Air Force Football: Winless Huskies host the Falcons

The Huskies entered the game against the Air Force Falcons already facing numerous challenges. In their first season competing in the Mountain West Conference, the team has suffered four consecutive losses. Their only close call came with a narrow defeat to Georgia State. Despite this, NIU had previously enjoyed successful seasons in the MAC, boasting dynamic quarterbacks like Jordan Lynch, who was a Heisman Finalist.

However, those achievements appear distant as the Huskies now navigate uncharted territories in the Mountain West.

The team's struggles began with losses to Iowa, Arizona, Illinois State, and Georgia State. The most egregious loss was a 21-point defeat to Georgia State. While NIU's performance against Illinois State may have seemed unfavorable, it was actually a near win in the FCS National Championship. Notably, NIU had previously defeated North Dakota State en route to that title game. The Huskies also secured significant victories over Nevada in recent weeks, displaying their offensive capabilities.

Air Force had also faced some setbacks before this matchup. They had previously been eliminated from contention for the Commander-in-Chief's trophy in the previous two seasons and have not led the series against Army since 2011. Ultimately, Air Force won the series just three times since 2011. Nevertheless, the Falcons managed to secure a win against Navy, which was crucial for their standing.

Their defensive unit played exceptionally well in that game, demonstrating the quality of Air Force's linebackers, particularly Blake Fletcher, who ranked fourth among FBS linebackers with at least 100 snaps this season.