# 2024 Air Force Falcons football team

The 2024 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season was the team's 70th overall and 26th as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The team played their home games at Falcon Stadium and was led by 18th-year head coach Troy Calhoun. Despite a 1-7 start, the Falcons finished the season out on a high note with 4 consecutive wins to finish 5-7.

## Preseason
### Mountain West media poll

The Mountain West's preseason prediction poll was released on July 10, 2024.
Mountain West media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Boise State | 543 (38) |
| 2 | UNLV | 471 (4) |
| 3 | Fresno State | 460 (4) |
| 4 | Air Force | 384 |
| 5 | Colorado State | 337 |
| 6 | Wyoming | 296 |
| 7 | Utah State | 285 |
| 8 | San Diego State | 251 |
| 9 | Hawaii | 214 |
| 10 | San Jose State | 185 |
| 11 | New Mexico | 85 |
| 12 | Nevada | 77 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 1:30 p.m. | Merrimack* | Falcon StadiumUSAF Academy, CO | CBSSN | W 21–6 | 31,658 |
| September 7 | 5:00 p.m. | San Jose State | Falcon StadiumUSAF Academy, CO | CBSSN | L 7–17 | 22,478 |
| September 14 | 5:30 p.m. | at Baylor* | McLane StadiumWaco, TX | FS1 | L 3–38 | 46,212 |
| September 28 | 6:00 p.m. | at Wyoming | War Memorial StadiumLaramie, WY | CBSSN | L 19–31 | 23,068 |
| October 5 | 10:00 a.m. | Navy* | Falcon StadiumUSAF Academy, CO (Commander-in-Chief's Trophy) | CBS | L 7–34 | 39,441 |
| October 12 | 5:00 p.m. | at New Mexico | University StadiumAlbuquerque, NM | TruTV | L 37–52 | 15,561 |
| October 19 | 6:00 p.m. | Colorado State | Falcon StadiumUSAF Academy, CO (rivalry) | CBSSN | L 13–21 | 27,598 |
| November 2 | 10:00 a.m. | at No. 21 Army* | Michie StadiumWest Point, NY (Commander-in-Chief's Trophy) | CBS | L 3–20 | 30,046 |
| November 9 | 7:45 p.m. | Fresno State | Falcon StadiumUSAF Academy, CO | FS1 | W 36–28 | 14,794 |
| November 16 | 1:30 p.m. | Oregon State* | Falcon StadiumUSAF Academy, CO | CBSSN | W 28–0 | 21,385 |
| November 23 | 8:30 p.m. | at Nevada | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | FS1 | W 22–19 | 12,228 |
| November 30 | 8:30 p.m. | at San Diego State | Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CA | FS1 | W 31–20 | 18,045 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after October 31) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Mountain time |||||||

## Game summaries
### vs Merrimack (FCS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warriors (FCS) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Falcons | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, CO
* Date: August 31, 2024
* Game time: 1:33 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 83 °F (28 °C)
* Game attendance: 31,658
* Referee: Kenneth Ray
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Chris Lewis (play-by-play) and Robert Turbin (analyst)
| Statistics | MRMK | AFA |
| First downs | 10 | 15 |
| Total yards | 57–217 | 69–237 |
| Rushing yards | 27–114 | 55–166 |
| Passing yards | 103 | 71 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–30–0 | 6–14–0 |
| Time of possession | 26:56 | 33:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Merrimack | Passing | Malakai Anthony | 14/21, 74 yards |
| Merrimack | Rushing | Jermaine Corbett | 8 carries, 59 yards |
| Merrimack | Receiving | Jalen McDonald | 5 receptions, 39 yards, 1 TD |
| Air Force | Passing | John Busha | 6/14, 71 yards |
| Air Force | Rushing | Owen Allen | 16 carries, 63 yards |
| Air Force | Receiving | Aiden Calvert | 1 reception, 21 yards |

### vs San Jose State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Spartans | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Falcons | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, CO
* Date: September 7, 2024
* Game time: 5:02 P.M.
* Game weather: Sunny, 81 °F (27 °C)
* Game attendance: 22,478
* Referee: Patrick Foy
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Chris Lewis (play-by-play) and Taylor McHargue (analyst)
| Statistics | SJSU | AFA |
| First downs | 15 | 10 |
| Total yards | 67–312 | 66–197 |
| Rushing yards | 34–50 | 46–143 |
| Passing yards | 262 | 54 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–33–1 | 7–20–2 |
| Time of possession | 30:37 | 29:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| San Jose State | Passing | Emmett Brown | 17/32, 262 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| San Jose State | Rushing | Floyd Chalk IV | 15 carries, 43 yards |
| San Jose State | Receiving | Nick Nash | 7 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD |
| Air Force | Passing | John Busha | 7/20, 54 yards, 2 INT |
| Air Force | Rushing | Cade Harris | 8 carries, 50 yards, 1 TD |
| Air Force | Receiving | Quin Smith | 3 receptions, 36 yards |

### at Baylor

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Bears | 3 | 3 | 17 | 8 | 31 |
at McLane Stadium • Waco, TX
* Date: September 14, 2024
* Game time: 5:30 p.m.
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* Game attendance: 46,212
* TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust (play-by-play) and Robert Smith (analyst)
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Air Force | Passing |
| Air Force | Rushing |
| Air Force | Receiving |
| Baylor | Passing |
| Baylor | Rushing |
| Baylor | Receiving |

### at Wyoming

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 19 |
| Cowboys | 7 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 31 |
at War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WY
* Date: September 28, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 78 °F (26 °C)
* Game attendance: 23,068
* Referee: Nolan Dumas
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Robert Turbin (analyst), and Amanda Guerra (sideline)
| Statistics | AFA | WYO |
| First downs | 19 | 19 |
| Total yards | 320 | 361 |
| Rushing yards | 205 | 173 |
| Passing yards | 115 | 188 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 6–13–0 | 16–22–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:32 | 31:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Air Force | Passing | John Busha | 6/13, 115 yards |
| Air Force | Rushing | Aiden Calvert | 3 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD |
| Air Force | Receiving | Cade Harris | 5 receptions, 106 yards |
| Wyoming | Passing | Evan Svoboda | 15/21, 165 yards |
| Wyoming | Rushing | Sam Scott | 19 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD |
| Wyoming | Receiving | Chris Durr | 3 receptions, 71 yards |

### vs Navy

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Midshipmen | 14 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 34 |
| Falcons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, CO
* Date: October 5, 2024
* Game time: 10:00 a.m.
* Game weather: Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: N/A • Weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 39,441
* Referee: Tim Rich
* TV announcers (CBS): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst), and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | NAVY | AFA |
| First downs | 21 | 14 |
| Total yards | 463 | 273 |
| Rushing yards | 329 | 158 |
| Passing yards | 134 | 115 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–15–0 | 5–9–1 |
| Time of possession | 30:34 | 29:26 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Navy | Passing | Blake Horvath | 9/15, 134 yards |
| Navy | Rushing | Blake Horvath | 18 carries, 115 yards, 2 TD |
| Navy | Receiving | Eli Heidenreich | 5 receptions, 101 yards |
| Air Force | Passing | Quentin Hayes | 5/6, 115 yards, TD |
| Air Force | Rushing | Kade Frew | 4 carries, 29 yards |
| Air Force | Receiving | Tre Roberson | 1 reception, 45 yards, TD |

### at New Mexico

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lobos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at University Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
* Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
* Game time: 5:00 p.m. MDT
* TV announcers (TruTV): JB Long (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst), and Bridget Howard (sideline reporter)
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Air Force | Passing |
| Air Force | Rushing |
| Air Force | Receiving |
| New Mexico | Passing |
| New Mexico | Rushing |
| New Mexico | Receiving |

### vs Colorado State (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 13 |
at Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, CO
* Date: October 19, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 27,598
* Referee: Kenneth Ray
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Chris Lewis (play-by-play) and Robert Turbin (analyst)
| Statistics | CSU | AFA |
| First downs | 15 | 19 |
| Total yards | 406 | 348 |
| Rushing yards | 205 | 173 |
| Passing yards | 201 | 175 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 12–22–0 | 10–26–2 |
| Time of possession | 28:44 | 31:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Colorado State | Passing | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi | 11/21, 178 yards, TD |
| Colorado State | Rushing | Avery Morrow | 20 carries, 132 yards |
| Colorado State | Receiving | Caleb Goodie | 3 receptions, 103 yards, TD |
| Air Force | Passing | John Busha | 10/25, 175 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Air Force | Rushing | Dylan Carson | 12 carries, 60 yards |
| Air Force | Receiving | Tylor Latham | 3 receptions, 51 yards, TD |

### at No. 21 Army

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 21 Black Knights | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
at Michie Stadium • West Point, NY
* Date: November 2, 2024
* Game time: 10:00 a.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 56 °F (13 °C) • Wind: NW 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
* Game attendance: 30,046
* Referee: Cal McNeill
* TV announcers (CBS): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst), and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | AFA | ARMY |
| First downs | 15 | 14 |
| Total yards | 209 | 255 |
| Rushing yards | 117 | 207 |
| Passing yards | 92 | 48 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 10–20–3 | 5–9–0 |
| Time of possession | 31:51 | 28:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Air Force | Passing | Quentin Hayes | 7/14, 54 yards, INT |
| Air Force | Rushing | Quentin Hayes | 22 carries, 61 yards |
| Air Force | Receiving | Cade Harris | 5 receptions, 52 yards |
| Army | Passing | Dewayne Coleman | 5/8, 48 yards |
| Army | Rushing | Kanye Udoh | 22 carries, 158 yards, 2 TD |
| Army | Receiving | Casey Reynolds | 1 reception, 24 yards |

### vs Fresno State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
| Falcons | 7 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 36 |
at Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, CO
* Date: November 9, 2024
* Game time: 7:45 p.m.
* Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 26 °F (−3 °C) • Wind: NW 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
* Game attendance: 14,794
* Referee: Patrick Foy
* TV announcers (FS1): Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst)
| Statistics | FRES | AFA |
| First downs | 14 | 24 |
| Total yards | 284 | 358 |
| Rushing yards | -5 | 344 |
| Passing yards | 289 | 14 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23–26–1 | 2–6–0 |
| Time of possession | 14:52 | 45:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Fresno State | Passing | Mikey Keene | 23/26, 289 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Fresno State | Rushing | Elijah Gilliam | 4 carries, 15 yards, TD |
| Fresno State | Receiving | Mac Dalena | 4 receptions, 89 yards. 2 TD |
| Air Force | Passing | Quentin Hayes | 2/6, 14 yards, TD |
| Air Force | Rushing | Dylan Carson | 33 carries, 120 yards, TD |
| Air Force | Receiving | Brandon Engel | 1 reception, 11 yards |

### vs Oregon State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Beavers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, CO
* Date: November 16, 2024
* Game time: 1:30 p.m.
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Jordan Kent (play-by-play), Logan Ryan (analyst), and Tina Cervasio (sideline)
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Oregon State | Passing |
| Oregon State | Rushing |
| Oregon State | Receiving |
| Air Force | Passing |
| Air Force | Rushing |
| Air Force | Receiving |

### at Nevada

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wolf Pack | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Mackay Stadium • Reno, NV
* Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
* Game time: 8:30 p.m.
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV announcers (FS1): Trent Rush (play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst)
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Air Force | Passing |
| Air Force | Rushing |
| Air Force | Receiving |
| Nevada | Passing |
| Nevada | Rushing |
| Nevada | Receiving |

### at San Diego State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 14 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
| Aztecs | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
at Snapdragon Stadium • San Diego, CA
* Date: November 30, 2024
* Game time: 8:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Clear, 58 °F (14 °C), calm wind
* Game attendance: 18,045
* Referee: Jonathan Noli
* TV announcers (FS1): Evan Lepler (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst)
| Statistics | AFA | SDSU |
| First downs | 21 | 24 |
| Total yards | 54–404 | 68–356 |
| Rushing yards | 52–276 | 35–120 |
| Passing yards | 128 | 236 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 2–2–0 | 25–33–0 |
| Time of possession | 31:21 | 28:39 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Air Force | Passing | Quentin Hayes | 1/1, 76 yards, TD |
| Air Force | Rushing | Dylan Carson | 24 carries, 125 yards, 2 TD |
| Air Force | Receiving | Cade Harris | 1 reception, 76 yards, TD |
| San Diego State | Passing | Danny O'Neil | 24/32, 230 yards, TD |
| San Diego State | Rushing | Marquez Cooper | 23 carries, 94 yards, 2 TD |
| San Diego State | Receiving | Louis Brown IV | 3 receptions, 60 yards |