Air Force headed to Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Falcons to compete against Western Michigan from the MAC

  • Published
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Athletic Communications
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Air Force accepted a bid to play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Dec. 20 in Boise, Idaho, against Western Michigan from the Mid-American Conference.

This will be the first time the two teams have ever competed.

"We are thrilled to represent the Mountain West in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against a quality opponent like Western Michigan," said Academy athletic director Hans Mueh. "This will be a great opportunity for our team to compete in a Mountain West city and to finish out what has been a remarkable season. I'm very happy for our staff and players to play in a seventh bowl game in eight years. What a tribute to the kind of (cadets) we have at the Air Force Academy."

The Falcons are 2-1 all-time against teams from the Mid-American Conference, including a 0-1 mark in bowl games.

Air Force lost to Toledo, 42-41, in the 2011 Military Bowl in Washington, D.C., in its last game against a Mid-American opponent. Western Michigan finished the season 8-4 overall and 6-2 in league play.

This matchup will be Air Force's 24th bowl game, and the team's first since 2012. The Falcons earned a bowl bid seven times in head coach Troy Calhoun's eight seasons, the best run in school history.

Air Force has a 10-12-1 all-time bowl record, including a 2-4 mark, under Calhoun. 

The Falcons had a season for the record books in 2014, posting a 9-3 overall record and 5-3 mark in conference play, after going 2-10 overall and 0-8 in conference play last season. Along the way, Air Force became one of only two teams in the nation to defeat a pair of 10-win teams. Air Force defeated Mountain division champion Boise State and No. 21 Colorado State, who each finished the season with 10-plus wins.

Air Force's seven-game turnaround is a school record and ties with TCU and bowl opponent Western Michigan as the best in the nation. The Falcons opened the season winning four of its first five, including beating service academy rival Navy, 30-21, here.

Following a loss at Utah State, the Falcons closed the regular season winning five of six games, including a 23-6 win at Army to claim a record 19th Commander in Chief's Trophy victory.

Following their only loss during the stretch at San Diego State, 30-14, Air Force rebounded to beat Colorado State, 27-24. The 2-1 mark against the first place teams solidified the Falcons standing as one of the top teams in the conference.

Visit www.goairforcefalcons.com to read about the Falcons bowl history.

For ticket information, visit www.goairforcefalcons.com/tickets/afa-tickets.html.