2024 Air Force Falcons football team

2024 Air Force Falcons football
2024 Air Force Falcons football
Conference	Mountain West Conference
Record	2–7 (1–4 MW)
Head coach	Troy Calhoun (18th season);
Offensive coordinator	Mike Thiessen (15th season)
Offensive scheme	Triple option
Defensive coordinator	Brian Knorr (3rd season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Falcon Stadium
Uniform
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Mountain West Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 12 Boise State	5	–	0	8	–	1
Colorado State	4	–	0	6	–	3
UNLV	3	–	1	7	–	2
San Jose State	3	–	2	6	–	3
Fresno State	3	–	3	5	–	5
New Mexico	3	–	3	4	–	6
San Diego State	2	–	2	3	–	6
Hawaii	2	–	3	4	–	6
Wyoming	2	–	3	2	–	7
Utah State	1	–	3	2	–	6
Air Force	1	–	4	2	–	7
Nevada	0	–	5	3	–	8
Championship: December 6, 2024
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant As of November 10, 2024 Rankings from CFP Rankings

The 2024 Air Force Falcons football team will represent the United States Air Force Academy during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season will be the team's 70th overall, 26th as a member of the Mountain West Conference, and 11th in the Mountain West's Mountain Division. The team plays home games at Falcon Stadium and is led by 18th-year head coach Troy Calhoun.

Preseason

Mountain West media poll

The Mountain West's preseason prediction poll was released on July 10, 2024.^[1]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
Mountain West media poll
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 Stadium USAF Academy, CO	CBSSN	W 21–6	31,658
September 7	5:00 p.m.	San Jose State	Falcon Stadium USAF Academy, CO	CBSSN	L 7–17	22,478
September 14	5:30 p.m.	at Baylor*	McLane Stadium Waco, TX	FS1	L 3–38	46,212
September 28	6:00 p.m.	at Wyoming	War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY	CBSSN	L 19–31	23,068
October 5	10:00 a.m.	Navy*	Falcon Stadium USAF Academy, CO (Commander-in-Chief's Trophy)	CBS	L 7–34	39,441
October 12	5:00 p.m.	at New Mexico	University Stadium Albuquerque, NM	TruTV	L 37–52	15,561
October 19	6:00 p.m.	Colorado State	Falcon Stadium USAF Academy, CO (rivalry)	CBSSN	L 13–21	27,598
November 2	10:00 a.m.	at No. 21 Army*	Michie Stadium West Point, NY (Commander-in-Chief's Trophy)	CBS	L 3–20	30,046
November 9	7:45 p.m.	Fresno State	Falcon Stadium USAF Academy, CO	FS1	W 36–28
November 16	1:30 p.m.	Oregon State*	Falcon Stadium USAF Academy, CO	CBSSN
November 23		at Nevada	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV	FOX/FS1/FS2
November 30		at San Diego State	Snapdragon Stadium San Diego, CA	FOX/FS1/FS2
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after October 31) - Released prior to game All times are in Mountain time

^[2]^[3]

Game summaries

vs Merrimack (FCS)

Merrimack Warriors (FCS) (0–0) vs Air Force Falcons (0–0) – Game summary

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)

Game information

First quarter

(6:02) AF – Cade Harris 2 yard run, Matthew Dapore kick (Drive: 13 plays, 38 yards, 6:51; Air Force 7–0)

Second quarter

(0:16) AF – Cade Harris 4 yard run, Matthew Dapore kick (Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 1:32; Air Force 14–0)

Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter

(8:31) AF – Aiden Calvert 1 yard run, Matthew Dapore kick (Drive: 6 plays, 14 yards, 3:12; Air Force 21–0)
(0:00) MER – Jalen McDonald 11 yard pass from Ayden Pereira (Drive: 15 plays, 50 yards, 3:40; Air Force 21–6)

Statistics	MER	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
	Rushing	Jermaine Corbett	8 carries, 59 yards
	Receiving	Jalen McDonald	5 receptions, 39 yards, 1 TD
Air Force	Passing	John Busha	6/14, 71 yards
	Rushing	Owen Allen	16 carries, 63 yards
	Receiving	Aiden Calvert	1 reception, 21 yards

vs San Jose State

San Jose State Spartans (1–0) vs Air Force Falcons (1–0) – Game summary

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)

Game information

First quarter

(11:23) SJSU – Nick Nash 18 yard pass from Emmett Brown, Kyler Halvorsen kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:37; San Jose State 7–0)
(5:29) AF – Cade Harris 6 yard run, Matthew Dapore kick (Drive: 4 plays, 14 yards, 2:21; Tied 7–7)
(4:06) SJSU – Jackson Canaan 58 yard pass from Emmett Brown, Kyler Halvorsen kick (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:23; San Jose State 14–7)

Second quarter

No scoring

Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter

(8:25) SJSU – Kyler Halvorsen 34 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 63 yards, 7:07; San Jose State 17–7)

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
	Rushing	Floyd Chalk IV	15 carries, 43 yards
	Receiving	Nick Nash	7 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD
Air Force	Passing	John Busha	7/20, 54 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Cade Harris	8 carries, 50 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Quin Smith	3 receptions, 36 yards

at Baylor

Air Force Falcons (1–1) at Baylor Bears (1–1) – Game summary

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)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	AFA	BAY
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Air Force	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Baylor	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Wyoming

Air Force Falcons (1–2) at Wyoming Cowboys (0–4) – Game summary

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) and Robert Turbin (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

(9:36) WYO – Sam Scott 8 yard run, John Hoyland kick (Drive: 6 plays, 46 yards, 2:17; WYO 7–0)

Second quarter

(14:56) AFA – Matthew Dapore 28 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 72 yards, 6:34; WYO 7–3)
(6:47) AFA – Kade Frew 4 yard run, Matthew Dapore kick (Drive: 9 plays, 81 yards, 5:42; AFA 10–7)
(0:23) AFA – Matthew Dapore 27 yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 54 yards, 2:41; AFA 13–7)

Third quarter

(11:54) WYO – Evan Svoboda 1 yard run, John Hoyland kick (Drive: 7 plays, 76 yards, 2:58; WYO 14–13)
(3:32) WYO – Tyler King 3 yard run, John Hoyland kick (Drive: 11 plays, 94 yards, 5:56; WYO 21–13)

Fourth quarter

(10:36) WYO – John Hoyland 23 yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 61 yards, 6:31; WYO 24–13)
(7:00) AFA – Aiden Calvert 37 yard run, failed 2 point conversion (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:36; WYO 24–19)
(2:13) WYO – Evan Svoboda 17 yard run, John Hoyland kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:47; WYO 31–19)

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
	Rushing	Aiden Calvert	3 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Cade Harris	5 receptions, 106 yards
Wyoming	Passing	Evan Svoboda	15/21, 165 yards
	Rushing	Sam Scott	19 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Chris Durr	3 receptions, 71 yards

vs Navy

Navy Midshipmen (4–0) vs Air Force Falcons (1–3) – Game summary

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)

Game information

First quarter

(6:25) NAVY – Blake Horvath 1-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 10 plays, 87 yards, 4:39; Navy 7–0)
(2:34) NAVY – Nathan Kent 34-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 4 plays, 41 yards, 1:42; Navy 14–0)

Second quarter

(11:09) AF – Tre Roberson 45-yard pass from Quentin Hayes (Drive: 5 plays, 81 yards, 2:21; Navy 14–7)
(2:37) NAVY – Blake Horvath 2-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 4:17; Navy 21–7)

Third quarter

(6:08) Navy – Alex Tecza 7-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 3:09; Navy 27–7)

Fourth quarter

(6:58) Navy – Alex Tecza 12-yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 3:09; Navy 34–7)

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
	Rushing	Blake Horvath	18 carries, 115 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Eli Heidenreich	5 receptions, 101 yards
Air Force	Passing	Quentin Hayes	5/6, 115 yards, TD
	Rushing	Kade Frew	4 carries, 29 yards
	Receiving	Tre Roberson	1 reception, 45 yards, TD

at New Mexico

Game Six – Air Force Falcons (1–4) at New Mexico Lobos (1–4) – Game summary

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)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	AFA	UNM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Air Force	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
New Mexico	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Colorado State (rivalry)

Colorado State Rams (3–3) vs Air Force Falcons (1–5) – Game summary

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)

Game information

First quarter

No scoring plays

Second quarter

CSU – Vince Brown II 23-yard pass from Kobe Johnson (Jordan Noyes kick), 5:28. Rams 7–0. Drive: 3 plays, 41 yards, 1:30.
CSU – Jalen Dupree 1-yard run (Jordan Noyes kick), 2:47. Rams 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 28 yards, 2:28.

Third quarter

CSU – Caleb Goodie 85-yard pass from Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (Jordan Noyes kick), 11:02. Rams 21–0. Drive: 3 plays, 90 yards, 0:53.

Fourth quarter

AF – Tylor Latham 33-yard pass from John Busha (Matthew Dapore kick), 11:49. Rams 21–7. Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 1:28.
AF – John Busha 1-yard run (run failed), 5:50. Rams 21–13. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:48.

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
	Rushing	Avery Morrow	20 carries, 132 yards
	Receiving	Caleb Goodie	3 receptions, 103 yards, TD
Air Force	Passing	John Busha	10/25, 175 yards, TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Dylan Carson	12 carries, 60 yards
	Receiving	Tylor Latham	3 receptions, 51 yards, TD

at No. 21 Army

Air Force Falcons (1–6) at No. 21 Army Black Knights (7–0) – Game summary

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)

Game information

First quarter

(6:35) ARMY – Trey Gronotte 30-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 57 yards, 6:13; Army 3–0)

Second quarter

(12:37) ARMY – Trey Gronotte 32-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 29 yards, 3:51; Army 6–0)
(1:47) AFA – Matthew Dapore 32-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 49 yards, 5:13; Army 6–3)

Third quarter

(9:59) ARMY – Kanye Udoh 12-yard run, Trey Gronotte kick (Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 5:01; Army 13–3)

Fourth quarter

(1:46) ARMY – Kanye Udoh 25-yard run, Trey Gronotte kick (Drive: 1 play, 25 yards, 0:05; Army 20–3)

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
	Rushing	Quentin Hayes	22 carries, 61 yards
	Receiving	Cade Harris	5 receptions, 52 yards
Army	Passing	Dewayne Coleman	5/8, 48 yards
	Rushing	Kanye Udoh	22 carries, 158 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Casey Reynolds	1 reception, 24 yards

vs Fresno State

Fresno State Bulldogs (5–4) vs Air Force Falcons (1–7) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0
Falcons	0	0	0	0	0

at Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, CO

Date: November 9, 2024
Game time: 7:45 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (FS1): Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FRES	AFA
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Fresno State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Air Force	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Oregon State

Oregon State Beavers (0–0) vs Air Force Falcons (0–0) – Game summary

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: TBD
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	OSU	AFA
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Oregon State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Air Force	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Nevada

Game Eleven – Air Force Falcons vs Nevada Wolf Pack – Game summary

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: TBD
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (TBD): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	AFA	NEV
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Air Force	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Nevada	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at San Diego State

Air Force Falcons (0–0) at San Diego State Aztecs (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	0	0	0	0	0
Aztecs	0	0	0	0	0

at Snapdragon Stadium • San Diego, CA

Date: November 30, 2024
Game time: TBD
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	AFA	SDSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Air Force	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
San Diego State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "Boise State Picked to 2024 Mountain West Football Title". July 10, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
^ "2024 Air Force Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
^ "MOUNTAIN WEST ANNOUNCES 2024 FOOTBALL MATCHUPS". Air Force Academy Athletics. Retrieved January 22, 2024.

[1] "Boise State Picked to 2024 Mountain West Football Title". July 10, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.

[2] "2024 Air Force Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 22, 2024.

[3] "MOUNTAIN WEST ANNOUNCES 2024 FOOTBALL MATCHUPS". Air Force Academy Athletics. Retrieved January 22, 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Air Force Falcons football
Venues	DU Stadium (1955–1961) Falcon Stadium (1962–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Army (Commander-in-Chief's Trophy) Colorado State (Ram–Falcon Trophy) Hawaii (Kuter Trophy) Navy (Commander-in-Chief's Trophy)
Culture & lore	History The Bird "Falcon Fight Song" "The U.S. Air Force" United States Air Force Academy Band
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders NFL draftees
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