Air Force Football Post-Spring Recap
3/17/2026 9:34:00 AM | Football
THIS IS AIR FORCE FOOTBALL
• The 2026 season marks the 71st in Air Force history. The Falcons opened varsity play in 1956.
• Air Force has an all-time record of 442-357-13 in 70 seasons. The Falcons are 245-141-3 at home, 170-194-6 on the road and 27-22-4 in neutral site games. AFA has played in 30 bowl games and has a 16-13-1 record. Air Force is 223-127-4 all-time in Falcon Stadium.
• Air Force will compete in its 47th year in a conference in 2026. Air Force has played in the Mountain West Conference since its inception in 1999. Air Force was a member of the Western Athletic Conference from 1980-98. The school was independent prior to 1980.
• Air Force is 103-91 as a member of the Mountain West. The Falcons are 179-135 overall since joining the MW in 1999.
First Year: 1956
All-Time Record: 437-350-13 (70 years)
Home: 242-137-3
Falcon Stadium: 223-127-4 (Since 1962)
Away: 168-190-6
Neutral: 26-21-4
Bowl Record: 16-13-1
Bowl Streak: W 5
Last Bowl: 2023 Armed Forces Bowl (W 31-21 vs. #25 James Madison)
TEAM INFORMATION
2025 Record: 4-8 (3-5, MW/8th)
Lettermen Returning: 58 (31 Off, 24 Def, 3 ST)
Lettermen Lost: 31 (12 Off, 16 Def, 3 ST)
Starters Returning: 10 (3 Off, 7 Def, 0 ST)
Starters Lost: 15 (8 Off, 4 Def., 3 ST)
Returning Offensive Starters (3)
75 Alec Falk (OL) 6-5, 315, Sr.
52 Nathan Elwood (OL) 6-3, 290, Sr.
9 Liam Szarka (QB) 5-11, 190, Jr.
Offensive Starters Lost (8)
78 Trevor Tate (OL) 6-2, 265, Sr.
67 Costen Cooley (OL) 6-4, 285, Sr.
62 Jack Burnett (OL) 6-3, 310, Sr.
88 Bruin Fleischmann (TE) 6-5, 235, Sr.
5 Dylan Carson (FB) 6-0, 215, Sr.
8 Kade Frew (RB) 5-9, 190, Sr.
21 Cade Harris (WR) 5-8, 185, Sr.
18 Quin Smith (WR) 6-1, 200, Sr.
Returning Defensive Starters (7)
30 Isaac Hubert (OLB) 6-1, 225, Sr.
6 Blake Fletcher (ILB) 6-1, 230, Sr.
8 Dallas Daley (ILB) 6-1, 215, Jr.
26 Alexander Perez (SPUR) 6-1, 200, So.
36 Max Mustell (SS) 5-10, 175, So.
5 Roger Jones, Jr. (FS) 5-10, 184, Jr.
4 Mikhail Seiken (CB) 5-9, 180, Jr.
Defensive Starters Lost (4)
95 Daniel Grobe (DE) 6-7, 270, Sr.
96 Payton Zdroik (NG) 5-10, 275, Sr.
99 Aidan Swartz (DT) 6-4, 275, Sr.
9 Levi Brown (CB) 6-1, 185, Sr.
Specialist Returning (0)
None
Specialist Lost (3)
96 Regan Tubbs (PK) 6-0, 180, Sr.
97 Luke Freer (P) 6-4, 225, Sr.
49 Kurt Chesney (LS) 6-0, 205, Sr.
2026 SCHEDULE
Air Force's 2026 schedule was released today by the Mountain West as part of the conference's overall schedule release. The schedule features seven home games, including service academy rival Navy, along with conference newcomers North Dakota State and UTEP, plus Duquesne, UNLV, UConn and San Jose State.
The Falcons open the season on Parent's Weekend, Saturday, Sept. 5, by hosting Duquesne. North Dakota State will play its first Mountain West game when it comes to Falcon Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12. An open week follows in week three, before the Falcons open MW road play at Nevada, Saturday, Sept. 26.
Air Force opens Commander-in-Chief's trophy play by hosting Navy, Saturday, Oct. 3. The Falcons then travel to conference newcomer Northern Illinois (NIU), Saturday, Oct. 10, before returning home to play UNLV, Saturday, Oct. 17. The Falcons play at Wyoming, Saturday, Oct. 24, then back-to-back non-conference games at home against UConn, Saturday, Oct. 31, before closing CIC competition at Army, Saturday, Nov. 7.
The Falcons finish the regular season with a three-game Mountain West slate, starting with back-to-back home games against San Jose State, Saturday, Nov. 14, and UTEP, Saturday, Nov. 21. The team closes the regular season at New Mexico, Saturday, Nov. 28.
NEW LOOK MOUNTAIN WEST
The Mountain West has nine football members, including Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota State, Northern Illinois (NIU), San Jose State, UNLV, UTEP and Wyoming. North Dakota State and NIU join for football only while UTEP joins as a full member in all sports.
COACHING STAFF UPDATE
• Air Force welcomed back a familiar face in Steve Russ, who returned to become defensive coordinator. Russ returned to the Academy from Alabama-Birmingham, where he was the defensive coordinator in 2025.
• Larry Hart joined the staff as defensive tackles coach, coming from Campbell University.
• Troy Calhoun will not coach a position this season. He served as fullbacks the last five seasons and coached slot receivers in 2019 and 2020 before his stint with the fullbacks.
CALHOUN CELEBRATES 20 YEARS
Make it back-to-back decades for head coach Troy Calhoun leading the Falcons, as he enters his 20th year. His 20-year tenure ties as the second-longest in program history. Ben Martin led the program for 20 years from 1958-77. Fisher DeBerry has the longest tenure, leading the program for 23 years from 1984-2006 before Calhoun took over. Air Force has had just six coaches as an intercollegiate program since 1956.
Calhoun is the second-longest tenured coach in FBS football, trailing only Kirt Ferentz of Iowa, who enters his 28th season in 2026.
CHARTING CALHOUN
• Troy Calhoun leads all active Mountain West coaches in conference wins with 83. Calhoun is second all-time in conference history in wins, trailing only former New Mexico and San Diego State head coach Rocky Long, who had 91.
• Calhoun ranks third nationally in most wins at one school among active head coaches with a 139-97 record in 19 seasons at Air Force.
Wins at One School by an active FBS Coaches
# Name, School Wins
1. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa 212
2. Dabo Swinney, Clemson 187
3. Troy Calhoun, Air Force139
Longest-tenured NCAA FBS head coaches
# Head Coach, School Years
1. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa 28
2. Troy Calhoun, Air Force 20
ONLY IOWA HAS LONGER STREAK
Air Force has had just two head coaches the last 43 years, as Troy Calhoun enters his 20th season leading the program in 2026. He replaced the legendary Fisher DeBerry, who led the program for 23 years from 1984 to
2006.
Iowa is the only other program in the nation with just two coaches during that span. The Hawkeyes have had just two head coaches in the last 48 years. Hayden Fry led the program for 20 years from 1979 to 1998 before current head coach Kirk Ferentz took over in 1999 and enters his 28th season in 2026.
TRANSFER PORTAL SUCCESS
Air Force and Texas Tech are the only two schools nationally to not lose anyone that played in a game last year to the transfer portal. Arizona and defending national champion Indiana lost one each. New Mexico (4) and Hawaii (5) were next best in the Mountain West.
Transfer Portal Losses
# Team Players Lost
1. Air Force 0
Texas Tech 0
3. Indiana 1
Arizona 1
5. Boise State 2
BYU 2
Houston 2
Kansas 2
Navy 2
10. Duke 3
Fresno State 3
Notre Dame 3
2025 SEASON RECAP
Air Force finished 4-8 overall and placed eighth in the Mountain West with a 3-5 mark. The Falcons won three of their final six games after a 1-5 start, posting wins over Wyoming, San Jose State and Colorado State. Air Force beat Colorado State, 42-21, in the season finale to win the Ram-Falcon Trophy for the eighth time in the last 10 years. Air Force finished third in the nation in rushing with a 261.4 average, the 12th consecutive year in the top 10 and 42nd in the last 44 years. The Falcons also finished fourth nationally in time of possession with a 33:52 mark. Air Force led the nation in yards per completion with a 17.96 mark. The team scored 30-plus points in the first six games of the season for the first time since 1998. The Falcons set a Mountain West record with seven consecutive games with 250 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The defense held five of the last six opponents to 21 points or less and 349.7 total yards after allowing 40.0 points and 496.7 total yards per game during the 1-5 start.
To purchase or renew Air Force football season tickets, please visit www.aftickets.com or call 719-472-1895.
For information on premium seating, including the East Club presented by L3Harris at the Kucera Legacy Center and the Blue & Silver Club, please click HERE or call the Falcon Athletic Fund at 719-333-4545 to purchase.
For more information about supporting the Fisher DeBerry Football Excellence Endowment and matching gifts, please click HERE or call 719-472-0300.
