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The 2020 Schedule isย out
The Road Ahead for Air Force
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The ground hasn’t thawed quite yet, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t substantive topics in the world of Air Force Football. As the team winds down spring camp this week, it will commence with an open to the public scrimmage on Saturday, March 7th.
If that wasn’t enough to whet your pallet, the 2020 season schedule was just released! Yes, there are always going to be the usual suspects on the docket, but there is equal parts intrigue for sure. From an early clash with the class of the conference, Boise State, to going back into middle-America to duel with the Big Ten. This schedule should have your attention.
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Dust off your VCR.
The โกโชโกโช schedule is ready for play ๐บ pic.twitter.com/nF34p2hmIo
— Air Force Football (@AF_Football) February 27, 2020
The Usual Suspects
As long as the Falcons remain in the Mountain Division, they will always be locked into match-ups with Colorado State, New Mexico, Wyoming, Boise State and Utah State. That may change if Troy Calhoun had his druthers, but that’s another topic for another day.
Another staple to the Air Force scheduling diet is a season opener against an FCS opponent. 2020 is no different, as they kickoff the season against the Duquesne Dukes, who are located less than an hour down the road from me in (not so) sunny Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Why couldn’t this be an away game!? Selfish, I know.
All jest aside, the division slate alone lays the foundation for a great slate of games, year after year. One game alone stands above all others from this group though, and that is the week 2 match-up against the Boise State Broncos.
Not only is Blue Turf State the class of the conference, but they loom early on the schedule. Combine the early season match-up, with the fact that the Broncos are playing a team that runs a variety of the Triple-Option offense in Georgia Southern a week prior to open the season, Air Force will not have the element of surprise.
Crossing Over
The conference crossover games this year will see the Falcons take on Hawai’i, San Jose State and Fresno State. All three of these teams appeared on the calendar in 2019, and they shared the same fate at the hands of Air Force. A thorough beatdown.
Both Fresno and Hawai’i feature new coaching staffs, so it should be interesting to see how they progress from last year. In spite of a lopsided loss to Air Force last season, Hawai’i put together a really nice campaign. It will be interesting to see if Todd Graham is able to get them to take another step forward, or if they suffer from regression as the Bulldogs did in 2019.
The Rest
I could probably list the other Military Academies, Navy and Army under the first heading as regulars on the Falcons schedule. But irrespective of their conference (or independence in the case of Army), these are going to be games circled on all three’s schedules.
The real wildcard of the schedule is going to be Purdue. They will feature one of the countries most electric players in Rondale Moore, so expect whoever winds up under center to find ways to get him the ball. He is a problem for any defense. Ask Urban Meyer if you don’t believe me.
The Boilers have began recruiting at a high level, and their roster looks to be improved year after year on paper. But the talent didn’t manifest in Win’s last year for Brian Brohm, last year. And Purdue’s uniforms are eerily similar in color pattern to Colorado, and we all know what happened to them last year. And they too, had an all world receiver featured. I’m not saying, I’m just sayin’.
Seanstradamus
I think its pretty obvious how this schedule should shakedown by seasons end. Air Force is going to coast through the regular season to a 12-0 record, en-route to capturing the MWC Championship. They probably won’t quick crack the playoffs, but they’ll also have their way with whatever P5 team lands opposite their New Years Six Bowl game.
I’m only joking, there is a lot to sort out, and a lot of clarity that needs settled before a confident win-loss record could be levied. Or am I?
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