On the same day SMU was accepted into the ACC, news broke that the American Athletic Conference was no longer exploring the possibility of adding Washington State or Oregon State. Instead, the AAC could be looking to Army as the next team to join the league.
Here’s a look at what that means for Army, the AAC, and college football as a whole.
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What Conference Is Army In?
Army is an independent program and currently doesn’t belong to any conference, which might make the move to the AAC easier. It would only be for football, according to ESPN, which is similar to Navy’s arrangement.
Army has been mostly independent since it began playing football in the late 1800s. The program played in Conference USA from 1998 to 2004 but has been independent since 2005.
Army-AAC Football Discussions And Next Steps
The AAC presidents and athletic directors clearly favored adding Army over any other program, according to ESPN. So AAC commissioner Mike Aresco began looking into the possibility and has spoken to Army athletic director Mike Buddie. Multiple outlets have reported those conversations are ongoing.
The AAC will be at 13 teams in 2024 with SMU leaving, so Army would make it an even 14 teams again. But neither Army nor the AAC seem to be in a rush to make a decision and are considering plenty of details right now.
Army Head Coach Jeff Monken’s Extension
Army and head coach Jeff Monken agreed to an extension, according to ESPN, which would pay him $2 million per year on average. That new deal would expire after the 2027 season.
Army may have wanted to secure its future at the program’s head coaching position before making a decision regarding the AAC.
What is Army’s Record Against The AAC Conference?
Army is 83-103-9 all-time against teams which are currently in the AAC. The Black Knights are 7-3 in bowl games.
Army Head Coach Jeff Monken’s Record
Jeff Monken was 64-49 overall and 4-1 in bowl games as Army’s head coach heading into the 2023 season. The Black Knights have been .500 or better the past three years.
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Army-Navy Game’s Future
Army has reportedly made it clear that it wants to keep its matchup with Navy at the end of the college football season, after conference championship games.
That would mean, even if Army and Navy are playing in the AAC, their rivalry game would be a non-conference contest.
What Is Army’s Record Against Navy?
Army is 54-62-7 all-time against Navy, according to Army’s website. That rivalry game has been played since 1890, so continuing that matchup will be paramount to both programs.
Army Could Benefit From AAC Media Deal
ESPN and the AAC agreed to a 12-year media contract beginning in 2019 worth about $1 billion, according to USA Today.
The arrangement was to pay each program just less than $7 million per year when it was made but increased over time. SMU reportedly earned about $8.2 million in 2022, for example.
