Air Force Falcons

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Air Force Falcons is 1-0 on the season, 1-0 against the spread, and holds a power rating of -4.3. Air Force Falcons enters the season with a power rating of -4.3, placing them below average relative to the FBS midpoint. The Air Force Falcons host North Dakota State next in Week 2. In 2025, Air Force Falcons went 4-8 overall, 5-7 against the spread, and 7-5 on totals.

Conference: Mountain West Conference
Stadium: Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO
Power Rating (most current): -4.3
HFA Rating:2.5 pts
2026 Win Total:7.5
2026 Record: 1-0
2026 ATS: 1-0
2026 O/U: 0-1

2026 Schedule & Results

In Week 1 of 2026 the Air Force Falcons Power Rating of -4.3 is 4.3 points below the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Air Force Falcons have logged 0 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 7,516 miles, ranking 61st heaviest in the FBS.

Air Force Falcons Coaching Staff and Key Players

Head coachTroy Calhoun
Tenure19 seasons
Record139-97
Offensive coordinatorMike Thiessen
Defensive coordinatorSteve Russ

Offense

Liam Szarka QB, Owen Allen FB, Luke Vonderhaar OL, Jonah Dawson WR

Defense

Blake Fletcher LB, Dallas Daley LB, Isaac Hubert LB, Roger Jones Jr. S, Mikhail Seiken CB, Korey Johnson CB, Max Mustell S

Special teams

Jacob Medina K, Will Duncan P

2025 Season in Review

Record4-8 ATS5-7 O/U7-5
Running totals after each week played. Cumulative, not per week.
AfterRecordATSO/U
Week 11-01-01-0
Week 31-11-12-0
Week 41-21-23-0
Week 51-31-34-0
Week 61-42-35-0
Week 71-53-36-0
Week 82-53-46-1
Week 102-63-56-2
Week 113-64-56-3
Week 123-74-66-4
Week 133-84-76-5
Week 144-85-77-5

A season record is a record, not a forecast. Blue Chip Analytics' own research finds that beating the closing line repeats at close to zero from one season to the next - see most underrated and overrated teams. Read the table as what happened, not as what is likely to happen next.

2026 Power Rating Trajectory

Opened -5.4 in the preseason and finished -4.3 after week 2, a move of +1.1 points. High -4.3 (week 2), low -5.8 (week 1).

Line chart of the 2026 Blue Chip Analytics power rating across 4 points, from -5.4 to -4.3.

PreW2

Air Force Falcons SP+ Profile

Offence+25.370 of 138higher is better
Defence+27.783 of 138lower is better
Special teams+0.166 of 138higher is better

SP+ is an independent opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, one of the systems blended into the Blue Chip Analytics power rating rather than a Blue Chip Analytics number itself. Defensive SP+ measures points allowed, so a lower figure is a better defence - the rank beside it already accounts for that.

How Confident Is This Rating?

Sources blended5
Source spread±2.1 pts
HFA measured+2.4 pts
HFA applied+2.5 pts

Source spread is how far apart the independent rating systems are on this team, not a margin of error on our own number. A wide spread means the models disagree, which is itself worth knowing.

The measured and applied home field advantage agree to within 0.1 points here, so smoothing changes little for this venue.

Record Against 2026 Opponents

Regular and postseason meetings, 2016–2025. Over/under history begins in 2017 and 2020 was shortened by COVID, so game counts vary.
OpponentMetRecordATS
Nevada54-12-2-1
Navy106-46-4
UNLV64-23-3
Wyoming94-52-7
UConn10-10-1
Army103-73-7
San José State64-22-4
New Mexico95-44-5

No meeting on record since 2016: Duquesne, North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, UTEP.

Home, Road and Neutral, 2016–2025

At home39-1826-30-1 ATS · 57 games
On the road26-2627-23-2 ATS · 52 games
Neutral site7-35-5 ATS · 10 games

2026 Season Travel Profile

7,516 miles - ranked 61st heaviest in FBS (138 teams)
Cumulative travel of 7,516 round-trip miles across the 2026 season.

Week 07,516 mi total

Week Opponent Distance Cumulative
Week 0-Bye
Week 1DuquesneHome0 mi
Week 2North Dakota StateHome0 mi
Week 3-Bye
Week 4Nevada803 mi1,606 mi
Week 5NavyHome1,606 mi
Week 6Northern Illinois869 mi3,344 mi
Week 7UNLVHome3,344 mi
Week 8Wyoming164 mi3,672 mi
Week 9UConnHome3,672 mi
Week 10Army1,634 mi6,939 mi
Week 11San José StateHome6,939 mi
Week 12UTEPHome6,939 mi
Week 13New Mexico288 mi7,516 mi
Week 14-Bye
Week 15-Bye
Week 16-Bye
Postseason-Bye

Air Force Falcons Season Outlook

Ground Game Dominance Returns

Air Force opened the season with a 34-0 shutout of Duquesne, racking up 431 rushing yards on the ground. Liam Szarka scored twice on short runs, while Rocco Conti and Kemper Hodges each topped 70 yards. The Falcons attempted just five passes, a clear sign that the triple-option identity is fully intact. With Szarka and fullback Owen Allen both back from productive 2025 campaigns, the rushing attack should remain the engine of the offense all season.

Defense Shows Marked Improvement

After allowing 30.3 points per game last year, the Falcons responded with a shutout in Week 1. The rebuilt defensive line was untested against an FCS opponent, but the veteran back eight, led by linebacker Blake Fletcher and safety Max Mustell, controlled the game. Duquesne managed only 107 total yards, and the Falcons forced a quick three-and-out on the opening drive. The real test comes against North Dakota State, a top FCS program with a physical run game, which will reveal whether the front seven can hold up without transfer help.

Special Teams and Kicking Questions

Jacob Medina entered the season as the No. 1 kicker after losing the job last year, but it was Carter Cremascoli who handled field goals in the opener, converting two. That rotation is worth monitoring, as close conference games could hinge on reliable kicking. Will Duncan took over punting duties and had a quiet day given the defense's dominance. Consistency in the kicking game will be a key factor in tight Mountain West matchups later in the season.

Schedule Ramps Up Quickly

The Falcons face North Dakota State in Week 2, a team that is currently favored by 2.5 points and has a 54% win probability in the prediction market. This is a significant step up from Duquesne and will test Air Force's offensive line and defensive front against a physical, disciplined opponent. After that, the Mountain West slate begins, with no Boise State or San Diego State on the schedule, opening a path to a top-three finish if the Falcons can handle the Bison.

Season Outlook: Bowl Eligibility Within Reach

With a veteran quarterback in Liam Szarka, an experienced defense, and a favorable conference landscape, Air Force has a realistic shot at finishing above .500 for the first time since 2023. The Falcons have won 20 straight season openers and are 31-0 all-time against FCS teams, but the real measure will come against FBS competition. If the offensive line gels and the defense continues to force turnovers, a bowl game and a top-three Mountain West finish are attainable goals for Troy Calhoun's 20th season.

Sources

Schedule & Results

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Air Force Falcons's against-the-spread record in 2026?

Air Force Falcons is 1-0 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 100% of games.

What is Air Force Falcons's Blue Chip Analytics power rating?

Air Force Falcons holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of -4.3, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.

What is Air Force Falcons's home field advantage rating?

Air Force Falcons's home field advantage rating is 2.5 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.

What is Air Force Falcons's 2026 win total?

Air Force Falcons's consensus regular-season win total for 2026 is 7.5 wins, priced at -110 over and -120 under. This is the betting market's expectation, not a Blue Chip Analytics projection.

How many miles does Air Force Falcons travel in 2026?

Air Force Falcons travels 7,516 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 61st heaviest in the FBS.

How does Blue Chip Analytics calculate cumulative travel distance?

Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.

Air Force Falcons: 1-0 overall, 1-0 ATS, power rating -4.3 (2026 records).