Military football is in the midst of perhaps its best season as a program, even winning the American Athletic Conference championship game in its first season in the league.
No. 18 Black Knights (11-1, 8-0 in CAA) – of which only defeat this season came to Notre Dame – hope to cap off their exceptional season with a victory over their rival Navy (8-3, 6-2 in CAA) at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on Saturday.
Army has deployed the triple-option offense to perfection this season under coach Jeff Monken, as its discipline and efficiency keeps opposing offenses off the field. Quarterback Bryson Daily was also a phenom, with 1,480 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns as well as 877 passing yards and eight touchdowns to one interception.
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Army was one of the best college football programs in the sport’s early days, winning five national championships, the most recent dating back to 1946. Army’s current 2024 season, however, may well compare to the best in all-time for school in the modern era.
Here’s a look at Army’s best seasons during its 11-1 2024 season so far:
The Best Army Football Seasons of All Time
The Army boasts five national championships, which took place in 1946, 1945, 1944, 1916 and 1914. In an effort to look back on the Army’s best seasons, this history will also take into account modern finishes.
Here are Army’s best seasons:
2024
Army already has 11 wins this season and has a chance to win 12 games for the first time in program history when it takes on Navy on Saturday.
The Black Knights could also reach 13 wins for the first time if they beat Marshall in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 28. Army has only won 11 games in a season once, and with two more chances to reach a 12-win mark, 2024 is certainly one of the best seasons ever.
2018
Army finished in the rankings for the first time since 1996 after going 11-2 this year with an Independence Bowl victory over Houston. Army not only beat Houston, but also won in dominant fashion, 70-14.
The No. 20-ranked Black Knights have lost two games all year, both coming early in the season against Power Four programs in Duke and Oklahoma, the latter of which was forced into overtime in Norman, Oklahoma . THE Earlierof course, made it to the College Football Playoff that season and won the Heisman Trophy in quarterback Kyler Murray.
Army also beat Navy, 17-10 – a huge measuring stick in all Black Knights football seasons.
1944
The Army’s first of two national championships awarded by the Associated Press came in 1944, when it finished with a 9-0 record, outscoring its opponents 504-35 that season.
The Black Knights finished the season with top-five wins over Notre Dame and Navy, which served as the de facto national championship.
(1945
Army finished 9-0 again in 1945, once again winning the Associated Press national championship under coach Earl “Red” Blaik.
The Black Knights also defeated No. 2 Navy 32-13 in the season finale, winning the national championship after also defeating No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 6 Penn, No. 9 Michigan and No. 19 Duke during the season.
1996
Army had a historic season in 1996, finishing in the top 25 in the Coaches and AP Top 25 polls for the first time since 1958.
The Black Knights lost 32-29 in the Independence Bowl to Auburn that season, but finished with a 10-2 record under coach Bob Sutton. This is one of two seasons in which Army has finished the season ranked since 1953, although the Black Knights have a chance to do so again in 2024.
Military football achieved the most victories in one season
Here are the best seasons in terms of total victories in Army history:
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11 wins (2024, 2018)
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10 wins (2017, 1996)
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9 victories (2021, 2020, 1988, 1985, 1949, 1946, 1945, 1944, 1933, 1930, 1927, 1916, 1914)
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Best Military Football Seasons: Best Results, Win Totals
