Daniels, a fifth-year quarterback, won the Heisman and AP player of the year honors last week after accounting for 50 touchdowns and nearly 5,000 yards of offense this season.

He was joined in the backfield by Missouri’s Cody Schrader, a sixth-year running back and former Division II player who leads the nation at 124.9 rushing yards per game.

The other sixth-year player of the AP first team was North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson, who won the Chuck Bednarik Award as national defensive player of the year.

Kansas State guard Cooper Beebe, edge rushers Laiatu Latu from UCLA and Jalen Green from James Madison, and Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat were the other fifth-year players to make the first team.

College players who were in school during the 2020 pandemic season were granted an extra year of eligibility and they are still making their presence felt around the country.

Eleven more fifth-year players made the second and third teams and there were eight sixth-year players selected to those teams, including Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the Heisman runner up. Penix and the second-ranked Huskies face No. 3 Texas in the College Football Playoff’s Sugar Bowl semifinal on Jan. 1.

Colorado Buffaloes sophomore receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter was named to the first team. Colorado State junior tight end Dallin Holker made the second team and Air Force senior safety Trey Taylor earned a third-team nod.

Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt and Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. were selected first-team All-Americans for the second straight year. Beebe and Georgia tight end Brock Bowers moved up from second team last season to first this year.

No. 5 Alabama led all teams with three first-team All-Americans, all on the defensive side: cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold and linebacker Dallas Turner.

The Crimson Tide, seeded fourth in the College Football Playoff, faces No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl semifinal on Jan. 1.

First-team All-Americans (by conference)

• SEC — 9.
• Big Ten — 6.
• Pac-12 — 4.
• Big 12 — 3.
• ACC — 1.
• MAC — 1.
• Sun Belt — 1.
• Independent — 2.

The AP All-America team was selected by a panel of 18 college Top 25 poll voters.

First team

Quarterback — Jayden Daniels, fifth-year, LSU.

Running backs — Ollie Gordon II, second-year, Oklahoma State; Cody Schrader, sixth-year, Missouri.

Tackles — Joe Alt, third-year, Notre Dame; Olu Fashanu, fourth-year, Penn State.

Guards — Cooper Beebe, fifth-year, Kansas State; Zak Zinter, fourth-year, Michigan.

Center — Jackson Powers-Johnson, third-year, Oregon.

Tight end — Brock Bowers, third-year, Georgia.

Wide receivers — Malik Nabers, third-year, LSU; Marvin Harrison Jr., third-year, Ohio State; Rome Odunze, fourth-year, Washington.

All-purpose player — Travis Hunter, second-year, Colorado.

Kicker — Graham Nicholson, third-year, Miami (Ohio).

Edge rushers — Laiatu Latu, fifth-year, UCLA; Jalen Green, fifth-year, James Madison.

Interior linemen — T’Vondre Sweat, fifth-year, Texas; Jer’Zahn Newton, fourth-year, Illinois.

Linebackers — Payton Wilson, sixth-year, North Carolina State; Edgerrin Cooper, fourth-year, Texas A&M; Dallas Turner, third-year, Alabama.

Cornerbacks — Cooper DeJean, third-year, Iowa; Kool-Aid McKinstry, third-year, Alabama.

Safeties — Malaki Starks, second-year, Georgia; Xavier Watts, fourth-year, Notre Dame.

Defensive back — Terrion Arnold, third-year, Alabama.

Punter — Tory Taylor, fourth-year, Iowa.

Second team

Quarterback — Michael Penix Jr., sixth-year, Washington.

Running backs — Audric Estime, third-year, Notre Dame; Omarion Hampton, second-year, North Carolina.

Tackles — Taliese Fuaga, fourth-year, Oregon State; JC Latham, third-year, Alabama.

Guards — Tate Ratledge, fourth-year, Georgia; Clay Webb, fifth-year, Jacksonville State.

Center — Sedrick Van Pran, fourth-year, Georgia.

Tight ends — Dallin Holker, fifth-year, Colorado State.

Wide receivers — Troy Franklin, third-year, Oregon; Malik Washington, fifth-year, Virginia; Luther Burden III, second-year, Missouri.

All-purpose player — Ashton Jeanty, second-year, Boise State.

Kicker — Jose Pizano, third-year, UNLV.

Edge rushers — Jonah Elliss, third-year, Utah; Jared Verse, fourth-year, Florida State.

Interior linemen — Byron Murphy II, third-year, Texas; Howard Cross III, fifth-year, Notre Dame.

Linebackers — Jeremiah Trotter Jr., third-year, Clemson; Jason Henderson, third-year, Old Dominion; Jay Higgins, fourth-year, Iowa.

Cornerbacks — Quinyon Mitchell, fourth-year, Toledo; Beanie Bishop Jr., sixth-year, West Virginia.

Safeties — Tyler Nubin, fifth-year, Minnesota; Caleb Downs, first-year, Alabama.

Defensive back — Kris Abrams-Draine, fourth-year, Missouri.

Punter — Matthew Hayball, sixth-year, Vanderbilt.

Third team

Quarterbacks — Bo Nix, fifth-year, Oregon.

Running backs — Blake Corum, fourth-year, Michigan; Kimani Vidal, fourth-year, Troy.

Tackles — Javon Foster, sixth-year, Missouri; Troy Fautanu, fifth-year, Washington.

Guards — Christian Haynes, sixth-year, UConn; Luke Kandra, fourth-year, Cincinnati.

Center — Zach Frazier, fourth-year, West Virginia.

Tight end — Ben Sinnott, fourth-year, Kansas State.

Wide receivers — Ricky White, fourth-year, UNLV; Brian Thomas Jr., third-year, LSU; Tetairoa McMillan, second-year, Arizona.

All-purpose player — Xavier Worthy, third-year, Texas.

Kicker — Will Reichard, fifth-year, Alabama.

Edge rushers — Chop Robinson, third-year, Penn State; Bralen Trice, fifth-year, Washington.

Interior linemen — Kris Jenkins, fourth-year, Michigan; Braden Fiske, sixth-year, Florida State.

Linebackers — Nathaniel Watson, sixth-year, Mississippi State; Edefuan Ulofoshio, sixth-year, Washington; Danny Stutsman, third-year, Oklahoma.

Cornerbacks — Ricardo Hallman, third-year, Wisconsin; T.J. Tampa, fourth-year, Iowa State.

Safeties — Trey Taylor, fifth-year, Air Force; Dillon Thieneman, first-year, Purdue.

Defensive back — Sebastian Castro, fifth-year, Iowa.

Punter — James Ferguson-Reynolds, second-year, Boise State.

The Denver Post contributed to this story.

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The 6-foot-1, 250-pound defensive end led the Mountain West in tackles for a loss (17) and sacks (13). Kamara, a graduate defensive end, is second in conference history in career sacks (30.5) and his total this season was fourth-most in the Mountain West record book.

He is the third CSU player to receive the award, joining linebackers Rick Crowell (2000) and Shaquil Barrett (2013).

Kamara is one four Rams named to the all-conference first team, joined by senior wide receiver Tory Horton, junior tight end Dallin Holker and junior defensive back Jack Howell. Horton was also named a second-team punt returner. He was joined by senior offensive lineman Jacob Gardner and junior linebacker Chase Wilson.

Air Force also has four first-team selections in senior offensive lineman Thor Paglialong, senior defensive lineman PJ Ramsey, senior linebacker Bo Richter and senior defensive back Trey Taylor. Three Falcons players were named to the second team: senior running back Emmanuel Michel, senior offensive lineman Adam Karas and linebacker Alec Mock.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is the offensive player of the year. UNLV placekicker Jose Pizano is the special teams player of the year and Rebels quarterback Jayden Maiava is the freshman of the year.

All-Mountain West first team

• QB Chevan Cordeiro, Sr., San José State
• WR Tory Horton, Sr., Colorado State
• WR Ricky White III, Jr., UNLV
• WR Jalen Royals, Jr., Utah State
• RB Ashton Jeanty, So., Boise State
• RB Kairee Robinson, So., San José State
• TE Dallin Holker, Jr., Colorado State
• OL Thor Paglialong, Sr., Air Force
• OL Cade Beresford, Sr., Boise State
• OL JC Davis, Jr., New Mexico
• OL Tiger Shanks, Jr., UNLV
• OL Frank Crum, Gr., Wyoming
• PK Jose Pizano, Sr., UNLV
• KR Jacob De Jesus, Jr., UNLV
• DL PJ Ramsey, Sr., Air Force
• DL Ahmed Hassanein, Jr., Boise State
• DL Mohamed Kamara, Gr., Colorado State
• DL Tre Smith, So., San José State
• LB Bo Richter, Sr., Air Force
• LB Jackson Woodard, Jr., UNLV
• LB MJ Tafisi Jr., Sr., Utah State
• LB Easton Gibbs, Jr., Wyoming
• DB Trey Taylor, Sr., Air Force
• DB Jack Howell, Jr., Colorado State
• DB Emany Johnson, Sr., Nevada
• DB Ike Larsen, So., Utah State
• P James Ferguson-Reynolds, So., Boise State
• PR Jacob De Jesus, Jr., UNLV

All-Mountain West second team

• QB Jayden Maiava, R-Fr., UNLV
• WR Steven McBride, Sr., Hawai‘i
• WR Nick Nash, Jr., San José State
• WR Terrell Vaughn, Sr., Utah State
• RB Emmanuel Michel, Sr., Air Force
• RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Sr., New Mexico
• TE Mark Redman, Sr., San Diego State
• OL Adam Karas, Sr., Air Force
• OL Kage Casey, R-Fr., Boise State
• OL Jacob Gardner, Sr., Colorado State
• OL Mose Vavao, Sr., Fresno State
• OL Cade Bennett, Jr., San Diego State
• PK Jonah Dalmas, Sr., Boise State
• KR Terrell Vaughn, Sr., Utah State
• DL Jalen Dixon, Jr., UNLV
• DL Devo Bridges, Sr., Fresno State
• DL Soane Toia, Jr., San José State
• DL Jordan Bertagnole, Jr., Wyoming
• LB Alec Mock, Sr., Air Force
• LB Andrew Simpson, So., Boise State
• LB Chase Wilson, Jr., Colorado State
• LB Levelle Bailey, Sr., Fresno State
• DB Carlton Johnson, Sr., Fresno State
• DB Morice Norris Jr., Sr., Fresno State
• DB Noah Tumblin, Sr., San Diego State
• DB Cameron Oliver, Jr., UNLV
• P Jack Browning, Sr., San Diego State
• PR Tory Horton, Sr., Colorado State

Honorable mentions

Air Force: Matthew Dapore, PK; Jayden Goodwin, DB; Zac Larrier, QB.

Colorado State: Chigozie Anusiem, CB; Henry Blackburn, S; Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, QB; Drew Moss, OL; Justus Ross-Simmons, WR.

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As 52,401 fans headed to the exit, Falcons cornerback Jamari Bellamy took a slow and silent walk the length of a stadium draped in shadows. His silence spoke volumes: With the dream of an undefeated season broken, the chances of challenging Alabama or Oregon in a New Year’s Six bowl now hover somewhere between slim and none.

“We had high expectations to come out here and win this game and we didn’t. So we’re very disappointed,” said Air Force tailback John Lee Eldridge III, the emotional letdown so great his words were robotic. “We just didn’t go out there and execute the small things like we usually do.”

Is college football now such a big business that it’s naïve to believe in an underdog story?

When the playoffs expand to 12 teams in 2024, it’s hard to make a case that any team from the have-not conferences deserves an automatic bid. With the Big Ten, Southeastern, Big 12 and Atlantic Coast conferences now ripping up the map and trashing tradition in the pursuit of money, what Air Force lost Saturday was more than a game.

Fair or not, the Falcons must carry a heavy burden. They represent the legitimacy of a champion from the Mountain West, American Athletic or any team from college football’s land of misfit toys to make a case for inclusion in the 12-team playoff field.

While Air Force might well go on to win its conference, it is impossible to say with a straight face that the Falcons or Tulane or any team from the lower-echelon FBS conferences would be as worthy of a bid in the expanded playoffs as the sixth-best team from the SEC.

While the harsh economic realties make me a little melancholy, here’s the deal: With college football becoming more like the NFL with each passing year, maybe it’s time for Air Force and Colorado State to admit that trying to compete on the same level as Alabama or Ohio State is economic folly.

Upon entering Empower Field at Mile High to play in front of its biggest crowd in Colorado since 2002, with an undefeated record through eight games for the first time since 1985, Air Force looked flat and unprepared for the emotional energy brought to the field by a service academy rival.

In a sport where newfound riches for stars to reap from their name, image and likeness make college football a professional enterprise, a bad Army team made the fumbling, bumbling Falcons look like rank amateurs. Their normally robust option attack needed 40 carries to produce a meager 155 yards on the ground.

“We’ve had a pretty good go of it for a while and yet you realize how hard it is to win,” said Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, who has now lost three of his last four meetings against the Black Knights. “Credit to Army — played really hard, played really well.”

Calhoun is a great teacher of the game, but an awkward, reluctant marketer of a football program. He bristles at anything that smacks of showmanship. There’s much laudable about being a coach who views football as a tool to help young men grow. But Calhoun is now a proud, old dinosaur in a world where the only thing that really matters are television ratings and revenue streams.

That’s not the mission statement of Air Force football. The game has changed. Maybe the Falcons need to help start a league of their own, where money isn’t the primary way to measure success.

That reunion happened Saturday afternoon at halftime on the concourse at Empower Field at Mile High, while their Army Black Knights were in the process of pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the 2023 college football season, a stunning 23-3 win against rival Air Force.

“Having this game in an NFL stadium is the proper level of respect for these two teams,” Odell said. “These teams are more than just colleges, more than just young guys doing their best on an athletic field. They give their all, not just today but every day, for their country. This is the kind of place where they should play this game.”

Odell and Wortinger both live, ironically, in Colorado Springs. Wortinger is retired from active duty, but Odell just moved there a couple of months ago. He’s the chaplain for the Fourth Infantry Division, which is based out of Fort Carson.

When he made the move, Wortinger was one of the people who helped him out with some logistics, and the Army-Air Force game became a great chance to meet up again in person.

“It’s a great community,” Wortinger said. “I chose to make (Colorado Springs) my permanent home after traveling the country for 30 years. Love the people and all the adventures we get to have there.”

Army fans didn’t have high expectations for this one, with Air Force arriving in Denver with an 8-0 record. It turned out to be the Black Knights’ first win against a ranked opponent in exactly 51 years — the last one was Nov. 4, 1972 against Air Force.

“It’s fantastic to see them get to play in a professional stadium,” Wortinger said. “Most of these kids aren’t going to go pro, so this is a great chance for them to play in this amazing environment. It’s been fantastic, and thank god our quarterback is healthy.”

Added Odell: “Army-Navy has the longer history. There are the things that are painted all over both campuses and are more focused towards that. But this game matters. Army is having a tough year, and it makes these games matter even more.”

Christian Washington is a Class of 2018 graduate from West Point. He lives in Dallas, so he had the chance to see these two teams play at Globe Life Field, the new home of the Texas Rangers.

He’s set to complete his five years of service, so this trip to Denver to see Army-Air Force turned out to be a celebration on multiple levels.

“It’s super exciting,”  Washington said. “To get to see the academies play in a major NFL stadium is great. I’m a little shocked. … We’re looking forward to getting after it tonight, though.”

This wasn’t the result Air Force fans were expecting, especially with dreams of an undefeated season and a trip to a New Year’s Six bowl game slipping away from the Falcons’ grasp with each turnover.

There was still plenty of appreciation for the spectacle that came with playing this game here in Denver. The announced crowd was 52,401, which is the largest attendance for an Air Force “home” game since 2002.

“I was a (Broncos) season-ticket holder for 12 years before we moved to Florida,” said Chris Quiroz, an Air Force grad in the Class of 1988. “It’s really nice. I love the venue, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many people at an Air Force game.”

He was at the game with his wife, Josie, who is also Class of ’88. Their son, Emilio, is a Cadet First Class at the academy this year, so they’ve made the trip back to Colorado for four Falcons games.

They also met up with another classmate, Mark Kuras, who lives in Phoenix.

“I’m really happy that it moved to this big venue so that we have more people, more press, more nationwide viewings,” Kuras said. “The rivalry is wonderful. And like you can see today, it doesn’t matter what the records are. It’s always going to be a great, hard-fought game.”

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And with that, the Falcons said goodbye to an undefeated season and winning the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy outright, while their hopes of playing in a New Year’s Six bowl were dealt a serious blow.

Army dominated the Falcons, 23-3, by owning the first half and capitalizing on an array of uncharacteristic Air Force mistakes. The Falcons entered the game 8-0 and ranked No. 17 in the AP poll, the team’s highest ranking when playing Army since 1985, but turned the ball over six times in the first contest between the service academies held at Empower Field at Mile High.

“We’ve had a pretty good go of it for a while this season, and yet (today) makes you realize how hard it is to win,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said. “Credit to Army — they played really hard, they played really well.

“I don’t think it was (the emotions of a rivalry game in an NFL stadium) that got to us. It was more of the quality of execution, or lack thereof.”

In a nightmare first quarter, Air Force got gashed for a 62-yard TD run by QB Bryson Daily on Army’s opening drive, lost two fumbles, was stuffed on fourth-and-1 in Falcons territory, and wideout Jared Roznos dropped a deep pass that would’ve set them up in the red zone. That amounted to a 17-0 deficit.

“It looked like a gap popped (on Daily’s TD run),” Air Force linebacker Bo Richter said. “We were loading the box, and when a gap pops, sometimes it can be easy for them to get to the second level.”

Off one of the Falcons’ first-quarter fumbles, Army tacked on another field goal early in the second quarter to go up 20-0. The Falcons were down three prior times this season — 20-10 at San Jose State, 14-0 against Wyoming and 13-7 at Colorado State last week — and managed a comeback victory each time.

But there would be no such rebound Saturday, when Army, buoyed by the return of Daily after he missed the previous couple of games due to injury, didn’t look anything like the two-win team the Black Knights were coming in. Army had previously lost five straight games and was a 17-point underdog, but never relinquished the momentum.

“We were overlooked, for sure,” Army linebacker Leo Lowin said. “We haven’t had a great season, and we saw this as a huge opportunity to turn it around in our favor.”

Air Force running back John Lee Eldridge III described the Falcons’ postgame locker room as “disappointed.”

“We had high expectations to come out here and win this game, and we didn’t,” Eldridge said. “We came out a little discombobulated, and we just didn’t execute the small things.”

After mustering a field goal, the Falcons got the ball back with less than a minute left in the first half and tried to force it downfield. But Air Force, which boasted the nation’s top rushing attack at 300.4 yards per game entering Saturday, very much looked like a team unaccustomed to passing. Its routes and pass-blocking were consistently out of rhythm, and Air Force finished with just 155 rushing yards, about half its season average.

That trend continued in the waning seconds of the second quarter, when Falcons QB Zac Larrier airmailed his target downfield and it was intercepted by cornerback Bo Nicolas-Paul, setting up another Army field goal on the final play of the half to push the score to 23-3.

“(Passing) doesn’t really align with their game plan,” said Nicolas-Paul, who added another pick in the second half. “Air Force wants to keep it on the ground, so we knew if we had a big enough of a lead, they would have to resort to throwing the ball. Once it got to that point, it was a wrap. That’s where we wanted them to be.”

The second half wasn’t any kinder to Air Force in front of 52,401 fans, the largest crowd for an Air Force “home” game since the Falcons drew 56,409 in 2002 against Notre Dame at Falcon Stadium.

The Falcons punted on the opening drive of the third quarter, then Matthew Dapore missed a 32-yard field goal attempt wide right on Air Force’s next drive, squandering a promising possession that was aided by multiple Army personal fouls.

“That was a series that really made it more difficult, not being able to punch it in (the end zone),” Calhoun said. “The incline was already plenty steep.”

Another fumble by Larrier in the fourth quarter sealed the blowout, and sent blue-clad fans headed for the exits. Larrier also threw his second interception in garbage time, Air Force’s fifth turnover. The Falcons fumbled again on their final drive, making for three turnovers on all three fourth-quarter possessions.

Army, meanwhile, was content to run the clock the entire second half. Daily finished with 36 carries for 170 yards and two scores.

“You can hit (Daily) with a sledgehammer 36 times and he’ll get back up and go again,” Army coach Jeff Monken said. “Just take another swing. That’s just who he is.”

The victory marked Army’s first win over a ranked opponent in exactly 51 years, snapping a 52-game losing streak since the Black Knights beat No. 19 Air Force on Nov. 4, 1972. And it was the first time in exactly six years that Air Force wasn’t able to score a touchdown, dating back to a 21-0 loss to Army on Nov. 4, 2017, at Falcon Stadium.

“We had the confidence to run the ball and control the clock, because we knew with how the defense was playing it was going to be a win if we did that,” Daily said.

With Army’s victory, it can clinch the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy with a win over Navy (which Air Force beat 17-6 on Oct. 21) on Dec. 9 at Gillette Stadium. If Navy wins that day, putting all three teams at 1-1 in this year’s series, the Falcons, who won it outright last year, would retain the trophy. But it wouldn’t count as a series win for Air Force, which holds the all-time record with 21 Commander-in-Chief titles.

Despite Saturday’s letdown loss, a third straight 10-win season (or fourth straight, discounting the condensed 2020 COVID season) and conference championship are still attainable for the 8-1 Falcons. They play at Hawaii next week, host UNLV on Nov. 28 and then close their Mountain West schedule on the road at Boise State on Nov. 24.

Troy Calhoun will never move the needle for short-attention-span America or sell sunglasses the way Coach Prime can. But in his 17th season as coach at the Air Force Academy, Calhoun has made the undefeated Falcons twice as good a football team as the mediocre (at best) Buffs.

Why does this matter?

Maybe it doesn’t, unless you cling to the belief that college athletics should be about more than money.

Sanders is building his brand, using the gorgeous CU campus and the picturesque Flatirons as a backdrop for his Growing Up Prime reality show, starring his sons, Shedeur and Shilo.

Calhoun does not give a hoot about where the Falcons are ranked in the national polls, much less about boosting his national Q Score with an Aflac commercial. His primary mission is to turn young football players into Air Force lieutenants worthy of serving our country.

While Sanders has leveraged the riches of name, image and likeness with the transfer portal to make the Buffs buzzworthy overnight, Calhoun takes pride in saying that players entering the academy aren’t ready-made stars.

Calhoun and Sanders, born within 12 months of each other in the mid-1960s, demonstrate there are two perfectly legitimate ways to build a Top 25 college football program in 2023. You can painstakingly develop one from within your own walls. Or go out and poach one from schools across the country.

“If you’re all-in on your players and you’re completely committed to your coaches and everybody’s growth and development, then you’re always trying to show them where they can be better. That’s really where we put our energy, our time and our thoughts,” Calhoun explained during his weekly news conference, as his 17th-ranked Falcons prepared for a date Saturday in Denver with arch-rival Army.

Now, let’s compare the responsibility Calhoun feels for overseeing his players’ growth to the frustration Sanders didn’t hesitate to express after CU’s quarterback, who also happens to be his son, got sacked seven times and took an unmerciful beating during a loss to UCLA that dropped the reeling Buffs’ record to 4-4.

Sanders put his offensive linemen on blast. “The line has to improve,” Sanders insisted to my Post colleague Sean Keeler. “The big picture? You go get new linemen. That’s the picture and I’m gonna paint it perfectly.”

Yeah, we get the picture, Deion. After Shedeur gets sacked, you threaten to fire the offensive line. That reaction sounded more like an angry stage father than the responsible adult in charge of a college football program.

Depending on which estimate you want to believe, Shedeur Sanders might reap in the neighborhood of $5 million from name, image and likeness earnings this year, give or take the cost of a Rolex.

So what’s a struggling Buffs offensive lineman who knows Prime will dump him in a hot minute and go hunting in the transfer portal for a replacement supposed to do? Grin and bear it, while cheering for the CU quarterback to get richer?

With the ability to transform a regional tiff between his Buffs and the CSU Rams into a bigger made-for-TV spectacle than the opening game of the World Series, Sanders is a viral soundbite waiting to happen. In that regard, Calhoun could learn a little something from Prime, because he is too grouchy to promote an Air Force program deserving of more applause within its home state.

But the fact Sanders is on the watch list alongside Calhoun for the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award as coach of the year? That’s no contest. It’s also a joke on all of us, the result of our obsession with style over substance.

Not only have the Falcons opened the season 8-0 for the first time since 1985, when Calhoun played quarterback for the academy, but they are in serious contention to play a traditional powerhouse along the likes of Oregon or Alabama in a New Year’s Six Bowl.

If you’re old school enough to believe W’s and L’s count more than TV ratings and mentions on “Saturday Night Live,” what Air Force can achieve this season is beyond CU’s wildest dreams.

On the brink of falling off the college football map, the Buffs made a brilliant hire in Sanders, a master of the business’ new rules. With 129 victories to his name, Air Force is blessed with the stubborn curmudgeon that is Calhoun, who could’ve cashed in on his success and moved on to greener pastures long ago.

There’s not a bigger football celebrity in America than Coach Prime.

There’s not a better football coach in the USA than Troy Calhoun.

If the difference no longer matters, college football has sold a little piece of its soul.

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The Falcons slice, dice and pummel the opposition, eventually taking command. Such was the case Saturday night in their 30-13 victory over Colorado State at snowy Canvas Stadium.

The Falcons, who jumped from 19th to 17th in the AP Top 25 poll released Sunday, lead the nation with an average of 300.4 yards rushing per game.

But it can’t be forgotten that the Air Force defense has played a starring role in the team’s 8-0 start. The Falcons have held opposing offenses to just 237.9 yards per game, third-best in the country behind only Michigan (226.8) and Penn State (234.5).

Pass-happy Colorado State had 339 yards of offense Saturday night but was held to just 113 yards in the second half, part of why Air Force controlled the ball for 20 minutes and 38 seconds in the final two quarters, compared to just 9:22 for CSU.

The key play of the game came late in the second quarter with the Rams leading 10-7 and holding the momentum. AFA outside linebacker Bo Richter stripped the ball from quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and recovered it at the CSU 11. The Falcons scored three plays later on John Lee Eldridge III’s TD run.

After the game, quarterback Zac Larrier heaped praise on the Falcons’ defense, and on Richter in particular.

“It almost makes me emotional. I love that guy,” Larrier said. “You expect (the defense) to show up when they need to show up.”

Senior safety Jalen Mergerson, an Eaglecrest High graduate, led the Falcons with 13 tackles and two pass defenses in his first career start. Safety Trey Taylor added 10 tackles, including a crucial fourth-down stop in the first quarter. The Falcons stoned the Rams on three fourth-and-short plays over the course of the game.

“I’m just proud of this team in every single facet that we have,” Taylor said.

Seven of the eight opponents Air Force has beaten this season have scored at least 11 points below their season average. The Falcons have held opponents to 13.4 points per game, ranking them fourth in stinginess, behind only Michigan (5.9), Ohio State (10.0) and Penn State (11.5).

Air Force, winners of 13 consecutive games, hosts Army this coming Saturday at Empower Field at Mile High.

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When/where: Saturday, 5 p.m. MT/Canvas Stadium

TV/Radio: CBSSN/1600 AM, 104.3 HD2

BetMGM Line: Air Force -12, 49.5 over/under

Weather: Chance of snow flurries and temperature around 29 degrees at kickoff.

Five storylines

The Falcons’ Mission: Air Force is cruising toward its fourth straight 10-win season (not counting the shortened 2020 COVID year), and with QB Zac Larrier at the helm, an undefeated regular season and major bowl berth could also be in the cards. Larrier hurt his knee in the win over Wyoming two weeks ago, but returned to play against Navy the next week. He tossed a 94-yard TD pass, the longest in school history, to put Air Force up in the first half en route to a 17-6 win.

The Rams’ Response: CSU let its second would-be win slip through its fingers in a brutal last-second loss last week at UNLV. The Rams took a 23-22 lead with 48 seconds left, but their secondary let them down again, just as the unit did in the Rocky Mountain Showdown defeat when Shedeur Sanders & Co. passed down the field en route to the game-tying TD at the end of regulation. If the underdog Rams find themselves in a close game again, can the defense finish the job?

The Noyes Factor: Rams kicker Jordon Noyes drilled a career-high 55-yarder with under a minute left last week, briefly giving the Rams the lead. Jay Norvell has been big on the Utah transfer’s leg since training camp, and now we can see why: He’s 7 for 9 on field goals this year, including zero misses under 30 yards, and has converted all 21 extra point attempts. Consistency in the kicking game will be key for CSU in potentially harsh conditions Saturday, and down the stretch if they want to make a run at bowl eligibility.

Air Force’s Ground Game: Norvell & Co. can study up on the Falcons’ triple-option attack all they want. Stopping it is a different matter altogether. Air Force has already racked up 2,221 yards on the ground this year at a whopping 5.3 yards per carry. Between Larrier, fullback Emmanuel Michel and tailbacks John Lee Eldridge III and Owen Burk, it’s a pick-your-poison offense. CSU has been gashed by the AFA triple-option in their past two meetings, giving up an average of 373.5 rush yards/game. The Rams have to play strict assignment football, or it could get ugly.

Series History: Air Force leads the all-time series, 38-21-1, and also holds a 27-15 advantage since the Ram-Falcon Trophy was created in 1980. The Falcons have ripped off six straight wins, with CSU’s last victory coming in Fort Collins in 2015.

Predictions

Kyle Newman, sportswriter: Air Force 35, CSU 21

The Rams simply aren’t disciplined enough to beat this military team. The Falcons run for over 350 yards, including several large bursts off the triple-option, while Rams QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi has some bright spots but also throws a game-changing interception.

Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Air Force 37, CSU 20

The football gods giveth, the football gods taketh away. The last thing you want after a soul-crushing (and winnable) loss at UNLV is the two best teams in the league back-to-back, but here we are. Jay Norvell teams have hung with good Air Force offenses in the past, but this might be Troy Calhoun’s best bunch yet. The Zoomies are on a mission. The Rammies are in the way.

Matt Schubert, sports editor: Air Force 27, CSU 17

The Zoomies have run all over the Rams in their last two meetings, and that’s unlikely to change Saturday. Even more distressing for CSU? The Air Force defense may be among the best in the country. Not a great recipe for the Rammies, especially in snowy FoCo.

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The Bulldogs received 38 of 63 first-place votes, their second-lowest total of the season, after an off week but still bested No. 2 Michigan, 1,536 points to 1,504.

Georgia’s No. 1 streak, which started on Oct. 9, 2022, is behind only Miami’s streak of 21 weeks from 2001-02 and Southern California’s 33 in a row from 2003-05.

The Wolverines received 19 first-place votes after their latest blowout, 49-0 against Michigan State on Saturday night. Michigan was unfazed after a week in which it was revealed the program is being investigated by the NCAA for a sign-stealing scheme that allegedly involved impermissible in-person scouting.

Ohio State held steady at No. 3 after winning a top-10 matchup with Penn State. The Nittany Lions slipped three spots to 10th. The Buckeyes received three first-place votes, as did No. 4 Florida State.

No. 5 Washington and No. 6 Oklahoma held their spots after close calls against unranked teams at home. No. 7 Texas and No. 8 Oregon each moved up a spot.

No. 9 Alabama returned to the top 10 after falling out in mid-September, which snapped a streak of 128 top-10 appearances that dated back to 2015. The Crimson Tide beat Tennessee for their sixth straight victory. The Volunteers dropped four spots to No. 21.

While Washington,Oklahoma and Texas all survived scares against unranked foes, North Carolina was not so fortunate.

The Tar Heels lost to Virginia, the Cavaliers’ first win of the season against an FBS team, to become just the second top-10 team to lose to an unranked team this season. The other was then-No. 9 Clemson in Week 1 at Duke.

North Carolina dropped seven spots to No. 17.

The number of major upsets to Top 25 teams overall in college football this season remains minimal. The current Top 25 has lost a total of 23 games. Of those losses, 19 have been to other teams that currently are ranked.

Iowa dropped out of the Top 25 after taking its second loss of the season and was replaced by No. 25 James Madison.

The Dukes (7-0) made a brief appearance at No. 25 in early October of last year before going on a three-game losing streak.

JMU is in its second season playing in the Bowl Subdivision, the highest level of Division I, leaving the Dukes ineligible to play for the Sun Belt Conference title and a bowl game. NCAA rules require a two-year transition period for schools moving up a level.

James Madison gives the Sun Belt a ranked team for the first time this season and also three non-Power Five conference teams in the poll, joining No. 19 Air Force of the Mountain West and No. 22 Tulane of the American Athletic Conference.

Air Force (7-0) has its highest rankings since being No. 18 on Oct. 13, 2002.

SEC — 6 (Nos. 1, 9, 12, 15, 16, 21).

Pac-12 — 6 (Nos. 5, 8, 11, 13, 23, 24).

ACC — 4 (Nos. 4, 17, 18, 20).

Big Ten — 3 (Nos. 2, 3, 10).

Big 12 — 2 (Nos. 6, 7).

Mountain West — 1 (No. 19).

American — 1 (No. 22).

Sun Belt — 1 (No. 25).

Independent — 1 (No. 14).

No. 8 Oregon at No. 13 Utah. This will be the fifth straight meeting dating back to 2018 with both teams ranked. The Ducks and Utes have split the last four.

No. 20 Duke at No. 18 Louisville. Basketball powers have played only three times in football, despite the Cardinals joining the ACC in 2014. This will be the first game where both are ranked.

AP college football poll

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said early in the week that quarterback Zac Larrier would be out “a while” — then his status apparently changed rather dramatically.

“I went to practice on Wednesday and saw (No.) 9 bouncing around. I went over and asked if this was possible and was told yes,” Calhoun said. “On Thursday, we really put him through some work to see if there was swelling or soreness on Friday, and he seemed to be good. I truly thought last week on Saturday night that he was finished for the season.”

Larrier overcame his knee injury and threw a 94-yard touchdown to Dane Kinamon — the longest pass in Air Force history — and the 22nd-ranked Falcons shut down Navy 17-6 on Saturday.

Air Force (7-0) gained almost as many yards on that one play as Navy (3-4) did in the entire game. The Falcons seemed to back off defensively late, allowing the Midshipmen to drive 78 yards for their only touchdown. They finished with 124 yards.

Larrier completed only four passes, but they went for a total of 151 yards. Navy coach Brian Newberry said he wasn’t surprised Larrier played.

“Being out for ‘a while’ might mean to him that he’s out until Wednesday of game week,” Newberry said. “We expected him to play.”

Larrier threw a 34-yard pass to Jared Roznos in the first quarter that Navy was fortunate wasn’t a longer gain. That drive ended in a missed field goal.

On the first play of the second quarter, with the Falcons facing second-and-10 from their own 6, Larrier found Kinamon up the right sideline. None of the Midshipmen could catch him.

“Coach knew a look he wanted to get there and he put us in one,” Larrier said. “You drop back there and expect guys to be open and I tried to make sure I could give him the best ball I could.”

Air Force’s previous longest pass was a 92-yard TD from Haaziq Daniels to Brandon Lewis at Colorado State two years ago.

The Falcons can win the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for a second straight year if they beat Army in two weeks.

Navy freshman Braxton Woodson relieved injured quarterback Tai Lavatai in a win over Charlotte last weekend, and Woodson started this game. But after the Midshipmen managed only 11 yards and one first down through three quarters, Lavatai took over in the fourth.

Navy finally started moving the ball with Lavatai, but he was intercepted twice during that final period. The second of those turnovers was returned 18 yards for a touchdown by Alec Mock.

Lavatai threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich in the final minute to deny Air Force its first shutout against Navy. The only shutout in series history was a 17-0 win by the Midshipmen in 1975.

“You always want zero, but when you’re playing coverage at the end of the game, not trying to let up the big play, it’s just kind of what you expect,” Air Force linebacker Bo Richter said. “Obviously, would have rather had zero. What I’d rather have more is the ‘W’ so I’ll take that.”

Attendance was 38,803, a record at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

THE TAKEAWAY

Air Force: Thanks to that final drive, the stats didn’t totally reflect how dominant the Falcons were defensively. They did hold Navy to 3 of 17 on third down.

The Falcons have won 12 games in a row, one shy of a school record set from 1984-85.

Navy: Give the Midshipmen credit defensively for mostly stopping an Air Force team that has reached 30 points in five of its seven games. The Falcons had only nine first downs, but Navy’s offensive numbers were putrid for most of the game.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

After entering the Top 25 last weekend, Air Force probably didn’t earn many style points in this win, but that’s not what these rivalry games are about.

TOUGH SPOT

Woodson was making his first start — just the sixth freshman in school history to start at quarterback. He wasn’t up to the challenge against a tough Air Force defense in a game in which both teams are very familiar with each other.

“We knew that they were going to be physical,” Woodson said. “It just didn’t go in our favor. We’ve got a lot of things to work on and clean up.”

Navy went three-and-out on eight of its 10 drives in the first three quarters, and one of its other two possessions ended with a kneel down to conclude the first half.

UP NEXT

Air Force: The Falcons play at Colorado State next Saturday night.

Navy: The Midshipmen have a weekend off before visiting Temple on Nov. 4.

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