Air Force Falcons
Mountain WestColorado Springs, COFalcon Stadium
2026: 5–1 (3–1 Mountain West). Last: beat UNLV 41–31 at home. Next: at Wyoming, Friday, Oct 23, 9 p.m. ET.
- W 34–0Duquesne
- L 32–38North Dakota State
- W 36–33at Nevada
- W 14–9Navy
- W 28–7at Northern Illinois
- W 41–31UNLV
- Oct 23at Wyoming
- Oct 31UConn
- Nov 7at Army
- Nov 14San José State
- Nov 20UTEP
- Nov 28at New Mexico
- Outfitted by Nike
- Live mascot: Nova
Air Force has played football since 1955 and is 441–357–12 in the 810 games on record here, which start in 1956. Their best finish in the final AP poll is No. 6, in 1958. They have won three Western Athletic Conference titles (the last in 1998), counting shared titles. The College Football Hall of Fame holds 3 players and 2 coaches from Air Force. Fisher DeBerry (1984–2006) won more games here than any other coach: 169. The most-played rival is Colorado State: 63 meetings, Air Force leads 40–22–1. This season, under Troy Calhoun, they’re 5–1.
From the numbers
- Air Force lines up under center on 62% of its plays, the most in FBS.Share
Computed from every game through Oct 18 and the score after every scoring play; a note appears only when few teams share it. All the numbers.
On this date in 2002No. 18 Air Force lost to No. 7 Notre Dame 21–14 at home.
Résumé
- All-time record
- 442–357–13 official; 441–357–12 on file; how we count
- Postseason
- 17–13 bowls, title games, playoff
- AP No. 1 finishes
- 0
- Weeks at No. 1
- 0 of 77 ranked
- Elo now
- 1540 61st of 138 FBS
- Computer rankings
- Massey No. 71 · Composite No. 72 in FBS, Oct 17; up 7 since Oct 11. From Massey Ratings
- Conference titles
- 3 last in 1998
- Bowl record
- 16–13–1 official, bowls only
- Seasons
- 71 since 1956, 810 games
Identity
- Fight song
- Falcon Fight Song
- Mascot
- The Bird
- Live mascot
- Nova (gyrfalcon)
- Apparel
- Nike
2026 season 5–1
RosterFull 2026 season| Date | Opponent | Result | Elo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5 | vs Duquesne | W 34–0 | 76% |
| Sep 12 | vs North Dakota State | L 32–38 | 43% |
| Sep 26 | at Nevada | W 36–33 | 50% |
| Oct 3 | vs Navy | W 14–9 | 46% |
| Oct 10 | at Northern Illinois | W 28–7 | 62% |
| Oct 17 | vs UNLV | W 41–31 | 46% |
| Oct 23 | at Wyoming | Preview | 57% |
| Oct 31 | vs UConn | Preview | 59% |
| Nov 7 | at Army | Preview | 36% |
| Nov 14 | vs San José State | Preview | 72% |
| Nov 20 | vs UTEP | Preview | 87% |
| Nov 28 | at New Mexico | Preview | 35% |
Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.
This season, game by game
Future schedule
2027–34Air Force’s announced games beyond the seasons on our schedule, the next 8 seasons (3 more listed), as its Wikipedia article lists them (announced schedules as of February 6, 2025). Schedules change; a season shows only the games named so far, and many articles list non-conference games only. Future schedules: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Players
The 2026 rosterRecord bookOn the 2026 team
- Blake Fletcher64 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT (leads Air Force in tackles)
- Liam Szarka391 rushing yards, 7 TD (leads Air Force in passing yards)
- Evan Medders375 rushing yards, 6 TD (leads Air Force in passing touchdowns)
- Dallas Daley39 tackles, 1 sack
- Rocco Conti318 rushing yards, 2 TD
- Owen Allen334 rushing yards, 3 TD
Program greats See all
Heisman finalists, College Football Hall of Famers, consensus All-Americans, national award winners and first-round picks, for what they did at Air Force.
Chad HenningsHall of Fame, 2006
Brock StromHall of Fame, 1985- Scott ThomasHall of Fame, 2012
- Trey Taylor2023 Jim Thorpe
- Carlton McDonaldConsensus All-American, 1992
- Ernie JenningsConsensus All-American, 1970
- Terry IsaacsonEighth in the 1963 Heisman vote
- Beau Morgan10th in the 1996 Heisman vote
- Dee DowisSixth in the 1989 Heisman vote
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.
Around the program
- Apparel
- Nike · Official source
- Air Force Academy Athletics; read 2026-10-10
- Mascot
- The Bird · Official source
- Air Force Academy Athletics; read 2026-10-10
- DVIDS; read 2026-10-10
- Wikipedia; read 2026-10-10
- Live mascot
- Nova (gyrfalcon) · Official source
- U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications; read 2026-10-10
- Wikipedia; read 2026-10-10
- Athletic director
- Nancy Hixson · Official source
- The Denver Gazette; read 2026-10-10
- Defensive coordinator
- Steve Russ · Official source
- The Denver Gazette; read 2026-10-10
Found by several AI researchers searching the web, then kept only where the page loads and says so in words naming the program; every quote is checked again each time the data is rebuilt. Official source: the school’s own page. All of them.
The apparel deal
Nike. Five-year extension signed in 2023.
- Air Force Athletics, Sep 27, 2023: Five-year extension
Apparel deals: Field Drip. Terms as the outlets reported them; checked Oct 3, 2026.
Program strength since 1956
Best seasons everOn Bluesky
Air Force is 2-0 this season when throwing for 0 yards. Real rap
Read on Bluesky
From reporters and writers who cover college football, linked to their posts on Bluesky.
More coverage
- Air Force specialist dies after rappelling fall at a college football game, foxla.com,
- Air Force commander plunges to death in front of horrified fans at football game, aol.co.uk,
- US Air Force Commando Dies After Falling From Alamodome Rafters During UTSA Football Demonstration, ibtimes.co.uk,
- Medders leads Air Force ground attack with 3 TDs in Air Force's 41-31 win over UNLV, durangoherald.com,
- Expect difference feel this year for Air Force vs. UNLV, gazette.com,
- Hill Air Force Base plans F-35 flyover ahead of BYU-Notre Dame matchup, wjla.com,
- Best Dallas Cowboys player to wear No. 95 earned multiple medals in the Air Force, thelandryhat.com,
- Air Force QB Evan Medders earns NFFCC Player of the Week, gazette.com,
Found through the GDELT Project, which indexes news sites worldwide. Each link opens the story on the outlet’s own site; each picture is that outlet’s own preview of its story, shown from its site and credited to it.
Head coaches
| Coach | Years | Record |
|---|---|---|
 Troy Calhoun | 2007–2026 | 144–98 |
 Fisher DeBerry | 1984–2006 | 169–109–1 |
 Ken Hatfield | 1979–1983 | 26–32–1 |
 Bill Parcells | 1978 | 3–8 |
| Ben Martin | 1958–1977 | 96–103–9 |
 Buck Shaw | 1956–1957 | 3–7–1 |
Most-played series
All rivalries- Colorado State
40–22–1 in 63
- 2015 L 23–38
- 2016 W 49–46
- 2017 W 45–28
- 2018 W 27–19
- 2019 W 38–21
- 2021 W 35–21
- 2022 W 24–12
- 2023 W 30–13
- 2024 L 13–21
- 2025 W 42–21
Won the last one; holds the Ram–Falcon Trophy.
- Wyoming
32–28–3 in 63
- 2015 W 31–17
- 2016 L 26–35
- 2017 L 14–28
- 2018 L 27–35
- 2019 W 20–6
- 2021 W 24–14
- 2022 L 14–17
- 2023 W 34–27
- 2024 L 19–31
- 2025 W 24–21
Won the last one.
Next: Oct 23
- Army
38–21–1 in 60
- 2016 W 31–12
- 2017 L 0–21
- 2018 L 14–17
- 2019 W 17–13
- 2020 L 7–10
- 2021 L 14–21
- 2022 W 13–7
- 2023 L 3–23
- 2024 L 3–20
- 2025 L 17–20
Lost the last three.
Next: Nov 7
| Opponent | Games | AF record |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado State | 63 | 40–22–1 |
| Wyoming | 63 | 32–28–3 |
| Army | 60 | 38–21–1 |
| Navy | 59 | 35–24 |
| New Mexico | 42 | 26–16 |
| San Diego State | 40 | 22–18 |
| BYU | 31 | 7–24 |
| Notre Dame | 30 | 6–23 † |
Official records. † Without wins the NCAA vacated. ‡ The rivalry’s own count, where it differs from the games on file. Each series page gives both.
Rivals the program names: Army, Colorado State, Navy.
The trophy it holds: Ram–Falcon Trophy (Colorado State, since 2025). Who holds each comes from the games on file; the trophies from Wikipedia.
Every opponent (117)
Every program Air Force has played, A to Z, with Air Force’s record against it. Each links to the series, game by game.
- Abilene Christian 1–0
- Arizona 6–3
- Arizona State 2–3
- Arkansas 0–1
- Army 38–21–1
- Baylor 1–4
- Boise State 4–9
- Boston College 4–3
- Bucknell 1–0
- BYU 7–24
- Cal State Northridge 1–0
- California 2–7
- Cincinnati 1–0
- Colgate 2–0
- Colorado 6–12
- Colorado State 40–22–1
- Davidson 2–0
- Denver 2–1
- Detroit Mercy 2–0
- Duquesne 1–0
- Eastern Washington 1–0
- Florida 0–1
- Florida Atlantic 1–1
- Fresno State 8–3
- George Washington 0–2
- Georgia State 2–0
- Georgia Tech 1–3
- Hawai’i 14–9–1
- Holy Cross 0–1
- Houston 2–1
- Idaho 4–0
- Idaho State 1–0
- Illinois 0–1–1
- Indiana State 1–0
- Iowa 0–0–1
- Iowa State 0–2
- James Madison 1–0
- Kansas State 0–3
- Kent State 1–1
- Lafayette 1–0
- Louisville 1–0
- Maryland 0–2
- Merrimack 1–0
- Miami 0–2
- Michigan 0–3
- Michigan State 0–1
- Minnesota 0–1
- Mississippi State 1–0
- Missouri 2–4
- Morgan State 1–0
- Navy 35–24
- Nebraska 1–1
- Nevada 7–2
- New Mexico 26–16
- Nicholls 2–0
- North Carolina 4–1
- North Dakota State 0–1
- North Texas 1–0
- Northern Colorado 1–0
- Northern Illinois 1–0
- Northern Iowa 1–0
- Northwestern 4–2
- Northwestern State 1–0
- Notre Dame 6–23 †
- Occidental 1–0
- Ohio State 1–0
- Oklahoma 0–2
- Oklahoma State 1–0–1
- Ole Miss 1–2
- Oregon 3–8–1
- Oregon State 1–0
- Pacific 3–0
- Penn State 0–3
- Pittsburgh 2–0
- Rice 5–2
- Robert Morris 1–0
- Rutgers 1–1
- Sam Houston 1–0
- San Diego State 22–18
- San José State 6–3
- SMU 4–2
- South Alabama 1–0
- South Carolina State 1–0
- South Dakota 1–0
- Southern Utah 1–0
- Stanford 3–4
- Stony Brook 1–0
- TCU 2–8–1
- Tennessee 0–2
- Tennessee State 1–0
- Tennessee Tech 1–0
- Texas 1–0
- Texas Tech 1–2
- The Citadel 3–1
- Toledo 0–1
- Trinity (Texas) 1–0
- Tulane 3–3
- Tulsa 3–3
- UCLA 4–6–1
- UConn 0–1
- UNLV 19–8
- Utah 14–13
- Utah State 7–6
- UTEP 14–1
- Vanderbilt 3–2
- Villanova 1–0
- Virginia Tech 1–1
- VMI 1–0
- Wake Forest 1–0
- Washington 6–2
- Washington State 1–0
- Weber State 1–0
- Western Michigan 1–0
- Wisconsin 0–1
- Wofford 1–0
- Wyoming 32–28–3
- Yale 0–1
Official records. † Without wins the NCAA vacated, or with forfeits counted. ‡ The rivalry’s own count, where it differs from the games on file.
Conference titles
3, counting shared titles- WAC Mountain 1
- 1998
As the program counts them in its Wikipedia article, shared titles included, and listed under each conference’s current name (a Western Conference title of the 1900s counts as a Big Ten title); season pages use the name the conference had that year. A title the article files under a conference the team wasn’t in that season is listed under the one it was. Division titles include years the team tied for its division.
Conferences
- Independent 1956–1979
- Mountain West Conference since 1999
- 1980Joined the WAC from independence. Source
- 1999Joined the Mountain West Conference from the WAC. Source
Air Force’s football conferences by season, from CollegeFootballData.com’s memberships (renamed conferences keep the name of the time). The moves and their announcement dates from Wikipedia’s lists of NCAA Division I conference changes; the year is the first season in the new conference. Conference realignment: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
National award winners
All awards| 2023 | Trey Taylor FS | Thorpe |
| 1990 | Chris Howard RB | Campbell Trophy |
| 1987 | Chad Hennings DT | Outland |
| 1985 | Fisher DeBerry coach | Eddie Robinson, Walter Camp Coach, Bobby Dodd Award |
| 1983 | Ken Hatfield coach | Bobby Dodd Award |
Consensus All-Americans 5
| 1992 | Carlton McDonald DB |
| 1987 | Chad Hennings DT |
| 1985 | Scott Thomas DB |
| 1970 | Ernie Jennings E |
| 1958 | Brock Strom OT |
Led the nation 8
| 2022 | Brad Roberts rushing yards (1,728 yds) |
| 2022 | John Lee Eldridge III yards per carry (7.7) |
| 2019 | Geraud Sanders yards per catch (24.87) |
| 2016 | Jalen Robinette yards per catch (27.4) |
| 1983 | Mike Brown yards per carry (8.5) |
| 1970 | Bob Parker passing yards (2,789 yds) |
| 1970 | Ernie Jennings receiving touchdowns (17 TD) |
| 1958 | Randy Duncan passing touchdowns (11 TD) |
The NCAA’s official national leaders since 1937, from Wikipedia’s yearly leader lists.
In the Hall of Fame
Every inductee- Players
- 3
- Coaches
- 2
| 2012 | Scott Thomas DB |
| 2011 | Fisher DeBerry coach here, 1984–2006 |
| 2006 | Chad Hennings DT |
| 1985 | Brock Strom OT |
| 1972 | Buck Shaw coach here, 1956–1957 |
In the NFL Draft
By college- Drafted, rounds 1–7
- 6 since 1995
- First-round picks
- 0
Who came and went in the 2026 transfer portal, and every portal year.
Official accounts
- Football
- X @AF_FootballInstagram @af_footballFacebook AF.Football
- Athletics department
- X @AF_FalconsInstagram @af_falconsYouTube GoAirForceFalconsFacebook AF.Falcons
Official accounts: the schools’ athletics websites: the ones goairforcefalcons.com lists for its football program and athletics department, as of Oct 12, 2026.
On the newsreel
- AIR FORCE GUNS DOWN ARMY
- BOSTON COLLEGE CLIPS AIR FORCE
- ARMY SHOOTS DOWN AIR FORCE: 14 to 10:
- SOUTHERN METHODIST 10, AIR FORCE 0
- AIR FORCE 17 U.C.L.A. 11
- AIR FORCE TIES ARMY
- AIR FORCE DOWNS COLORADO
- FALCONS BLANK STANFORD
- AIR FORCE ELEVEN BEATS MARINE TEAM
Universal Newsreel, National Archives (catalog record). Story titles and words as Universal’s release sheet gives them; the films themselves may still be under copyright, so we link to the record rather than show them.
Season by season
National champions| Season | Record | Conf. | AP pre | AP final | Coach | Elo | SP+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5–1 | 3–1 | Troy Calhoun | 1540 | 1.4 | ||
| 2025 | 4–8 | 3–5 | Troy Calhoun | 1439 | -3.2 | ||
| 2024 | 5–7 | 3–4 | Troy Calhoun | 1477 | -11.7 | ||
| 2023 | 9–4 | 5–3 | Troy Calhoun | 1592 | 5.9 | ||
| 2022 | 10–3 | 5–3 | Troy Calhoun | 1671 | 3.9 | ||
| 2021 | 10–3 | 6–2 | Troy Calhoun | 1643 | 7.4 | ||
| 2020 | 3–3 | 2–2 | Troy Calhoun | 1588 | -5.6 | ||
| 2019 | 11–2 | 7–1 | 22 | Troy Calhoun | 1679 | 12.1 | |
| 2018 | 5–7 | 3–5 | Troy Calhoun | 1488 | -1.8 | ||
| 2017 | 5–7 | 4–4 | Troy Calhoun | 1495 | -11.0 | ||
| 2016 | 10–3 | 5–3 | Troy Calhoun | 1602 | 4.4 | ||
| 2015 | 8–6 | 6–2 | Troy Calhoun | 1522 | 4.7 | ||
| 2014 | 10–3 | 5–3 | Troy Calhoun | 1538 | -1.4 | ||
| 2013 | 2–10 | 0–8 | Troy Calhoun | 1299 | -16.9 | ||
| 2012 | 6–7 | 5–3 | Troy Calhoun | 1431 | -10.0 | ||
| 2011 | 7–6 | 3–4 | Troy Calhoun | 1540 | -0.7 | ||
| 2010 | 9–4 | 5–3 | Troy Calhoun | 1644 | 3.9 | ||
| 2009 | 8–5 | 5–3 | Troy Calhoun | 1603 | 4.7 | ||
| 2008 | 8–5 | 5–3 | Troy Calhoun | 1543 | -0.7 | ||
| 2007 | 9–4 | 6–2 | Troy Calhoun | 1562 | 5.7 | ||
| 2006 | 4–8 | 3–5 | Fisher DeBerry | 1425 | -8.8 | ||
| 2005 | 4–7 | 3–5 | Fisher DeBerry | 1449 | -3.4 | ||
| 2004 | 5–6 | 3–4 | Fisher DeBerry | 1456 | -0.9 | ||
| 2003 | 7–5 | 3–4 | Fisher DeBerry | 1491 | 2.1 | ||
| 2002 | 8–5 | 4–3 | Fisher DeBerry | 1506 | 2.6 |
Every season back to 1956 (46 more)
| Season | Record | Conf. | AP pre | AP final | Coach | Elo | SP+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6–6 | 3–4 | Fisher DeBerry | 1456 | -10.8 | ||
| 2000 | 9–3 | 5–2 | Fisher DeBerry | 1598 | 1.8 | ||
| 1999 | 6–5 | 2–5 | Fisher DeBerry | 1581 | 7.1 | ||
| 1998 | 12–1 | 7–1 | 13 | Fisher DeBerry | 1738 | 18.6 | |
| 1997 | 10–3 | 6–2 | Fisher DeBerry | 1594 | 6.4 | ||
| 1996 | 6–5 | 5–3 | Fisher DeBerry | 1554 | 13.4 | ||
| 1995 | 8–5 | 6–2 | Fisher DeBerry | 1557 | 8.9 | ||
| 1994 | 8–4 | 6–2 | Fisher DeBerry | 1559 | 6.4 | ||
| 1993 | 4–8 | 1–7 | Fisher DeBerry | 1423 | -15.6 | ||
| 1992 | 7–5 | 4–4 | Fisher DeBerry | 1519 | -4.6 | ||
| 1991 | 10–3 | 6–2 | 25 | Fisher DeBerry | 1620 | 9.0 | |
| 1990 | 7–5 | 3–4 | Fisher DeBerry | 1555 | 1.4 | ||
| 1989 | 8–4–1 | 5–1–1 | Fisher DeBerry | 1552 | 9.6 | ||
| 1988 | 5–7 | 3–5 | Fisher DeBerry | 1487 | 2.1 | ||
| 1987 | 9–4 | 6–2 | Fisher DeBerry | 1583 | 9.0 | ||
| 1986 | 6–5 | 5–2 | Fisher DeBerry | 1554 | -3.1 | ||
| 1985 | 12–1 | 7–1 | 8 | Fisher DeBerry | 1739 | 23.5 | |
| 1984 | 8–4 | 4–3 | Fisher DeBerry | 1627 | 12.8 | ||
| 1983 | 10–2 | 5–2 | 13 | Ken Hatfield | 1636 | 8.1 | |
| 1982 | 8–5 | 4–3 | Ken Hatfield | 1522 | 4.9 | ||
| 1981 | 4–7 | 2–3 | Ken Hatfield | 1382 | -9.0 | ||
| 1980 | 2–9–1 | 1–3 | Ken Hatfield | 1315 | -9.8 | ||
| 1979 | 2–9 | Ken Hatfield | 1283 | -28.6 | |||
| 1978 | 3–8 | Bill Parcells | 1290 | -24.9 | |||
| 1977 | 2–8–1 | Ben Martin | 1307 | -15.9 | |||
| 1976 | 4–7 | Ben Martin | 1345 | -14.5 | |||
| 1975 | 2–8–1 | Ben Martin | 1333 | -9.6 | |||
| 1974 | 2–9 | Ben Martin | 1412 | -15.3 | |||
| 1973 | 6–4 | Ben Martin | 1521 | -0.3 | |||
| 1972 | 6–4 | Ben Martin | 1546 | 5.3 | |||
| 1971 | 6–4 | Ben Martin | 1562 | 4.6 | |||
| 1970 | 9–3 | 16 | Ben Martin | 1619 | 17.4 | ||
| 1969 | 6–4 | Ben Martin | 1600 | ||||
| 1968 | 7–3 | Ben Martin | 1567 | ||||
| 1967 | 2–6–2 | Ben Martin | 1392 | ||||
| 1966 | 4–6 | Ben Martin | 1433 | ||||
| 1965 | 3–6–1 | Ben Martin | 1456 | ||||
| 1964 | 4–5–1 | Ben Martin | 1473 | ||||
| 1963 | 7–4 | Ben Martin | 1533 | ||||
| 1962 | 5–5 | Ben Martin | 1451 | ||||
| 1961 | 3–7 | Ben Martin | 1393 | ||||
| 1960 | 4–6 | Ben Martin | 1478 | ||||
| 1959 | 5–4–1 | 15 | Ben Martin | 1559 | |||
| 1958 | 9–0–2 | 6 | Ben Martin | 1600 | |||
| 1957 | 3–6–1 | Buck Shaw | 1213 | ||||
| 1956 | 0–1 | Buck Shaw | 1132 |
Officially 442–357–13 since 1955 (per Wikipedia, checked Sep 9, 2025); game by game here, 441–357–12 (−1 win, −1 tie). Our file starts in 1956; the program began in 1955. Some games are missing from our source.
Records are computed from every game on file at CollegeFootballData.com, whose coverage of the earliest seasons can be incomplete. Elo is this site’s own rating; see how it works on the records page.