Friends, we’re past the halfway point in our season preview series, and with that, the Black Knights start getting into some serious games.
Third Quarter Preview
This third section of Army’s schedule features a road games at Tulane, a bye week, a road game at Air Force, and finally, a home game against Temple.
Week 8: at Tulane Green Wave
2024 Record: 9-5 (7-2 in the American); Lost to Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl
SP+: +3.3 (48th)
FPI: +7.3 (36th)
Massey: 51st overall; Offense 53rd, Defense 58th
Despite early season losses to K-State and Oklahoma, Tulane put together an impressive season in 2024, at least until their players seemingly lost interest in last year’s season in favor of finding new NIL deals for 2025. The Green Wave then dropped back-to-back-to-back losses to Memphis, Army, and Florida in increasingly lopsided fashion. Former starting QB Darian Mensah will now start for Duke while standout running back Makhi Hughes will play for the Oregon Ducks. Those departed stars notwithstanding, the Green Wave managed to keep just over half of last year’s offensive and defensive production, and as always, they recruited a bunch of talented players, too. This includes former BYU standout QB Jake Retzlaff.
Tulane Head Coach Jon Sumrall always puts together good defenses backed by strong running games. If Sumrall can get Retzlaff playing the way he played at BYU, the Green Wave ought to have a legitimately great team. But will the Green Wave come together as a team in time for early season match-ups with Duke and Ole Miss? Happily for Tulane fans, they’ve got two tune-up games ahead of those pivotal Power 4 contests to get it all sorted.
Projected Betting Line: Army (+7).
Camp is over and game prep is here! #UptownFootball pic.twitter.com/lYlIZ4rKhp
— Tulane Football (@GreenWaveFB) August 18, 2025
Week 9: Bye
This should be another well-timed bye, coming after five straight weekly games, including three road games, and ahead of yet another road game at Air Force.
If the season is going well, folks will no doubt start wondering about a repeat appearance in the American Conference Championship Game. If things aren’t going as well, the coaching staff might prepare a quarterback change ahead of the Commander-in-Chief’s contest in Colorado Springs.
Our next award for the Black Knight Awards presented by USAA is the Men’s Athlete of the Year 👏
— ArmyWestPoint Sports (@GoArmyWestPoint) August 19, 2025
A huge congratulations to all our nominees and well done to our winner – Bryson Daily of @ArmyWP_Football!
Daily was named the American's Offensive Player of the Year after leading… pic.twitter.com/fpU0JDK0n2
Week 10: at Air Force Falcons
2024 Record: 5-7 (4-4 in the Mountain West)
SP+: -7.3 (94th)
FPI: -13.9 (127th)
Massey: 86th overall; Offense 106th, Defense 73rd
Air Force looked like one of the worst teams in the FBS last season right up until the bye week ahead of the Army game at Michie Stadium. They then switched quarterbacks and played far better than they had to that point all season. The Zoomies might’ve lost at Michie, but they got their season turned around and went on to win their last four games in a row.
Alas, QB Quentin Hayes, the guy who led last year’s resurgence, left the program. This leaves presumed 2025 starting QB Josh Johnson, who’s got exactly one start and has taken a whopping 48 snaps over the course of his collegiate career. That sounds bad, but if Johnson can learn to command the offense, the Zoomies have some talent at the skill positions. They ought to have an improved defense, too.
No one’s talking about Air Force, but this team could surprise some people. If they can win their Week 2 road game at Utah State and hold serve at home against Hawaii, they should be 3-1 ahead of the Navy game. After that, they’ve got a tough road trip to UNLV, a potentially challenging home stand against Wyoming, and a bye before they host the Black Knights. In all likelihood, Army and Air Force will be playing that week for both Commander-in-Chief’s glory and to retain a viable path to a bowl berth.
Projected Betting Line: Army (-3.5)
𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐂𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒
— Air Force Football (@AF_Football) August 12, 2025
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅-𝟏𝟔 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐍 pic.twitter.com/5xdXztuTxj
Week 11: Temple Owls
2024 Record: 3-9 (2-6 in the American)
SP+: -16.4 (126th)
FPI: -14.0 (129th)
Massey: 140th overall; Offense 149th, Defense 140th
Temple returns a lot of production off of what was a bad team in 2024, and ESPN likes most of their moves in the Transfer Portal. This will be new Head Coach K.C. Keeler’s first year with the team, though, after they went 3-9 three times under former Head Coach Stan Drayton. Keeler at least has a winning history at lower levels of college football.
We’ll see how it goes. None of the models give Temple more than a passing shot to win a bunch of games, and several previews point out that their offensive line could to be a problem for them, and that their passing game looks like a work-in-progress. With that, this is a game that Army absolutely must-win to keep their season on track.
Projected Betting Line: Army (-19)
Tradition♦️#TempleTUFF pic.twitter.com/XR2IlKpoVU
— Temple Football (@Temple_FB) August 19, 2025
Final Thoughts
The Black Knights need to go at least 2-1 through this section, or we’re all gonna be sad as anything. That certainly seems possible from where we are right now, but a lot will depend on how Air Force’s offense looks through the middle of the season and on their defensive line, too.
If the Black Knights can somehow also steal a win at Tulane, then who knows? Maybe we’re looking at another special season. Certainly, this Army Team will have its opportunities.
Go Army! Beat Tarleton State!!!
Cover image via Flickr: West Point – The U.S. Military Academy.
