Army coach joins AAC for scheduling, playoff reasons

Army is now part of the Group of Five conference ecosystem after being one of the last remaining independent FBS football programs. At American Athletic Conference media days, coach Jeff Monken explained the decision to leave behind its independent status in order to keep up with the changing landscape of college football. Monken cited challenges in scheduling and recruiting as key factors in the program’s decision. Despite facing tough schedules, Army has had a successful track record and hopes to now have a shot at the College Football Playoff as the highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion will receive an automatic bid to the playoff field. Monken acknowledged the challenges ahead but emphasized the importance of having a pathway to the playoff for recruiting purposes. In the AAC media poll, Army was voted fifth out of 14 teams with Memphis as the favorite. –Field Level Media