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The 2024 season will be Army’s first in the American Athletic Conference. Aside from a short stint in Conference USA from 1998 to 2004, the Black Knights have been independent for their program’s entire existence. Modern scheduling challenges and the changing landscape of major college football conferences were a big reason for the Black Knights' move to the AAC.
Army Strong
Coach Jeff Monken’s 2024 campaign will be his 11th year in West Point, N.Y., and the last decade has been a very successful one. Monken took over a struggling program in 2014, one that had finished with only one winning season since 1997. After a 6-18 start to his tenure, Monken took the Black Knights to new heights. Army has finished with eight or more wins five times since 2016, including an 11-2 mark in 2018. The cherry on top of the 2018 sundae was a 70-14 thrashing of the Houston Cougars in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Offensive Preview
Army brings back starting quarterback Bryson Daily, a 6-foot, 220-pound senior from Abernathy, Texas. Daily was named second team All-Independent in 2023 by both Phil Steele and College Football Network. He was chosen by his teammates and coaches as a captain for the Black Knights in 2024. When coupled together with running back Kanye Udoh, Daily and the Army run game has the potential to be lethal.
The Black Knight offensive game plan is to stifle opponents into submission by running the ball and controlling the clock. Daily is dangerous on the ground as evidenced by his 900 rushing yards and 7 rushing TDs last season. However, he has not proven to be a consistent threat through the air. In 2023, he threw for 913 yards and 7 TDs, but also threw 6 INTs and finished as a 50 percent passer on only 120 attempts.
Defensive Preview
Another captain for Army this year is Max DiDomenico, a senior safety looking to end his college football career on a high note. Like Daily, DiDomenico also hails from the Lone Star State. He was the QB at Samuel Clemens High School and was voted the District Offensive MVP in his junior season. DiDomenico was a force in 2023, totaling 53 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 2 interceptions.
The Black Knights defense ranked 32nd in the FBS last year in scoring defense, giving up only 21 points per game. They were much better defending the pass (178 yards per game) than the run game (176 YPG). The defense, however, returns only three starters from last season: DiDomenico, linebacker Kalib Fortner and defensive tackle Kyle Lewis, another team captain.
Week 1: Lehigh Mountain Hawks
Army is 8-2-1 all-time against Lehigh of the FCS, including a 42-9 thrashing in their last matchup in 1995. The Black Knights should put up a similar score this year against the Mountain Hawks, as Lehigh has not won more than 4 games in a season since 2017. The teams will kick off at 6 p.m. EST on Aug. 30 from Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y.
Record: 1-0
Week 2: at FAU Owls
Army will play their first AAC game against coach Tom Herman’s FAU Owls at 12 p.m. on Sept. 7 in Boca Raton, Fla. The two programs have never met on the football field.
Army should be able to move the ball against an FAU defense that allowed nearly 400 yards per game last season, but the Black Knights will struggle in the South Florida humidity. The Owls will make one or two more plays and escape with a victory.
Record: 1-1
Week 3: Bye
Week 4: Rice Owls
Army has a 4-4-1 record all-time against Rice and has won the last three matchups, the most recent being a 14-7 victory in 2019.
When the teams square off on Sept. 21, the Black Knights' key to a win is to force the Owls to give the ball away. Rice had 26 turnovers in 2023.
Record: 2-1
Week 5: at Temple Owls
This matchup on Sep. 26 will be Army's third consecutive game against a team with an owl as the mascot. Temple leads the overall series 7-6. The two squads last met in 2017 in a 31-28 Army win. Army will be facing these Owls on the road after coming off a short week. Army should be able to run the ball effectively against Temple, which gave up almost 200 yards rushing per game in 2023.
Record: 3-1.
Week 6: at Tulsa
Tulsa won 49-39 in 2007 in the only meeting between the two teams. The Golden Hurricane were prone to turnovers in 2023, throwing 19 INTs. This matchup on Oct. 5 is a toss-up, but the Black Knights force more Tulsa mistakes and secure a road victory.
Record: 4-1
Week 7: UAB Blazers
Army has never beaten UAB. The teams have played five times overall, with the Blazers winning 20-14 in the last matchup in 2004.
Blazers QB Jacob Zeno was responsible for nearly 3,300 yards and 24 TDs in 2023. Army's defense overwhelms Zeno and gives the Black Knights their first ever win against the Blazers in Michie Stadium on Oct. 12.
Record: 5-1
Week 8: East Carolina Pirates
ECU won the last meeting in 2004, 38-28, to bring the overall series to 8-0. The Pirates are coming off a disappointing 2-10 finish in 2023. Army should win in a rock fight on Oct. 19 against an ECU team that only averaged 17 points per game in 2023.
Record: 6-1
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: Air Force Falcons
Army beat the Falcons 23-3 last season. Air Force leads the all-time series 38-19-1 but Army has won five out of the last seven. Army could make it six out of eight if they can force Air Force to turn the ball over in the same fashion as it did last season. The Falcons coughed up 4 fumbles and threw 2 interceptions, losing at home as a double-digit favorite. This year, Air Force gets its' revenge on Army in a close, low-scoring contest on Nov. 2.
Record: 6-2
Week 11: at North Texas Mean Green
North Texas won the last meeting 52-49 in 2017, but Army leads the series 5-2. The two teams played twice in 2016, with the Mean Green winning 35-18 in the regular season and Army coming out on top 38-31 in the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl. Assuming the game on Nov. 9 turns into a shootout, Army will struggle against a North Texas offense that averaged 495 yards and 35 points per game in 2023.
Record: 6-3
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Fighting Irish lead the all-time series 39-8-4 and have won 15 in a row dating back to 1965, including a 44-6 win in the last meeting in 2016. Army's last victory was a 14-2 win in South Bend, Ind., in 1958.
This year's matchup will be played in Yankee Stadium on Nov. 23. Look for the Irish to put this game away early on the arm of transfer QB Riley Leonard.
Record: 6-4
Week 14: UTSA Roadrunners
Army leads 3-1 all-time against the Roadrunners, winning on the road 37-29 last year. This year, the Black Knights will get the Roadrunners at home in the friendly confines of Michie Stadium on Nov. 30. UTSA will be absent veteran QB Frank Harris and without star wide receiver Joshua Cephus but will feature standout RB Kevorian Barnes and talented tight end Oscar Cardenas.
On defense, UTSA adds cornerback Denver Harris to go along with a deep and physical front seven. The Black Knights' home field advantage will not be enough to overcome a balanced and experienced Roadrunners team.
Record: 6-5
Week 15: AAC Championship Game
Week 16: at Navy Midshipmen
As any Army player or coach will tell you, the most important game of this season—and any season—is in the finale against Navy. Navy owns the series lead 62-55-7. The 125th annual Army-Navy game will be held on Dec. 14 in Washington, D.C., one week after the AAC Championship Game. The Black Knights will make it three in a row over the Midshipmen.
Record: 7-5
Army Black Knights Overview
Early projections have the Black Knights winning at least 6 games and going bowling for the first time since 2021. The first-year conference schedule was kind to Army, as the Black Knights do not play two of the AAC’s heavyweights, Memphis and Tulane. They drew Temple, East Carolina, Tulsa and UAB, which were four of the five worst AAC teams in 2023. Army should comfortably make a bowl game this season on the backs some veteran playmakers on defense and a strong running game.
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