What conference is Army football in? Black Knights set for debut in new league

Army has been fielding a football team since 1890 and it has done so as an independent for all but seven of those seasons. So Saturday, when the Black Knights play at Florida Atlantic in their first American Athletic Conference game, represents a milestone.

Army joined the American for football beginning with the 2024 season in a conference realignment ripple effect, replacing SMU – who departed for the ACC – to keep the AAC's football membership at 14 schools. It’s only the second time in Army football history that the program has been part of a conference.

The Black Knights played in Conference USA from 1998 to 2004 and had a 9-41 record in league play during that time. They never finished better than fifth in the Conference USA standings over seven seasons, and sank to last place in four of their final five years.

The program appears to be in a better spot now. Army has finished with a record of .500 or better in seven of the past eight seasons under coach Jeff Monken. The Black Knights beat Lehigh, 42-7, in their 2024 season opener last week.

Here’s everything you should know about Army’s move to the American Athletic Conference, including how to watch, what it means for the Army-Navy game and where it leaves the AAC moving forward:

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How to watch, stream Army football at Florida Atlantic

• Date: Saturday, September 7

• Time: 12 p.m.

• Location: FAU Football Stadium in Boca, Raton, Florida

• TV: CBS Sports Network

• Streaming: Fubo

Watch Army at FAU and more college football games with a Fubo subscription free trial

Why Army joined the American Athletic Conference

Army announced it would be accepting an invitation to the American Athletic Conference on Oct. 25, 2023. Former AAC commissioner Mike Aresco hailed the Black Knights as “a perfect fit.”

“New NCAA rules, the evolution the evolution and growth of the College Football Playoff, the transfer portal, and name, image and likeness have all impacted our competitive landscape,” Army athletic director Mike Buddie said at the time, “so having a clear path to a conference championship, while continuing to fight for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, will help us attract, retain, and showcase our exceptional coaches and cadets.”

Army football coach Jeff Monken told CBS Sports at AAC football media day in July that scheduling issues and College Football Playoff expansion were primary catalysts to leave independence behind.

"To be able to say we have a path to the playoff is important because Navy's in a conference, Air Force is in a conference,” Monken said. “They can say, we've got a path to the playoff. They've not made the playoff either, but win the conference and the opportunity is there. It was important for us to be in that conversation."

How does this affect the Army-Navy game?

Not much, unless Army and Navy meet in the AAC football championship game.

Though Army is joining the AAC and Navy was already an AAC member, league and school officials agreed the annual Army-Navy game will remain a standalone non conference game played the week between conference championship games and the first round of the new 12-team College Football Playoff. This year's game in Landover, Maryland will take place on Dec. 14.

The only way Army and Navy could meet in a league game would be if both were to make the AAC football championship game. In that scenario, Army and Navy would play one another in back-to-back weeks.

Are all of Army’s sports teams competing in the AAC?

No.

Army is joining the AAC as a football-only affiliate member, just like Navy has been since 2015. Most of Army's other sports teams compete in the Patriot League, with exceptions including ice hockey (Atlantic Hockey America), wrestling (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association), gymnastics (Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference) and rifle (Great America Rifle Conference).

Who are current members of the American Athletic Conference?

The AAC was formed in 2014 after the demise of the original Big East. It has featured 22 different members. In reaction to the departure of Houston, UCF and Cincinnati for the Big 12 in 2023, the American added six former Conference USA schools to the fold. The departure of SMU for the ACC this year led to Army's arrival as a football-only member and gives the American 14 schools competing in football and 13 schools in other sports in 2024-25. Here are the current members:

• Charlotte

• East Carolina

• Florida Atlantic

• Memphis

• North Texas

• Rice

• South Florida

• Temple

• Tulane

• Tulsa

• UAB

• UTSA

• Army (football-only)

• Navy (football-only)

• Wichita State (non-football member)

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What conference is Army football in? Black Knights set for AAC debut