Army West Point (2-5, 0-0 Independent FBS) has been admitted to the American Athletic Conference (AAC) as a football-only member, according to an announcement made by AAC commissioner Mike Aresco
Coupled with Army’s 15-0 win over Navy in the annual rivalry game, the Black Knights now sit at 9-2 and were slotted for the Independence Bowl game against a team from the Pac-12. However, because of the number of Pac-12 teams opting-out of bowl games, the Independence Bowl Foundation, for the first time since the contest’s inception in 1976, canceled the game on Sunday.
A bowl win if they can find an opponent would elevate the Army cadets to their third 10-win season during the tenure of head coach Jeff Monken.
Army was able to totally regenerate a schedule that was thrown into chaos by the COVID-19 pandemic. The cadets also had a revamped defense under new defensive coordinator Nate Woody. Eventually, their defense became a point of pride and the team’s calling card in 2020. The Black Knights have held opponents to 10 points or less in six of their 11 games this season.