Air Force Falcons

Air Force has leaned on a deep and versatile rushing attack to open the season 5-1, including a 3-1 mark in Mountain West play. The Falcons opened with 431 rushing yards in a 34-0 shutout of Duquesne, with 17 different players carrying the ball. Against Northern Illinois, with Liam Szarka limited, Evan Medders (114 yards) and Owen Allen (100 yards) each topped the century mark and combined for four touchdowns, and Air Force did not complete a pass yet won 28-7. Medders then exploded for 152 yards and three scores in a 41-31 win over UNLV, while Rocco Conti added 103 yards and Allen 96. The offense has shown it can move the ball on the ground regardless of who is under center, and that depth has been a major asset.

The defensive line entered the season as the biggest question after losing every starter to graduation, and North Dakota State exposed that inexperience in a 38-32 loss, gashing the Falcons on the ground and through the air. But since then, the unit has stiffened considerably. Navy managed only nine points, and Northern Illinois was held to seven. The veteran back eight, led by linebackers Blake Fletcher (who returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown against NDSU), Dallas Daley, and Isaac Hubert, along with safeties Roger Jones Jr. and Max Mustell, has been the strength of the team. If the front can continue to hold up, this defense can keep Air Force in every game.

Air Force has not fumbled the ball all season, a streak that extends back to the second quarter against New Mexico in 2025, spanning 549 total plays. That remarkable ball security fits the Falcons' possession-based, clock-controlling style. On the other side, the defense has shown a knack for creating turnovers, none bigger than Fletcher's 85-yard pick-six against North Dakota State. Opposing coaches have noted that turning the ball over against Air Force is fatal because the Falcons make you pay. That formula has been a key driver of the 5-1 record.

Liam Szarka remains the centerpiece of the offense when healthy, but his absence or limited availability has not slowed the Falcons. Evan Medders has stepped in and produced, both on the ground and as a leader. Kemper Hodges has also contributed, adding 52 rushing yards against Northern Illinois. The ability to plug in multiple quarterbacks who can run the option effectively has given Air Force a dimension that opponents struggle to prepare for. Szarka's dual-threat ability (he led the Mountain West in rushing touchdowns last season) remains a weapon, but the offense no longer relies solely on him.

At 5-1, Air Force has positioned itself as a contender in the Mountain West, especially with Boise State and San Diego State no longer in the conference. The schedule remains challenging, with road trips to Wyoming and others, but the Falcons have already shown they can win away from home (at Nevada, at Northern Illinois). The biggest question is whether the defensive front can hold up against stronger running teams, and whether the passing game can provide a spark if opponents load the box. With a veteran defense, a deep rushing attack, and excellent ball security, Air Force looks poised to challenge for a top-three finish in the league and possibly more. The arrow is pointing up in Troy Calhoun's 20th season.