The American Athletic Conference has officially approved Army as a football-only member starting in 2024, according to sources familiar with the vote. An official announcement is expected later today, as initially reported by Yahoo Sports.
Here are the key details:
- From 1998 to 2004, Army football was a part of Conference USA before becoming an independent team.
- Prior to the 2023 football season, the AAC welcomed six new schools, expanding its membership to 14. However, they will lose SMU to the ACC next year.
- Army recently extended the contract of head coach Jeff Monken through the 2027 season. The extension comes with an average annual salary exceeding $2 million.
Why is Army joining the AAC?
One reason is that maintaining football independence has become increasingly challenging. With only UConn and UMass remaining as true independents, the power and influence of conferences have grown. Additionally, the upcoming 12-team College Football Playoff offers a clear path to the postseason for Group of 5 teams. Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk has endorsed Army’s move to the AAC, citing the league’s stability and infrastructure. The AAC sees Army as a program with a strong national brand and dedicated fan base, evident from their consistent success with at least nine wins in four seasons since 2017.
The AAC’s ESPN contract, in place until 2031-32, provides stability. It remains uncertain whether Army’s home games will be included in this deal or remain on CBS Sports Network until 2028, as agreed in the contract extension last year. The conference boasts academically prestigious institutions like Tulane, Rice, and Navy. Furthermore, the AAC has a substantial presence in Texas, a state where all three service academies actively recruit football players. The 2023 Army roster already features 27 players from Texas.
In 2021, Air Force and three other Mountain West schools expressed interest in joining the AAC. Discussions about including all three service academies in the conference were held, and they continue to engage in regular communication. While the possibility of Air Force joining the AAC may arise in the future, it depends on the fate of Pac-12 teams like Oregon State and Washington State, as they may boost the strength of the Mountain West Conference. — Chris Vannini, Senior Writer for College Football
Army’s Appeal
Located in the Northeast, Army shares a long-standing rivalry with Navy, who is already a member of the AAC. The Army-Navy Game takes place as a separate showcase event following conference championship games and will remain a nonconference game, as confirmed by sources. Army will also continue its annual November matchup against Air Force.
In 2021, discussions were held between Army and the AAC when Air Force was involved. Most of Army and Navy’s other sports participate in the Patriot League. — Vannini
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(Photo: Danny Wild / USA Today)
