American Football Wiki
Air Force Falcons football
First season 1955
Athletic director Nathan Pine
Head coach Troy Calhoun
16th year, 120–78 (.606)
Home stadium Falcon Stadium
Stadium capacity 46,692
Stadium surface Turf
Location Colorado Springs, Colorado
Conference Mountain West
Division Mountain
Past conferences Independent (1955)

University Division Independent (1956-1972) Division I/I-A Independent (1973–1979) WAC (1980–1998)

All-time history
Air Force Falcons Historical Teams
1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
All-time record 427–342–13 (.554)
Postseason bowl record 15–13–1 (.534)
Conference titles 3
Division titles 3
Rivalries Army Black Knights (rivalry)
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Navy Midshipmen (rivalry)
Colorado State Rams (rivalry)
Colorado Buffaloes
Consensus All-Americans 5
Current uniform
Colors Blue[1] and Silver[1]

             


Fight song "Falcon Fight Song"
(unofficial: "The U.S. Air Force")
Mascot The Bird
Marching band United States Air Force Academy Drum & Bugle Corp "The Flight of Sound"
Outfitter Nike
Website GoAirForceFalcons.com

The Air Force Falcons football team represents the United States Air Force Academy located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Falcons are a member of the NCAA FBS Mountain West Conference and play their home games at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs. The Falcons are currently coached by Troy Calhoun.

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 year's 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.[2]

The 1985 season[]

1985 was the most successful season in Air Force football history. Under second-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 #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 the Texas Longhorns in the Bluebonnet Bowl and finished with a 12–1 record as the #5 ranked team in the nation.

Conference affiliations[]

Air Force has been affiliated with the following conferences.

Championships[]

Conference championships[]

Year Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1985 Western Athletic Conference Fisher DeBerry 12–1 7–1
1995 8–5 6–2
1998 12–1 7–1

† Co-champions

Division championships[]

Year Division Coach Opponent CG result
1998 WAC - Mountain Fisher DeBerry BYU W 20–13
2015 MW - Mountain Troy Calhoun San Diego State L 24–27
2021 MW - Mountain N/A lost tie-breaker to Utah State

Conference Championship Game appearances[]

Air Force has appeared in 2 conference championship games in their history, winning 1 of them.

Year Conference Coach CG Opponent CG Result Game MVP
1998 WAC Fisher DeBerry BYU W 20–13 N/A
2015 Mountain West Troy Calhoun San Diego State L 24–27 Christian Chapman (QB, San Diego State)

Na'im McGee (S, San Diego State)

Note: Includes appearances where the conference did not use divisions to determine championship game participants.

Bowl games[]

See also: List of Air Force Falcons football seasons

Air Force has played in 30 bowl games in their history, with a 16–13–1 (.550) record. Their highest finish in the polls was fifth (UPI coaches) in 1985.

Season Bowl Opponent Result Head coach Record
1958 Cotton TCU T 0–0 Ben Martin 9–0–2
1963 Gator North Carolina L 0–35 Ben Martin 7–4
1970 Sugar Tennessee L 13–34 Ben Martin 9–3
1982 Hall of Fame Vanderbilt W 36–28 Ken Hatfield 8–5
1983 Independence Ole Miss W 9–3 Ken Hatfield 10–2
1984 Independence Virginia Tech W 23–7 Fisher DeBerry 8–4
1985 Bluebonnet Texas W 24–16 Fisher DeBerry 12–1
1987 Freedom Arizona State L 28–33 Fisher DeBerry 9–4
1989 Liberty Ole Miss L 29–42 Fisher DeBerry 8–4–1
1990 Liberty Ohio State W 23–11 Fisher DeBerry 7–5
1991 Liberty Mississippi State W 31–15 Fisher DeBerry 10–3
1992 Liberty Ole Miss L 0–13 Fisher DeBerry 7–5
1995 Copper Texas Tech L 41–55 Fisher DeBerry 8–5
1997 Las Vegas Oregon L 13–41 Fisher DeBerry 10–3
1998 Oahu Washington W 43–25 Fisher DeBerry 12–1
2000 Silicon Valley Fresno State W 37–34 Fisher DeBerry 9–3
2002 San Francisco Virginia Tech L 13–20 Fisher DeBerry 8–5
2007 Armed Forces California L 36–42 Troy Calhoun 9–4
2008 Armed Forces Houston L 28–34 Troy Calhoun 8–5
2009 Armed Forces Houston W 47–20 Troy Calhoun 8–5
2010 Independence Georgia Tech W 14–7 Troy Calhoun 9–4
2011 Military Toledo L 41–42 Troy Calhoun 7–6
2012 Armed Forces Rice L 14–33 Troy Calhoun 6–7
2014 Idaho Potato Western Michigan W 38–24 Troy Calhoun 10–3
2015 Armed Forces California L 36–55 Troy Calhoun 8–6
2016 Arizona South Alabama W 45–21 Troy Calhoun 10–3
2019 Cheez-It Washington State W 31–21 Troy Calhoun 11–2
2021 First Responder Louisville W 31–28 Troy Calhoun 10–3
2022 Armed Forces Baylor W 30–15 Troy Calhoun 10–3
2023 Armed Forces James Madison W 31–21 Troy Calhoun 9–4

Logos/Uniforms[]

Image gallery[]

Seasons[]

2020s[]

Season Coach Record
2024 Troy Calhoun 5-7
2023 Troy Calhoun 9-4
2022 Troy Calhoun 10-3
2021 Troy Calhoun 10-3
2020 Troy Calhoun 3-3

2010s[]

Season Coach Record
2019 Troy Calhoun 11-2
2018 Troy Calhoun 5-7
2017 Troy Calhoun 5-7
2016 Troy Calhoun 10-3
2015 Troy Calhoun 8-6
2014 Troy Calhoun 10-3
2013 Troy Calhoun 2-10
2012 Troy Calhoun 6-7
2011 Troy Calhoun 7-6
2010 Troy Calhoun 9-4

2000s[]

Season Coach Record
2009 Troy Calhoun 8-5
2008 Troy Calhoun 8-5
2007 Troy Calhoun 9-4
2006 Fisher DeBerry 4-8
2005 Fisher DeBerry 4-7
2004 Fisher DeBerry 5-6
2003 Fisher DeBerry 7-5
2002 Fisher DeBerry 8-5
2001 Fisher DeBerry 6-6
2000 Fisher DeBerry 9-3

1990s[]

Season Coach Record
1999 Fisher DeBerry 6-5
1998 Fisher DeBerry 12-1
1997 Fisher DeBerry 10-3
1996 Fisher DeBerry 6-5
1995 Fisher DeBerry 8-5
1994 Fisher DeBerry 8-4
1993 Fisher DeBerry 4-8
1992 Fisher DeBerry 7-5
1991 Fisher DeBerry 10-3
1990 Fisher DeBerry 7-5

1980s[]

Season Coach Record
1989 Fisher DeBerry 8-4-1
1988 Fisher DeBerry 5-7
1987 Fisher DeBerry 9-4
1986 Fisher DeBerry 6-5
1985 Fisher DeBerry 12-1
1984 Fisher DeBerry 8-4
1983 Ken Hatfield 10-2
1982 Ken Hatfield 8-5
1981 Ken Hatfield 4-7
1980 Ken Hatfield 2-9-1

1970s[]

Season Coach Record
1979 Ken Hatfield 2-9
1978 Bill Parcells 3-8
1977 Ben Martin 2-8-1
1976 Ben Martin 4-7
1975 Ben Martin 2-8-1
1974 Ben Martin 2-9
1973 Ben Martin 6-4
1972 Ben Martin 6-4
1971 Ben Martin 6-4
1970 Ben Martin 9-3

1960s[]

Season Coach Record
1969 Ben Martin 6-4
1968 Ben Martin 7-3
1967 Ben Martin 2-6-2
1966 Ben Martin 4-6
1965 Ben Martin 3-6-1
1964 Ben Martin 4-5-1
1963 Ben Martin 7-4
1962 Ben Martin 5-5
1961 Ben Martin 3-7
1960 Ben Martin 4-6

1950s[]

Season Coach Record
1959 Ben Martin 5-4-1
1958 Ben Martin 9-0-2
1957 Buck Shaw 3-6-1
1956 Buck Shaw 6-2-1
1955 Robert V. Whitlow 5-2-1

References[]

External Links[]