Air Force (8-4) vs. No. 24 James Madison (11-1) in the Armed Forces Bowl

HOW TO WATCH

Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. MT Saturday

TV/Stream: ABC – in Colorado Springs on channel 13 via antenna, DirecTV 5, Dish Network 7 and Xfinity/Comcast 12/713 as well as through the ESPN streaming devices

Broadcast crew: Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), Paul Carcaterra (sidelines)

Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, 104.3 the Fan in Denver, SIRIUS XM 381

Air Force radio broadcast crew: Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Jesse Kurtz (analyst)

National radio broadcast crew: Brian Estridge (play-by-play), Landry Burdine (analyst), Chris Mycoskie (sidelines)

Springs Soundoff, Ep. 72: Armed Forces Bowl preview

WHAT I’LL BE WATCHING

The Gazette’s Brent Briggeman breaks down three specific areas he’ll be monitoring during the game.

Reunion for the finale

Air Force’s final game of the season will likely feature the healthiest roster since at least early October.

Quarterback Zac Larrier, fullback Emmanuel Michel and cornerback Jerome Gaillard Jr. have each practiced all week.

“I think they ought to be ready to roll,” coach Troy Calhoun said. “If those guys are out there then obviously we felt like they had a good week of work, felt like they will enhance the execution and some of the opportunities to generate some plays that will help us.”

Receiver Dane Kinamon and receiver Jared Roznos could also be ready to return after missing time during recent weeks.

Strength vs. strength

Air Force enters with the nation’s No. 2 rushing offense (275.8 yards per game). James Madison features the nation’s No. 1 rushing defense (61.6 ypg).

“When you hear that alone – one of the best rushing offenses vs. one of the best rushing defenses – if you’re a fan of football, that makes you smile,” James Madison acting head coach Damian Wroblewski said. “It makes you excited, maybe gives you goosebumps like me because I’m a line coach.”

The Dukes have never faced a service academy, so a concern for them was simulating the Air Force attack in practice.

Defensive end Mikail Kamara, James Madison’s third leading-tackler who also has 7.5 sacks and a team-high four forced fumbles, has opted out of the game.

Channeling the emotions

This will be an unusually emotional game for Air Force. Around a dozen players have already graduated, making this their final activity at the academy. There are another 30-plus seniors who will play their final game. The Falcons generally have large senior classes, but this one is different in the collective time spent in the program because of the fifth-year players and in the success this class has enjoyed. For those who began their time in the 2019 season, this is a chance to win 40 games in their four full seasons. For those who debuted in 2020, many of whom saw extended action as freshmen (rare in the program), this is a chance to close with three consecutive bowl victories.

Either way, it closes an unusually large number of long, successful Air Force careers.

“I don’t really know how to feel,” center Thor Paglialong said. “We had our last real practice (Thursday), I didn’t know how to feel for that. I’m sure at some point I’ll be a little emotional. But I’ve just one more chance to go out there with everyone.”

BY THE NUMBERS

1

This will be the first bowl game in James Madison’s history. The Dukes are in their second year of transitioning from FCS to FBS and, because of the probationary period that comes with that move, would not have been eligible for a bowl had there been enough qualifying teams.

25.4

Average margin of victory for Air Force during a 5-0 start with a fully healthy quarterback Zac Larrier. The senior then suffered an injury on Oct. 14 vs. Wyoming. Over the six games that followed, with a limited Larrier and/or without him, the Falcons were outscored by an average of 3 points per game.

30

This will be the 30th bowl game in Air Force history. The team is 15-13-1 all-time in bowls.

32

Touchdown passes for James Madison quarterback Jordan McCloud, fifth-most in the nation.

66

Forecasted high temperature in Fort Worth on Saturday, a major difference from the 13 degree conditions at kickoff last year as Air Force topped Baylor in an Armed Forces Bowl that was the coldest bowl game ever played.