Air Force football: Can Falcons build upon one of school’s best seasons?

How will Air Force football fare in 2020?

Two big decisions await Air Force concerning scheduling and predicting how their season may go. The decision awaiting Donald Hammond III and his eligibility could cause a big swing in wins and losses.

The decision the conference will have to make as far as scheduling goes, as to whether the Mountain West will play a league-only schedule and the Falcons have already had a game against Purdue canceled because of the Big Ten’s decision to go conference-only.

I’m making these predictions with the assumption that Hammond will be able to play.

• Game 1: vs. Duquesne (W) — Easy win to start the season for the Falcons.
• Game 2: vs. Boise State (L) — Expect this game to decide the Mountain division and possibly set the winner up for a run at a New Year’s Six game. The Broncos are in for a special season.
• Game 3: at Fresno State (W) — The Bulldogs had a disappointing season a year ago, but will be well coached by Jeff Tedford and tough to beat. Falcons win a close one.
• Game 4: vs. Navy (W) — One of Air Force’s two losses last season that I think they will avenge. Expect a tight game, but I think the Falcons defense will be better.
• Game 5: at San Jose State (W) — The Spartans are improving, but will have no answer for the Falcons’ ground game.
• Game 6: vs. Hawaii (W) — Hawaii hired Todd Graham to takeover the program and I think that will work out in the long run, but expect a struggle this season.
• Game 7: at Wyoming (L) — I think this is a prime spot for an upset, as the Cowboys are a physical team and play well at home.
• Game 8: at Army (W) — The Falcons take the Commander-in-Chief Trophy with a win over Army, who is in for another tough season.
• Game 9: vs. Colorado State (W) — The secondary better be ready for this game, as the Rams should have a very good passing attack, but the Falcons nab the win at home.
• Game 10: vs. New Mexico (W) — The Lobos are heading in the right direction under new coach Danny Gonzales, but they aren’t ready for this yet.
• Game 11: at Utah State (W) — The Falcons cap off a great regular season with a win over a rebuilding Utah State program that will be without quarterback Jordan Love.

Final Record: 9-2, 6-2 MWC

This is a very manageable schedule for Air Force football that will see them take on the MWC favorite in Boise State early in the season and the timing is probably bad for a secondary that will be rebuilding. The Falcons should be in every single game this fall and there is not an un-winnable game on the entire schedule.