On the eve of the anniversary of 9/11, it seems appropriate that we can highlight the football performances of some of the bravest and brightest in our nation’s military.
In Week 2, Air Force, Army and Navy got past Georgia State, Rice and UConn, respectively, in sweeping the weekend. In Week 1, all three of the service academies won as well.
The threesome beginning a season 2-0 is actually a rather rare feat as this marks the first time in two decades that the academies have opened the year unbeaten in their first two games.Air Force 48, Georgia State 14 / Army 31, Rice 14 / Navy 28, Connecticut 24. For the first time since 1996, service academies are all 2-0
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 11, 2016
In the six decades that Air Force has been playing FBS football, the academies have never started a season a collective 9-0. In 1958, however, the trio was undefeated as Army and Navy went 3-0 while Air Force went 2-0-1 to begin that season.
Air Force, Army and Navy will look to reach that historic triple trifecta against Utah State, UTEP and Tulane, respectively, in their next games (the latter two’s next game is Week 3, the former’s in Week 4). This start also sets up, potentially, a very competitive chase for a highly sought after piece of hardware.
The Falcons will play host to the Midshipmen two weeks from today, then travel to the Black Knights the first weekend of November. Army and Navy, of course, will square off in their annual stand-alone game the final weekend of the 2016 regular season.
Navy has won 10 of the last 13 Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, while Air Force has won nine the last 19. Army hasn’t claimed the trophy since 1996.
