Army Football Faces Its Biggest Test In An Unprecedented Season
Head coach Jeff Monken and the Black Knights of the Hudson are well on their way to one of the greatest seasons in program history - and can perhaps attain something even greater.
Prior to Monken's arrival at West Point, this once moribund program was losing games to Yale, Stony Brook, Eastern Michigan, and even Fordham. Thankfully, those lethargic defeats are now nothing but ancient history.
Throughout Jeff Monken's 11-season tenure, he has amassed a 78-55 record and has more wins than all but one Army head coach - the legendary Earl "Red" Blaik. Monken has certainly delivered on his promise to return Army to national glory and relevance, at the risk of espousing an understatement.
Jeff Monken Continues To Take A Daily Approach
For all of Jeff Monken's triumphs and breakthroughs as the sideline boss for Army, however, none may end up being as astonishing as this season. Yes, Coach Monken will be forever known as the man who finally broke a 14-game losing streak to Navy. He has defeated Navy six times in their last eight encounters.
Monken's legacy at West Point transcends beating Navy frequently and catapulting the cadets back into college football's pantheon of greatness; this season proves that. The Black Knights have been making history seemingly every week this season.
Army football is one of five undefeated teams in the entire FBS through eight games. Their 12-game winning streak is the longest in college football, and they have not lost a game in over a year.
Army football's status as a juggernaut this year does not stop there. Coach Monken and Co. also attained their highest AP Poll ranking—No. 18—since October 1962, when they were ranked 10th. For the first time in program history, Army also finds itself in the College Football Playoff committee's top 25.
Despite the absence of Heisman Trophy candidate Bryson Daily in the game against Air Force, Army still won, 20-3, behind a career day from Kanye Udoh. Although Air Force was 1-6 entering the game, Monken had cautioned his players about overlooking an underwhelming opponent.
Army is 8-0 with a +213 point differential. Only Miami, Indiana, and Ole Miss have a greater margin of victory this season. They are the only FBS team that has not trailed at any point all season long.
All appears to be well in Black Knight Nation. But the health of quarterback Bryson Daily could be the difference between a letdown late in the season and a second straight Commander-in-Chief's Trophy with a potential College Football Playoff bid.
Bryson Daily Is Still A Legitimate Heisman Candidate
Bryson Daily is having perhaps the greatest season ever for any Army quarterback. He has already accrued 19 rushing touchdowns and 26 overall total touchdowns - both program records. Only Ashton Jeanty of Boise State has more rushing touchdowns this season.
Against East Carolina on October 19th, Daily ran for five touchdowns, which is also an academy record. The workhorse flexbone option quarterback has not stopped there, either.
Daily has three consecutive games with 100 passing and rushing yards. He is 15th in the nation in rushing yards despite missing a game. Under his leadership, Army boasts the top rushing offense in the country - 340.1 yards per game - and is ranked third in ESPN's offensive efficiency metric.
To top it all off, Bryson Daily - should he play against North Texas - is on pace for 2,417 yards of offense. That would set yet another academy record, surpassing Kelvin Hopkins Jr.'s program benchmark of 2,143 yards in 2018.
Will Army's Record-Setting Quarterback Be Able To Play Against North Texas?
At the risk of stating the obvious, Daily's health and welfare matter infinitely more than any game or statistical output. There have been some encouraging developments regarding his status for Saturday's game.
Jeff Monken has been bullish about Daily's chances of suiting up against the Mean Green. "His health is improving. We anticipate before the end of the week he's going to be able to practice", Monken said. "That will allow us to determine his status for the game on Saturday. There's a chance, and so I'm optimistic."
If nothing else, Daily could very well be a game-time decision for Army. Monken also expressed faith in Army's other quarterbacks - Dewayne Coleman and Cale Hellums. For now, the health of West Point's signal caller remains an enigma.
What's The Scouting Report On North Texas? How Does Army Match Up?
North Texas is a familiar foe for Jeff Monken. He has faced the program three times during his career with Army, having won two of those games. His most notable win against North Texas came in the 2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl - a 38-31 shootout that cemented Army's return to glory. It was Army's first bowl win since the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl.
Army is 5-2 against North Texas all-time. The most recent game between the two was a 52-49 Army loss on November 18th, 2017.
In 2024, the Mean Green boasts an offense that is third and sixth in the nation in total offense and scoring, respectively. The Mean Green averages 527.6 yards per game and 40.8 points per game.
Junior quarterback Chandler Morris is fourth in the country in passing yards (2,873) and second in touchdown passes (26). Morris, a Highland Park, Texas native, is tied with Heisman trophy front-runner Cam Ward for the fifth-most pass attempts of 20 or more yards, with 54. He has connected on 37% of such attempts, the fourth-best in the FBS.
North Texas distributes the wealth when it comes to receiver usage. The team has six receivers with at least 200 yards, and DT Sheffield, a junior from Corinth, Mississippi, leads them.
Sheffield has 690 yards, which is 24th best in the country. His 51 receptions also rank 24th, and he is one of just three receivers in the FBS with 10 or more touchdown receptions.
North Texas' defense, however, is a different story. They allow 177.4 rushing yards per game, and they will be facing the top rushing team in all of college football in Army. Defensive coordinator Matt Caponi's unit allows 36.9 points per game, more than only five other FBS teams.
Army's defense, commandeered by middle linebacker Kalib Fortner and free safety Max DiDomenico, can match up. The Black Knights' stopping unit is number one in the nation in points allowed per game (11.3) and fifth in total defense (272.8 yards per game allowed).
The Final Verdict
There is no question that Bryson Daily's status will greatly influence Jeff Monken's game plan. Monken has remained jovial about Daily's chances of playing—and a lot of that, of course, can be attributed to gamesmanship.
A North Texas defense, already one of the worst in the FBS, will have to prepare for all of Army's quarterbacks. While Dewayne Coleman struggled overall against Air Force, at least some of that can be attributed to having to start a game against a service academy rival on short notice.
Irrespective of who is under center for Army, they still have the top rushing offense coupled with one of the nation's greatest defenses. The Black Knights have not trailed yet this year, and they are facing an already-unimposing Mean Green run defense that has surrendered over 200 yards four times this season.
The possibility of not having Bryson Daily at full health or as an active player is there, but Army is a matchup nightmare for North Texas. Look for the brave, old Army team to extend its winning streak on Saturday.
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