Air Force Falcons football
The Air Force Falcons football program represents the United States Air Force Academy in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) level. Air Force has been a member of the Mountain West Conference since its founding in 1999. The Falcons play their home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Troy Calhoun has been the team's head coach since 2007. The three major service academies—Air Force, Army and Navy—compete for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy which is awarded to the academy that defeats the  others in football that year (or retained by the previous winner in the event of a three–way tie). History. The Falcons are not only recognized by the lightning bolt on the side of their helmets, but their traditional option attack. Air Force is one of the premier rushing teams in the nation. Since Fisher DeBerry took over as Falcons head coach in 1984, they have ranked among the nation's top 10 in rushing 19 times in 21 years. The Air Force football team has enjoyed success not only on the field but also in the classroom. In 49  years of Air Force football, there have been 39 Academic All-Americans. The 1985 season. 1985 was the most successful season in Air Force football history. Under 5th-year coach Fisher DeBerry, the Falcons came within one win of playing for the national championship. They recorded 10 straight wins to start the season, climbed the polls to No. 2 in the nation, but lost to BYU 28–21 in the penultimate game of the regular season. Air Force rebounded with a bowl game win over Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl and finished with a 12–1 record as the No. 5 ranked  team in the nation. Conference affiliations. Air Force has been affiliated with the following conferences. Championships. Conference championships. † Co-champions Bowl games. Air Force has played in 28 bowl games in their history, with a record. Their highest finish in the polls was fifth (UPI coaches) in 1985. Head coaches. In over 60 years of play in college football, the Falcons have had seven head coaches. Falcon Stadium. Home games are played in Falcon Stadium, which sits below the main campus at an elevation of above sea level. Pre-game activities include flyovers by USAF aircraft, including the F-15 and  B-2. Opened in 1962, its highest attendance was 56,409 in 2002, when the Falcons hosted Notre Dame. Individual accomplishments. Academic All–Americans. Academic All–Americans at Air Force. Future non-conference opponents. Announced schedules as of January 9, 2022. Rivals. Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. Air Force has a traditional rivalry against the other two FBS service academies, Army and Navy; the three play for the right to hold the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. Air Force has won the trophy 20 times, more than either Army or Navy. Colorado State. Air Force has played more games against Colorado State  and Wyoming than any other school, having played each school 59 times since 1957, the Falcons' first season. Since 1980, the Falcons and Colorado State Rams have competed for the Ram–Falcon Trophy. Air Force holds a 26–15 advantage over Colorado State in games that the trophy has been contested in. Colorado. In 2019 Air Force renewed a rivalry with Colorado, winning at Folsom Field on Sept. 14 by a score of 30–23. The teams had not played since Oct. 5, 1974, a game that Colorado won by a score of 28–27. Air Force won the first meeting between the  teams in 1958. The 1963 game between the two college football teams was postponed due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The 1973 game, the last one played in Boulder before the 2019 clash, was marred by a riot. Fans threw eggs and beer at Air Force personnel and cadets. Top 10 rivals. Below are Air Force's records against its top ten most-played opponents since 1957.