Navy at Air Force, 2 p.m., Saturday, VS
For the record: Navy is 3-2 after beating 16th-ranked Wake Forest 24-17 last Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Streaking: Navy’s five-year control of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is one short of Air Force’s six straight triumphs from 1997-2002. The six in a row by Air Force is the longest streak in the series.
Who’s hot: Coach Ken Niumatalolo has become a gambler in his first year at the helm of the Midshipmen, who have gone for it on fourth down nine times and converted six.
Who’s not: Navy has lost its other two road games this season. Ball State defeated the Midshipmen 35-23, and Duke handed Navy a 41-31 setback.
Key stat: The Midshipmen own the best record by a non-Bowl Championship Series team against BCS teams since 2003. They are 13-13 against BCS opponents over the last five seasons.
FYI: The upset of Wake Forest was Navy’s first victory over a team ranked in the AP media poll in 23 years. The Midshipmen are 24-15 in games on the road in the last six years.
Coachspeak: “The only way you have a chance to win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is if you win this game. The bottom line is we haven’t earned it the last few years. Over the last five years, Navy has fought for it, worked for it, recruited for it, earned it, and that’s why it resides in Annapolis, Maryland.” — Air Force coach Troy Calhoun
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
