The pendulum has swung again in the world of conference realignment. A notable college football program announced on Wednesday their plans to move conferences.
Army announced that the program will move to the American Conference beginning in 2024. The program made the official announcement of their move on X, the website formerly known as Twitter.
“Army Football to join the American Conference in 2024,” the program announced.
Army Football to join the @American_Conf in 2024.
#GoArmy x #AmericanFB pic.twitter.com/n8ll5iPtVp— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 25, 2023
Army has mostly been an Independent program throughout its history. From 1998-2004, the Black Knights were members of Conference USA. Up until now, they have spent most of their time away from being in a conference. But with everything looking different nowadays, it’s no surprise to see them join the ranks.
Fittingly, of course, it’s the American Conference that will house the Army. It’s also somewhat neat that the Army and the Navy are now both in the same collegiate conference.
From 2016-2021, the Black Knights made a bowl game. They went to three Armed Forces Bowls, going 3-0 in them against San DIego State, Houston, and Missouri. They won the Heart of Dallas Bowl in 2016 over North Texas in overtime and lost the Liberty Bowl in 2020 to West Virginia. Historically, Army has made ten bowl games, and has a 7-3 record.
There’s no telling where the next realignment update will com from, but the college football world had plenty to say about this one.
And then there were three independents, UConn, UMass and Notre Dame. https://t.co/6VcVRUberG
— 🇸🇲 Sickos Committee 🇸🇲 (@SickosCommittee) October 25, 2023
Nothing illustrates the absurdity of conference expansion better than a potential Army-Navy AAC title game the first week of December followed by a non-conference Army-Navy game the following week. https://t.co/QUstOnFfnW
— MattT (@MattThompson87) October 25, 2023
Army makes it official. It will give up football independence and join the AAC next year. https://t.co/Zyqp6nGTss
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) October 25, 2023
America’s team in the American. https://t.co/ksF2XUoUkx
— Andrew Sahawneh (@andrewsahawneh1) October 25, 2023