Friday, September 22
San Jose, CA
8:30 pm MT
Air Force Academy
at
San Jose State
Game 4: Air Force at San Jose State
9/18/2023 10:49:00 AM | Football
Friday, Sept. 22, 8:30 p.m. MT, CEFCU Stadium (18,265), San Jose, CA
Air Force at San Jose State
Friday, Sept. 22, 8:30 p.m. MT, CEFCU Stadium (18,265), San Jose, CA
THE GAME
• Air Force travels to San Jose, Calif., to take on San Jose State on Friday, Sept. 22, at 8:30 p.m. MT in CEFCU Stadium. The game marks back-to-back Friday night games for the Falcons.
• Air Force and San Jose State are meeting for the seventh time, all as conference foes. The Falcons are 4-2 overall, including a 3-0 mark at home and 1-2 mark in San Jose. San Jose State defeated Air Force, 17-6, in the last meeting in 2020 in San Jose.
• Air Force has won eight straight games dating back to last season which is the fifth longest active streak in the nation. The Falcons have won five straight away from home overall and two straight in true road games dating back to last season.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
• Television: FS1
Dan Hellie (play-by-play), Petros Papadakis (analyst)
• Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, 104.3 the Fan in Denver, SIRIUS XM 381
Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
• Live Stats: SJSUstats.com
THE SERIES
• Air Force and San Jose State are meeting for the seventh time, all as conference foes
• Air Force is 4-2 overall, including a 3-0 mark at home and 1-2 mark in San Jose
• San Jose State defeated Air Force, 17-6, in the last meeting in 2020 in San Jose
• The home team has won two straight in the series dating back to 2016
• The teams first played in 1996 at Air Force, resulting in a 45-0 victory by the Falcons
Series Results
1996 - AF 45-0 (H)
1997 - SJSU 25-22 (A)
2015 - AF 37-16 (H)
2016 - AF 41-38 (A)
2019 - AF 41-24 (H)
2020 - SJSU 17-6 (A)
(Site) is for AF
LAST TIME
(Oct. 24, 2020) San Jose State defeated Air Force, 17-6, in the Mountain West opener for both schools. After a scoreless first half, Nick Starkel threw a pair of third-quarter touchdown passes to Derrick Deese to give San Jose State a 14-0 lead. The Falcons got on the board when Haaziq Daniels hit Kyle Patterson for a 34-yard touchdown strike, but the Falcons missed the two-point conversion to trail 14-6. SJSU iced it with a 30-yard field goal from Matt Mercurio with 5:18 left to make up the final margin. San Jose State had 294 total yards, including 226 passing. Starkel hit 22-of-29 for 226 yards to lead the Spartans. Air Force had 298 total yards, including 206 rushing. Brandon Lewis and Timothy Jackson led the Falcons with 60 yards each. Elisha Palm led the defense with a career-high nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and his first-career interception. George Silvanic added six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
AIR FORCE'S EIGHT GAME STREAK FIFTH BEST NATIONALLY
Air Force has won eight straight games dating back to last season which is the fifth longest active streak in the nation. The streak is the longest by the Falcons since 2019-20 when the team won nine straight. The Falcons have opened the season 3-0 for the first time since 2016.
Longest Current FBS Winning Streaks
# Team Streak
1. Georgia 20
2. Fresno State 12
3. Washington 10
4. Florida State 9
5. Air Force 8
ROAD STREAK AT FIVE
Air Force has won five straight away from home overall and two straight in true road games dating back to last season. Air Force's last true road game loss came last season at Utah State, 34-27, Oct. 8.
Road/Neutral Winning Streak
Date................ Opponent (Site)............................. Result
Sept. 9, 2023... vs. Sam Houston (NRG Stadium)..... W 13-3
Dec. 22, 2022.. vs. Baylor (Fort Worth, TX).............. W 30-15
Nov. 26, 2022.. at San Diego State.......................... W 13-3
Nov. 5, 2022.... vs. Army (Arlington, TX).................. W 13-7
Oct. 15, 2022... at UNLV......................................... W 42-7
CURRENT STREAKS
• The Falcons have won 17 straight games when forcing two or more turnovers in a game.
• Air Force has won eight straight games vs. non-conference opponents.
• Air Force has held 10 straight opponents to 21 points or less.
• Air Force has out-rushed 13 straight opponents dating back to last season.
• Air Force has scored in 63 straight games dating back to 2017, the sixth longest active streak in the Mountain West.
AIR FORCE 34-8 LAST FOUR SEASONS
• Air Force is 34-8 the last four full seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Air Force is 3-0 this season and finished 10-3 in 2022 and 2021 and 11-2 in 2019.
• Air Force, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Utah and Oregon are the only teams to win 10-plus games the last three full seasons (2019, 2021, 2022).
• The Falcons are 19-6 in conference play during the same stretch. Air Force is 1-0 this season and was 5-3 and finished second in the Mountain Division last season. Air Force shared the Mountain Division title with a 6-2 mark in 2021 and finished second with a 7-1 mark in 2019.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Air Force is receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches preseason poll for the fourth straight week. The Falcons received nine points to rank 37th. The week-by-week results follow:
Preseason (49th/6pts); Week 2 (42nd/7pts); Week 3 (46th/5pts).
Air Force closed last season among others receiving votes in both polls. The Falcons ranked 28th with 50 points in the USA Coaches poll and appeared in the poll receiving votes 10 times during the season. Air Force ranked 28th with 40 points in the final Associated Press poll. The Falcons received votes in the AP poll four times during the season, the first three weeks of the season and in the final.
LAST WEEK
Air Force defeated Utah State, 39-21, to open Mountain West play. The win snapped a five-game losing streak in conference openers. Following a three-and-out by the defense, Emmanuel Michel scored the first of three touchdowns, and a two-point conversion made it 8-0 Air Force. The defense helped again with an Alec Mock sack and forced fumble. The offense converted with a Zac Larrier rushing touchdown to make it 15-0. Michel added his second touchdown to make it 22-0 after the first quarter. John Lee Eldridge III opened the second quarter with a touchdown run to extend the lead to 29-0. Utah State got on the board with a touchdown pass to cut the lead to 29-7. Matthew Dapore kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired to make it 32-7 at the half. Michel added his third touchdown to make it 39-7 midway through the third quarter. Utah State added two late touchdowns to make up the final margin. Air Force rushed for 344 yards and had 428 total yards. Michel had 106 yards on 28 carries while Owen Burk added a game-high 110 yards on 15 carries. Larrier finished with 56 yards rushing and hit 3-4 passes for 84 yards. Mock led the defense with 11 tackles and two sacks. PJ Ramsey added 2.5 tackles for loss. The defense held Utah State to 302 total yards, including just 54 rushing on 26 carries.
LAST WEEK'S GAME NOTES
Team Notes
• Air Force improved to 3-0 overall for the first time since 2016 and the third time under Head Coach Troy Calhoun (2007, 2008).
• The Falcons snapped a two-game losing streak to Utah State, beating the Aggies for the first time since 2020. Air Force improved to 7-5 overall and 6-5 in conference games vs. Utah State.
• Air Force improved to 14-11 in Mountain West openers dating back to 1999. The Falcons improved to 8-5 at home and 2-3 vs. Utah State in MW openers. Air Force snapped a five-game losing streak in conference openers, winning for the first time defeating Utah State, 27-20, in 2016.
• Air Force improved to 74-24 at home under Head Coach Troy Calhoun. The Falcons have won four straight at home dating back to last season.
• Air Force improved to 34-8 overall in the last four full seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The Falcons are 3-0 this season and finished 10-3 in 2022 and 2021 and 11-2 in 2019. Air Force improved to 19-6 in Mountain West play during the same stretch.
• Air Force has held 10 straight opponents to 21 points or less
• Air Force converted a two-point conversion for the first time since converting one against Nevada, Nov. 19, 2021 (DeAndre Hughes run)
• Utah State's touchdown in the second quarter marked the first points the Falcons have given up in the first half this season.
• Air Force has out-rushed 13 straight opponents. The Falcons out-rushed the Aggies, 344-54.
• Utah State had 54 rushing yards as a team while Air Force had four players each with more than 56 yards rushing
• Air Force had two players with over 100 yards rushing (Burk 110, Michel 106) in a game for the first time since New Mexico last season when Brad Roberts had 163 and Haaziq Daniels had 113.
• Air Force game captains for the Utah State game were seniors Thor Paglialong (OC), Bo Richter (LB), P.J. Ramsey (DL) and Trey Taylor (DB).
Individual Notes
• Senior FB Emmanuel Michel recorded a career high three rushing touchdowns against the Aggies. He has eight career rushing touchdowns and five have come against the Aggies. Michel also rushed for a season high 106 yards.
• Senior LB Johnathan Youngblood recorded his first career interception, stopping a USU drive in the second quarter.
• Junior PK Matthew Dapore kicked a season-long 49 yard field goal.
• Junior Spur C.J. Boyd had a career high six tackles. His previous high was four against Northern Iowa in 2022.
• Senior LB Alec Mock recorded 11 tackles and had a career high two tackles for loss, including two sacks. His previous high of 1.5 tackles for loss came against Navy in 2022. Mock had a career high eight solo tackles. His previous high was seven against Boise State in 2021.
• Senior DL P.J. Ramsey matched his career high with 2.5 tackles for loss. He also had 2.5 TFL against Robert Morris in the season opener.
• FB Owen Burk had a career high 110 rushing yards. His previous high was 75 vs. Robert Morris earlier this season.
AIR FORCE LEADS THE NATION IN RUSHING
• Air Force has returned to the top spot in the national rankings in rushing this week with a 320.7 average. The Falcons ranked second the first two weeks of the season after leading the country for 25 straight weeks dating back to 2021. Air Force is the only team in the nation averaging 300-plus yards per game.
• Air Force led the nation in rushing last season with a 326.7 average. The Falcons were the only program to average 300-plus yards per game. Air Force went wire-to-wire for the first time in program history, leading the nation since the first week of the season, setting a new school record for consecutive weeks leading the nation with 14. Air Force led the nation 11 straight weeks in 2021. Air Force is just the second school to win three straight titles and the first since 2008.
• Air Force has won the national rushing title four times, the first coming in 2002 with a 307.8 per-game average. National title years: 2002 (307.8), 2020 (305.7), 2021 (327.7), 2022 (326.7).
2023 NCAA Rushing Leaders
# Team (Conf.) Avg.
1. Air Force (MW)............. 320.7
2. UCF (Big 12).................. 299.3
3. UCLA (Pac-12)............... 270.3
4. Louisville (ACC)............. 251.7
5. California (Pac-12)......... 242.7
Duke (ACC)................... 242.7
AIR FORCE LEADS THE NATION IN TWO CATEGORIES/SECOND IN ANOTHER
• Air Force leads the nation in passing efficiency for the third straight week with a 255.12 mark. The Falcons have hit 6-10 passes for 193 yards with one touchdown. The team is averaging an NCAA-best 32.2 yards per catch.
• Air Force is second in time of possession with a 35:50 mark. The Falcons have won the time of possession battle in all three games, posting 32:00-plus in every game.
NCAA Passing Efficiency Leaders
# Team (Conf.) Avg.
1. Air Force (MW)............. 255.12
2. Oklahoma (Big 12)......... 221.17
3. Notre Dame (Ind).......... 212.83
4. USC (Pac-12)................. 211.06
5. Washington (Pac-12)..... 209.27
NCAA Time of Possession Leaders
# Team (Conf.) Avg.
1. Rice (C-USA)................. 36:40
2. Air Force (MW)............. 35:50
3. Army (Ind).................... 35:28
4. Florida (SEC)..................35:11
5. Utah (Pac-12)................ 34:49
THIS AND THAT
• Air Force has led at the half in all three games this season...The Falcons are 97-17 the last 17 seasons under head coach Troy Calhoun when doing so.
• Air Force has scored first in all three games this season...The Falcons are 78-17 the last 17 seasons under head coach Troy Calhoun when doing so.
• Air Force improved to 47-19-2 in season openers, including a 41-8 mark in season openers at home, following a 42-7 win over Robert Morris. The Falcons have 17 straight and 18 of the last 20. Air Force has won 26 straight openers against unranked teams dating back to 1994.
• Air Force's 17-game winning streak in season openers is the third-best active streak in the nation, trailing only Ohio State (24) and Alabama (22).
AIR FORCE LEADS THE NATION IN TOTAL DEFENSE
• Air Force once again has the nation's top defense. The Falcons, who led the nation in total defense for the first time in program history last season, lead the nation for the second straight week. The Falcons are allowing just 179.3 yards per game, the only team in the nation with an average under 200 yards.
• Air Force has allowed just seven points in the first half this season. The Falcons have held five of their last eight opponents scoreless in the first half. Air Force has not allowed more than seven points in the first half in eight straight games.
Air Force also leads the nation in rushing defense, while ranking fifth in passing yards allowed, second in first-down defense and ninth in scoring defense.
2023 DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Air Force has held 10 straight and 25 of its last 29 opponents to 21 points or less over the last three seasons. Air Force is holding its opponents to 15.9 points per game overall during the stretch.
• Air Force gave up just 10 combined points its first two games, tied for the fewest allowed through two games of a season by a Mountain West school in conference history. Air Force and TCU also both allowed 10 in 2008.
• Air Force has held it's last eight opponents to just 71 points, 1,517 total yards and 85 first downs, averages of 8.9 points, 189.6 total yards and 10.6 first downs per game.
• Air Force held Utah State to just 54 yards rushing on 26 carries, an average of 2.1 yards per carry.
• Air Force held Sam Houston to 80 total yards, the fourth-lowest total in program history and lowest since allowing 75 yards to Stony Brook in 2018. It was the seventh consecutive game holding an opponent below 300 yards on offense.
• Air Force only allowed Sam Houston to cross the 50 on one drive with the deepest penetration being the Air Force 29. The Bearkats took just 10 snaps in Air Force territory. The defense also forced Sam Houston into six three-and-out possessions.
• Air Force allowed just six first downs, which is tied for fifth all-time for fewest first downs allowed and fewest since allowing four to Stony Brook in 2018.
• Air Force is forcing just 26 percent of third down conversions this season, allowing just nine of 34 overall. The Falcons carried a streak of 21 straight into the season after forcing San Diego State (0-10) and Baylor (0-11) without a conversion to close last season. The Falcons increased the streak to 25 by forcing Robert Morris to no conversions in its first four attempts.
• Including its first two games, Air Force has allowed 10 points or less in eight games since the beginning of last season. The only FBS teams with more such games in that span are Iowa (9) and Georgia (9).
• The Falcons lead the conference in seven categories. Air Force is among the top 15 nationally in seven categories.
Category Stats MW NCAA
Scoring Defense 10.3 1st 9th
Passing Defense 135.0 1st 5th
Rushing Defense 44.3 1st 1st
Total Defense 179.3 1st 1st
Passing Eff. Def. 124.96 3rd 57th
Opp. First Downs 35 1st 2nd
Third Down Def. 26.5 1st 9th
Sacks For 3.67 1st 12th
Red Zone defense 80.0 5th 58th
Friday, Sept. 22, 8:30 p.m. MT, CEFCU Stadium (18,265), San Jose, CA
THE GAME
• Air Force travels to San Jose, Calif., to take on San Jose State on Friday, Sept. 22, at 8:30 p.m. MT in CEFCU Stadium. The game marks back-to-back Friday night games for the Falcons.
• Air Force and San Jose State are meeting for the seventh time, all as conference foes. The Falcons are 4-2 overall, including a 3-0 mark at home and 1-2 mark in San Jose. San Jose State defeated Air Force, 17-6, in the last meeting in 2020 in San Jose.
• Air Force has won eight straight games dating back to last season which is the fifth longest active streak in the nation. The Falcons have won five straight away from home overall and two straight in true road games dating back to last season.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
• Television: FS1
Dan Hellie (play-by-play), Petros Papadakis (analyst)
• Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, 104.3 the Fan in Denver, SIRIUS XM 381
Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Jesse Kurtz (analyst)
• Live Stats: SJSUstats.com
THE SERIES
• Air Force and San Jose State are meeting for the seventh time, all as conference foes
• Air Force is 4-2 overall, including a 3-0 mark at home and 1-2 mark in San Jose
• San Jose State defeated Air Force, 17-6, in the last meeting in 2020 in San Jose
• The home team has won two straight in the series dating back to 2016
• The teams first played in 1996 at Air Force, resulting in a 45-0 victory by the Falcons
Series Results
1996 - AF 45-0 (H)
1997 - SJSU 25-22 (A)
2015 - AF 37-16 (H)
2016 - AF 41-38 (A)
2019 - AF 41-24 (H)
2020 - SJSU 17-6 (A)
(Site) is for AF
LAST TIME
(Oct. 24, 2020) San Jose State defeated Air Force, 17-6, in the Mountain West opener for both schools. After a scoreless first half, Nick Starkel threw a pair of third-quarter touchdown passes to Derrick Deese to give San Jose State a 14-0 lead. The Falcons got on the board when Haaziq Daniels hit Kyle Patterson for a 34-yard touchdown strike, but the Falcons missed the two-point conversion to trail 14-6. SJSU iced it with a 30-yard field goal from Matt Mercurio with 5:18 left to make up the final margin. San Jose State had 294 total yards, including 226 passing. Starkel hit 22-of-29 for 226 yards to lead the Spartans. Air Force had 298 total yards, including 206 rushing. Brandon Lewis and Timothy Jackson led the Falcons with 60 yards each. Elisha Palm led the defense with a career-high nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and his first-career interception. George Silvanic added six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
AIR FORCE'S EIGHT GAME STREAK FIFTH BEST NATIONALLY
Air Force has won eight straight games dating back to last season which is the fifth longest active streak in the nation. The streak is the longest by the Falcons since 2019-20 when the team won nine straight. The Falcons have opened the season 3-0 for the first time since 2016.
Longest Current FBS Winning Streaks
# Team Streak
1. Georgia 20
2. Fresno State 12
3. Washington 10
4. Florida State 9
5. Air Force 8
ROAD STREAK AT FIVE
Air Force has won five straight away from home overall and two straight in true road games dating back to last season. Air Force's last true road game loss came last season at Utah State, 34-27, Oct. 8.
Road/Neutral Winning Streak
Date................ Opponent (Site)............................. Result
Sept. 9, 2023... vs. Sam Houston (NRG Stadium)..... W 13-3
Dec. 22, 2022.. vs. Baylor (Fort Worth, TX).............. W 30-15
Nov. 26, 2022.. at San Diego State.......................... W 13-3
Nov. 5, 2022.... vs. Army (Arlington, TX).................. W 13-7
Oct. 15, 2022... at UNLV......................................... W 42-7
CURRENT STREAKS
• The Falcons have won 17 straight games when forcing two or more turnovers in a game.
• Air Force has won eight straight games vs. non-conference opponents.
• Air Force has held 10 straight opponents to 21 points or less.
• Air Force has out-rushed 13 straight opponents dating back to last season.
• Air Force has scored in 63 straight games dating back to 2017, the sixth longest active streak in the Mountain West.
AIR FORCE 34-8 LAST FOUR SEASONS
• Air Force is 34-8 the last four full seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Air Force is 3-0 this season and finished 10-3 in 2022 and 2021 and 11-2 in 2019.
• Air Force, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Utah and Oregon are the only teams to win 10-plus games the last three full seasons (2019, 2021, 2022).
• The Falcons are 19-6 in conference play during the same stretch. Air Force is 1-0 this season and was 5-3 and finished second in the Mountain Division last season. Air Force shared the Mountain Division title with a 6-2 mark in 2021 and finished second with a 7-1 mark in 2019.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Air Force is receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches preseason poll for the fourth straight week. The Falcons received nine points to rank 37th. The week-by-week results follow:
Preseason (49th/6pts); Week 2 (42nd/7pts); Week 3 (46th/5pts).
Air Force closed last season among others receiving votes in both polls. The Falcons ranked 28th with 50 points in the USA Coaches poll and appeared in the poll receiving votes 10 times during the season. Air Force ranked 28th with 40 points in the final Associated Press poll. The Falcons received votes in the AP poll four times during the season, the first three weeks of the season and in the final.
LAST WEEK
Air Force defeated Utah State, 39-21, to open Mountain West play. The win snapped a five-game losing streak in conference openers. Following a three-and-out by the defense, Emmanuel Michel scored the first of three touchdowns, and a two-point conversion made it 8-0 Air Force. The defense helped again with an Alec Mock sack and forced fumble. The offense converted with a Zac Larrier rushing touchdown to make it 15-0. Michel added his second touchdown to make it 22-0 after the first quarter. John Lee Eldridge III opened the second quarter with a touchdown run to extend the lead to 29-0. Utah State got on the board with a touchdown pass to cut the lead to 29-7. Matthew Dapore kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired to make it 32-7 at the half. Michel added his third touchdown to make it 39-7 midway through the third quarter. Utah State added two late touchdowns to make up the final margin. Air Force rushed for 344 yards and had 428 total yards. Michel had 106 yards on 28 carries while Owen Burk added a game-high 110 yards on 15 carries. Larrier finished with 56 yards rushing and hit 3-4 passes for 84 yards. Mock led the defense with 11 tackles and two sacks. PJ Ramsey added 2.5 tackles for loss. The defense held Utah State to 302 total yards, including just 54 rushing on 26 carries.
LAST WEEK'S GAME NOTES
Team Notes
• Air Force improved to 3-0 overall for the first time since 2016 and the third time under Head Coach Troy Calhoun (2007, 2008).
• The Falcons snapped a two-game losing streak to Utah State, beating the Aggies for the first time since 2020. Air Force improved to 7-5 overall and 6-5 in conference games vs. Utah State.
• Air Force improved to 14-11 in Mountain West openers dating back to 1999. The Falcons improved to 8-5 at home and 2-3 vs. Utah State in MW openers. Air Force snapped a five-game losing streak in conference openers, winning for the first time defeating Utah State, 27-20, in 2016.
• Air Force improved to 74-24 at home under Head Coach Troy Calhoun. The Falcons have won four straight at home dating back to last season.
• Air Force improved to 34-8 overall in the last four full seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The Falcons are 3-0 this season and finished 10-3 in 2022 and 2021 and 11-2 in 2019. Air Force improved to 19-6 in Mountain West play during the same stretch.
• Air Force has held 10 straight opponents to 21 points or less
• Air Force converted a two-point conversion for the first time since converting one against Nevada, Nov. 19, 2021 (DeAndre Hughes run)
• Utah State's touchdown in the second quarter marked the first points the Falcons have given up in the first half this season.
• Air Force has out-rushed 13 straight opponents. The Falcons out-rushed the Aggies, 344-54.
• Utah State had 54 rushing yards as a team while Air Force had four players each with more than 56 yards rushing
• Air Force had two players with over 100 yards rushing (Burk 110, Michel 106) in a game for the first time since New Mexico last season when Brad Roberts had 163 and Haaziq Daniels had 113.
• Air Force game captains for the Utah State game were seniors Thor Paglialong (OC), Bo Richter (LB), P.J. Ramsey (DL) and Trey Taylor (DB).
Individual Notes
• Senior FB Emmanuel Michel recorded a career high three rushing touchdowns against the Aggies. He has eight career rushing touchdowns and five have come against the Aggies. Michel also rushed for a season high 106 yards.
• Senior LB Johnathan Youngblood recorded his first career interception, stopping a USU drive in the second quarter.
• Junior PK Matthew Dapore kicked a season-long 49 yard field goal.
• Junior Spur C.J. Boyd had a career high six tackles. His previous high was four against Northern Iowa in 2022.
• Senior LB Alec Mock recorded 11 tackles and had a career high two tackles for loss, including two sacks. His previous high of 1.5 tackles for loss came against Navy in 2022. Mock had a career high eight solo tackles. His previous high was seven against Boise State in 2021.
• Senior DL P.J. Ramsey matched his career high with 2.5 tackles for loss. He also had 2.5 TFL against Robert Morris in the season opener.
• FB Owen Burk had a career high 110 rushing yards. His previous high was 75 vs. Robert Morris earlier this season.
AIR FORCE LEADS THE NATION IN RUSHING
• Air Force has returned to the top spot in the national rankings in rushing this week with a 320.7 average. The Falcons ranked second the first two weeks of the season after leading the country for 25 straight weeks dating back to 2021. Air Force is the only team in the nation averaging 300-plus yards per game.
• Air Force led the nation in rushing last season with a 326.7 average. The Falcons were the only program to average 300-plus yards per game. Air Force went wire-to-wire for the first time in program history, leading the nation since the first week of the season, setting a new school record for consecutive weeks leading the nation with 14. Air Force led the nation 11 straight weeks in 2021. Air Force is just the second school to win three straight titles and the first since 2008.
• Air Force has won the national rushing title four times, the first coming in 2002 with a 307.8 per-game average. National title years: 2002 (307.8), 2020 (305.7), 2021 (327.7), 2022 (326.7).
2023 NCAA Rushing Leaders
# Team (Conf.) Avg.
1. Air Force (MW)............. 320.7
2. UCF (Big 12).................. 299.3
3. UCLA (Pac-12)............... 270.3
4. Louisville (ACC)............. 251.7
5. California (Pac-12)......... 242.7
Duke (ACC)................... 242.7
AIR FORCE LEADS THE NATION IN TWO CATEGORIES/SECOND IN ANOTHER
• Air Force leads the nation in passing efficiency for the third straight week with a 255.12 mark. The Falcons have hit 6-10 passes for 193 yards with one touchdown. The team is averaging an NCAA-best 32.2 yards per catch.
• Air Force is second in time of possession with a 35:50 mark. The Falcons have won the time of possession battle in all three games, posting 32:00-plus in every game.
NCAA Passing Efficiency Leaders
# Team (Conf.) Avg.
1. Air Force (MW)............. 255.12
2. Oklahoma (Big 12)......... 221.17
3. Notre Dame (Ind).......... 212.83
4. USC (Pac-12)................. 211.06
5. Washington (Pac-12)..... 209.27
NCAA Time of Possession Leaders
# Team (Conf.) Avg.
1. Rice (C-USA)................. 36:40
2. Air Force (MW)............. 35:50
3. Army (Ind).................... 35:28
4. Florida (SEC)..................35:11
5. Utah (Pac-12)................ 34:49
THIS AND THAT
• Air Force has led at the half in all three games this season...The Falcons are 97-17 the last 17 seasons under head coach Troy Calhoun when doing so.
• Air Force has scored first in all three games this season...The Falcons are 78-17 the last 17 seasons under head coach Troy Calhoun when doing so.
• Air Force improved to 47-19-2 in season openers, including a 41-8 mark in season openers at home, following a 42-7 win over Robert Morris. The Falcons have 17 straight and 18 of the last 20. Air Force has won 26 straight openers against unranked teams dating back to 1994.
• Air Force's 17-game winning streak in season openers is the third-best active streak in the nation, trailing only Ohio State (24) and Alabama (22).
AIR FORCE LEADS THE NATION IN TOTAL DEFENSE
• Air Force once again has the nation's top defense. The Falcons, who led the nation in total defense for the first time in program history last season, lead the nation for the second straight week. The Falcons are allowing just 179.3 yards per game, the only team in the nation with an average under 200 yards.
• Air Force has allowed just seven points in the first half this season. The Falcons have held five of their last eight opponents scoreless in the first half. Air Force has not allowed more than seven points in the first half in eight straight games.
Air Force also leads the nation in rushing defense, while ranking fifth in passing yards allowed, second in first-down defense and ninth in scoring defense.
2023 DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Air Force has held 10 straight and 25 of its last 29 opponents to 21 points or less over the last three seasons. Air Force is holding its opponents to 15.9 points per game overall during the stretch.
• Air Force gave up just 10 combined points its first two games, tied for the fewest allowed through two games of a season by a Mountain West school in conference history. Air Force and TCU also both allowed 10 in 2008.
• Air Force has held it's last eight opponents to just 71 points, 1,517 total yards and 85 first downs, averages of 8.9 points, 189.6 total yards and 10.6 first downs per game.
• Air Force held Utah State to just 54 yards rushing on 26 carries, an average of 2.1 yards per carry.
• Air Force held Sam Houston to 80 total yards, the fourth-lowest total in program history and lowest since allowing 75 yards to Stony Brook in 2018. It was the seventh consecutive game holding an opponent below 300 yards on offense.
• Air Force only allowed Sam Houston to cross the 50 on one drive with the deepest penetration being the Air Force 29. The Bearkats took just 10 snaps in Air Force territory. The defense also forced Sam Houston into six three-and-out possessions.
• Air Force allowed just six first downs, which is tied for fifth all-time for fewest first downs allowed and fewest since allowing four to Stony Brook in 2018.
• Air Force is forcing just 26 percent of third down conversions this season, allowing just nine of 34 overall. The Falcons carried a streak of 21 straight into the season after forcing San Diego State (0-10) and Baylor (0-11) without a conversion to close last season. The Falcons increased the streak to 25 by forcing Robert Morris to no conversions in its first four attempts.
• Including its first two games, Air Force has allowed 10 points or less in eight games since the beginning of last season. The only FBS teams with more such games in that span are Iowa (9) and Georgia (9).
• The Falcons lead the conference in seven categories. Air Force is among the top 15 nationally in seven categories.
Category Stats MW NCAA
Scoring Defense 10.3 1st 9th
Passing Defense 135.0 1st 5th
Rushing Defense 44.3 1st 1st
Total Defense 179.3 1st 1st
Passing Eff. Def. 124.96 3rd 57th
Opp. First Downs 35 1st 2nd
Third Down Def. 26.5 1st 9th
Sacks For 3.67 1st 12th
Red Zone defense 80.0 5th 58th
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
PK
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RB
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WR
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QB
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FB
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OC
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TE
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DE
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RB
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FS
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ILB
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