Army faces UTSA in must-win AAC finale as Black Knights aim for bowl eligibility after three devastating late-game collapses

Army faces a must-win scenario against UTSA today in the AAC finale with bowl eligibility on the line. The Black Knights need one victory to finish their season with postseason play after devastating late-game collapses ended their last three chances.

Army’s Bowl Eligibility Quest: One Win Away

The Black Knights have had heartbreaking losses in three straight contests. They led 24-10 against Tarleton State before falling in double overtime, led 17-10 against Tulane with under six minutes remaining before losing 24-17, and led 25-14 against Tulsa with under nine minutes left before falling 26-25 last Saturday at home.

This is perhaps the most important game of head coach Jeff Monken’s tenure for the urgency it creates. Victory guarantees postseason play for the seventh time in the Monken era, while a loss ends the season with empty hands after so much promise.

UTSA’s Triple-Option Challenge: A Defensive Puzzle

UTSA coach Jeff Traylor has faced Army’s unique triple-option offense five times now, and he remains frustrated by the challenge. He calls Army “the elite of the elite” at running their style of football, noting that “no one really does it like Army.”

The Roadrunners’ defense must execute with precision against the Black Knights’ brutal ground game. Linebacker Shad Banks emphasized the key: “Stop the run. That’s really all there is to it.” The defensive line must maintain eye discipline and assignment responsibility while the linebackers stay locked in on their gaps.

Army ranks third nationally with 259.3 rushing yards per game but sits last at just 79.1 passing yards per game, making their ground attack entirely predictable yet nearly impossible to stop when executed properly.

Matchup Factor	Army	UTSA
Overall Record	5-5	6-5
Conference Record	3-4 AAC	4-3 AAC
Key QB	Cale Hellums	Owen McCown
Rushing Yards/Game	259.3 (3rd)	174.8 (8th)
Home Record	TBA	25-0 Conference

Cale Hellums Steps Up for the Black Knights

With legendary quarterback Bryson Daily having moved on, junior Cale Hellums has taken the reins for Army’s offense. Hellums has rushed for a team-leading 988 yards with 15 touchdowns but has thrown just 466 yards all season, showing how heavily Army relies on the ground game.

The Black Knights’ offense must sustain drives and dominate time of possession to keep UTSA’s explosive attack on the sideline. If Hellums and Army’s backfield can average “4 yards and a cloud of dust” as Monken prefers, they stand a real chance of controlling the game at the Alamodome.

Owen McCown’s Offensive Fireworks vs. Army’s Suffocating Defense

UTSA quarterback Owen McCown is playing his best football down the stretch. Against East Carolina last week, he threw for 248 yards with a career-high five touchdowns, spreading the ball to nine different receivers and looking “like dadgum Michael Vick running around out there” according to Traylor.

McCown and the Roadrunners’ high-octane offense average 34.6 points per game, the third-most in the AAC. However, defensive lineman Kenny Ozowalu knows what’s required against Army’s physical front: “It’s real physical and just hard-nosed stuff.”

Why Will Today’s Winner Control Their Bowl Destiny?

UTSA has already secured bowl eligibility for the sixth consecutive season under Traylor and boasts a perfect 25-0 record against conference opponents at home dating back to 2020.

Army, meanwhile, desperately wants to avoid ending their season with the heartbreak of three consecutive late-game collapses. The motivation couldn’t be higher as both teams look to finish strong with bowl positioning and momentum heading into the postseason.

“I had a chance to talk to everybody on Saturday after the game, and obviously it was disappointing, that outcome. But all we can do is set our sights now on the next game, and we certainly have a formidable opponent in UTSA. They got a great football team, super talented, well coached.”

— Jeff Monken, Army Head Coach

Sources

• San Antonio Express-News – Comprehensive preview and scouting report from Greg Luca
• Bad Dawg Sports – Army football analysis and key factors for victory
• UTSA Athletics – Official game information and team statistics