the home of the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday. The game is scheduled to be held in Texas in both 2021 and 2022, giving fans in the area a couple of opportunities to see two of the most historic programs battle it out.
As usual, we expect a low-scoring, highly competitive affair between the teams.
Commander-in-Chief Trophy is at Stake
Nothing quite screams “USA” like college football, military, and a prize literally entitled the “Commander-in-Chief Trophy” on the line.
The trophy is given to the season winner between Air Force, Navy, and Army. The series between the three teams is made up of three matchups played throughout the duration of the college football season.
Navy and Air Force typically face off in October, Army and Air Force battle it out in November, and Navy and Army square off in December. These military based games always present a chance to not only honor the armed forces, but also provide fans with an exciting brand of college football.
Winning the Commander-in-Chief Trophy is their version of a national championship. Becoming the best branch of the military is not just about bragging rights, but is capped off with the historic award. Air Force leads with 20 trophy wins.
Army vs Air Force Game Preview
Barring unforeseen circumstances, this is destined to be a low-scoring affair. Both offenses rely on running the ball and tend to implement the read option on a consistent basis. While we will see a limited passing game, this matchup will be decided by who runs the ball more efficiently than the other.
Both teams are near the top of the nation in terms of controlling time of possession. In fact, they rank first and second in time of possession per game, with Army ranking first overall. This is due to both sides’ preferences of running the ball on a consistent basis and constantly moving the chains while doing so.
Both offenses work at an economical rate, slowly grinding down the defense while leisurely gathering first downs. You are not going to see a lot of high yardage pass plays when Army and Air Force face each other.
Looking to Get Back in the Win Column
Army has lost three games in a row after an impressive 4-1 start to their season. Air Force had won four games in a row before dropping a heartbreaker against San Diego State in their last outing.
This will be an intense contest, as both teams not only want to get back in the win column but also have more motivation given the rivalry.
Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 ET on Saturday, November 6.
