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On the advent of Army’s most challenging task of the season, the Black Knights moved up five spots, to No. 19, in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff rankings, the third release which came out Tuesday night.
Army (9-0) is a two-touchdown underdog to Notre Dame (9-1) when the long-time rivals meet for the 52nd time on Saturday at venerable Yankee Stadium (NBC, 7 p.m. ET).
Army celebrates in the locker room after a 14-3 victory against North Texas at DATCU Stadium in Denton, Texas, on Nov. 9, 2024.
Should Army win and move to 10-0, the Black Knights will surely move up in the fourth CFP release next week and inch closer to the likely single bid to come from the Group of Five conferences. An Army setback, though, would give the committee just enough ammo to torpedo its chances.
Either way, Mountain West Conference leader Boise State (9-1) still has the momentum, a better CFP ranking (No. 12) and an easier schedule to wrap up the regular season: a Nov. 23 game at Wyoming (2-8); a Nov. 29 home game with Oregon State (4-6); and, the MWC championship on Dec. 6, perhaps against Colorado State (7-3).
In the current AP Top 25 rankings, Notre Dame is No. 6 (up two spots); Boise State is No. 12 (up one spot), Army is No. 18 (down two spots off a bye); and, American Athletic contender Tulane is No. 20 (up five spots following a shutout win over Navy).
“There’s a lot of football to be played before all those decisions are made,” Army head coach Jeff Monken told radio host Rich Eisen on his show on Tuesday.
Monken told Eisen that it’s hard for his players not to see discussion of Army in the rankings, but the single-minded focus of the Black Knights thus far is what’s taken them to one of only three unbeaten marks in the country.
“I’m certain our guys are influenced like everybody else: their friends, their family, social…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/army-moves-five-spots-college-040557534.html
Author : Times Herald-Record
Publish date : 2024-11-20 04:05:00
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