Three Big Questions: Air Force Falcons
A look ahead at what what 2023 has in store for each FBS program, alphabetically
It’s exactly 133 days until Week 0 and college football returns. Do you know what else 133 refers to? The number of FBS teams this coming season! So, we'll take a look each day at a different program and see where they stand for the 2023 season and beyond. Buckle up, because this will be a long ride.
Team Information
School: Air Force Falcons
Conference: Mountain West (Mountain)
2022 Record: 10-3 (5-3)
Bowl: 30-15 win over Baylor in the Armed Forces Bowl
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Troy Calhoun, 17th season
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Thiessen, 17th season
Defensive Coordinator: Brian Knorr, 12th season
1. Can the Falcons separate themselves in the MWC?
Last season, the Air Force Falcons finished second in the Mountain West, and second in the Mountain Division. A narrow 19-14 loss to Boise State sealed the Falcons’ fate, but they rebounded well against Baylor, a Power Five opponent, in the Armed Forces Bowl.
The MWC was abysmal last year. Probably the worst conference in the nation. But, Air Force wasn’t horrible. They finished the season at 57th in the nation in SP+, the best in the conference. Even with an elite defense (more on that later), the Falcons didn’t capitalize last year. In 2023, they need to build off of their strong defense and score enough points to steal some wins.
2. How do the Falcons rebound from their close losses a year ago?
Last season, the Falcons fell to Wyoming (17-14), Utah State (34-27), and Boise State (19-14). All of those losses could’ve easily turned into wins, but something went wrong. Wyoming and Boise State were attempted comeback wins, which is incredibly difficult for an option-running service academy to pull off.
Overall, the Falcons went 3-3 in one-score games, which isn’t horrible. There isn’t a lot of regression that’s possible either way. But, in the context of Air Force’s full season, that’s disappointing. They tallied two Power Five wins (well, let’s call it one and a half after Colorado’s abysmal season), including a two-score bowl win over Baylor. They ran away with the Commander-in-Chief Trophy, beating Army and Navy in Falcon Stadium. If the Falcons want to continue to grow and claim the honor of the Mountain West’s best program, they need to capitalize on those one-score games.
3. Can Air Force continue to stymie opposing offenses?
If you named the top five defenses last year, who would be on that list? Georgia, sure. Iowa, yep. Illinois? Probably. But Air Force?
Believe it or not, the Falcons posted a top three defense in 2022. They limited opponents to a stunning 13.3 points per game. Per game! The only teams better last season were the national champion Georgia Bulldogs and upstart Illinois. Additionally, Air Force grounded opposing offenses, posting the nation’s top mark in opponent’s yards per game. Sure, a run-heavy option approach helps, but let’s not discount what was a great unit a year ago.
This year, the Falcons return defensive coordinator Brian Knorr and return eight defensive starters. This has the makings of being one of the nation’s top defensive units once again, and if they can recapture last season’s success, they should have no problem posting double-digit wins.
What is the expectation for Air Force?
I have high hopes for Air Force this season. They should once again win the Commander-in-Chief Trophy, even though they’ll be on the road against both Army and Navy. Barring some major setbacks, they should also be a front runner for the Mountain West title. If there’s no bowl game, that would be a disappointment.