The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Commander-in-Chief (AF-Army)

Army21-38-1Air Force
Regional Program I#79 of 138–Regional Program II#89 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →

Air Force leads the all-time series 38-21-1. They've met 60 times since 1959. Army has won the last 3.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Army
Transfer portal
-3
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -3
What fans are saying · program direction
One fan believes Army's offense can score enough points to stay close
So, I don't buy the thinking that this loss to La Tech spells doom and gloom and the season is lost...this team has a good offense which I think can keep them in most of the games remaining.
Verified verbatim
Air Force
Transfer portal
-5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -5

Stature & the series, 1959–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeArmyAir Forceevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Army won, gray: Air Force won)19401960198020002020

The identity war

Air Force has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Army led 11 and Air Force led 12.

more passmore runArmyAir Force2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262007Army 25.8 ptsAir Force won 30-102004Army 25.2 ptsAir Force won 31-222011Air Force 10.4 ptsAir Force won 24-14
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Air Force once won 8 in a row. The biggest win was Air Force by 38 in 1985. The biggest crowd, 52,401, was in 2023.

The coaching duels

Jeff Monken vs Troy Calhoun7-5
Bob Sutton vs Fisher DeBerry1-8
Jim Young vs Fisher DeBerry3-4
Thomas Cahill vs Ben Martin2-3
Rich Ellerson vs Troy Calhoun1-4
Homer Smith vs Ben Martin3-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
2-6
Air Force leads
1st-rounders
0-0
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
ArmyAir Force
1990s1-3
2000s1-0
2010s0-1
2020s0-2

Best picks, either side

1997Daniel Palmer Offensive Tackle · San Diego ChargersRd 6, pick 15#178 overall
2022Jordan Jackson Defensive Tackle · New Orleans SaintsRd 6, pick 15#194 overall
2008Caleb Campbell Safety · Detroit LionsRd 7, pick 11#218 overall
1995Steve Russ Linebacker · Denver BroncosRd 7, pick 10#218 overall
2024Trey Taylor Safety · Las Vegas RaidersRd 7, pick 3#223 overall
1997Ronnie McAda Quarterback · Green Bay PackersRd 7, pick 39#240 overall
1999Bryce Fisher Defensive End · Buffalo BillsRd 7, pick 42#248 overall
2019Austin Cutting Long Snapper · Minnesota VikingsRd 7, pick 36#250 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Air Force1.61×its own average home crowd
Army1.07×its own average home crowd
2025Army20-17
2024Army20-3
2023Army23-3Air Force — Air Force favored by 17.5
2022Air Force13-7
2021Army21-14
2020Army10-7
2019Air Force17-13
2018Army17-14Air Force — decided by 3
2017Army21-0Air Force — Air Force routed by 21
2016Air Force31-12
2015Air Force20-3
2014Air Force23-6
2013Air Force42-28
2012Army41-21

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Army’s chance to win through that meeting. Army is 3-1 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2025: firestorm.

2025Army 20-17Army won 20-17 at Air Force. Chance to win started at 46%, low 38%, high better than 99%.Firestorm
2023Army 23-3Army won 23-3 vs Air Force. Chance to win started at 14%, low 14%, high 99%.Busy
2022Air Force 13-7Army lost 7-13 vs Air Force. Chance to win started at 32%, low 5%, high 59%.
2020Army 10-7Army won 10-7 vs Air Force. Chance to win started at 41%, low 17%, high 77%.
2019Air Force 17-13Army lost 13-17 at Air Force. Chance to win started at 13%, low 7%, high 47%.
2018Army 17-14Army won 17-14 vs Air Force. Chance to win started at 67%, low 53%, high 95%.
“This is for the time an AF Lieutenant cut in front of me at the Camp Buehring shoppette and bought the last cigs they had.”
An Army fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “This is for the time an AF Lieutenant cut in front of me at the Camp Buehring shoppette and bought the last cigs they had.”
    An Army fan

Share the loudest meeting

Meetings with their own story page

11 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.