Army West Point in the AAC for 2024 season

Sports editor Jaralynn Tammi Morellano discusses Army football’s conference change.
The American Athletic Conference Board of Directors announced the approval of Army West Point Athletic Association Inc.’s application to become a member of the AAC. The application only applies to their football program and the Black Knights’ football team will begin their participation in the 2024 season while their other sports program will remain in the FBS Independents.
“I am excited to start the next chapter of Army football. In today’s evolving collegiate athletics landscape, it is great to partner with established, respected programs to secure the future success of Army football,” said the Director of Army West Point Athletics Mike Buddie.
Army’s football program has been phenomenal in its history, having won five national championships. They have also produced three Heisman Trophy winners and a handful of College Football Hall of Fame inductees.
Army head coach Jeff Monken and his leadership council were also given a say in the decision, and they unanimously supported AAC membership. The football program was also able to gain the support of Lt. General Steven W. Gilland, the 61st Superintendent of the United States Military Academy.
“Army’s alliance with the American Athletic Conference is a source of pride for our Academy, our program, and for me personally,” said Monken. “Our membership in the AAC partners us with outstanding Universities and athletic programs from around the nation.”
The academy believes that the decision will help them to collect more national awards while developing leaders committed to their mission through athletic experience while showcasing their exceptional cadets and America’s premier service academy.
Commissioner Mike Arseco made an appearance at Michie Stadium in West Point, New York to make an official media announcement. The commissioner went on to praise the program and its leaders, saying that their prestige is obvious by the amount of positive responses heard from the decision. He further explained that the decision would now give Army a path towards conference championship titles.
“It was a lengthy process with some complications, but we are absolutely thrilled to have Army joining. Our membership is excited about their start in 2024 and how we will now be getting back to becoming a 14-team conference,” said Arseco.
Seth Mendelson of Black Knight Nation, Army West Point’s athletic news source, is concerned about the rush of implementing Army into the AAC as soon as the 2024 season, as the school still has contracts to end. However, Arseco stated that the AAC will be providing support in that regard.
Though the move may seem a spur-of-the-moment decision, Army claims to have been thinking about this move for a while now. Many games will be rescheduled to stay in the terms of their contracts, and Army has and will continue to lay down the groundwork for those future situations.
One of their most notable events, the annual Army-Navy game presented by USAA, will still be held but will not count towards any conference game, the rights remaining with both institutions. However, the teams can still meet in the AAC Championship Game if both their teams qualify.
With SMU leaving the AAC after the 2023 season, and moving on to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2024, Army’s move is seen as a vital role toward conference play. As the Army joins the AAC during its realignment, the conference has just added six new schools before the 2023 season, spectators now witness a new conference environment. They now wait to see how Army will change the standings.