As the most chaotic college football season in recent history continues to unfold, Army is quietly putting a beatdown on every team that crosses its path. The Black Knights are legitimate contenders for the Playoff, which would be unthinkable prior to the 12-team format, and they are in this position in large part because of their strength.
Believe it or not, the United States Military Academy does the simple things better than anyone!
Army, the 23rd-ranked team in the country, is 7-0 in 2024 by a combined score of 283-87. Its new-look offense is averaging 359 yards per game on the ground and 100 yards per game through the air. Its defense is holding opponents to less than 300 total yards per game. Pretty good!
Quarterback Bryson Daily is the primary catalyst for the offense and should be in the Heisman Trophy conversation. The 6-foot-0, 221-pound senior is already responsible for 26 touchdowns— seven passing, 19 (!!) rushing. He eclipsed the 900-yard mark as a runner while averaging 6.6 yards per carry. His highlight tape is ridiculous.
Bryson Daily👑
— The American (@American_Conf) October 20, 2024
629 passing yards, 7 passing touchdowns
909 rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns (most in FBS)
Hello, @HeismanTrophy 👋#AmericanWay x @ArmyWP_Football pic.twitter.com/4JuCyGTDj1
It is truly a pleasure to watch him play.
Daily put him in the spin cycle.
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 19, 2024
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/c34gyNv8Ry
As good as Daily has been, he would not be able to be this successful without the people around him. Army may not be the biggest team on the field. It may not even be the most talented.
However, nobody (excluding the other service academies) out-works the Black Knights.
One particular play from Saturday’s blowout win over East Carolina epitomizes the program and its work ethic. Army plays primordial football with 11 hats on 11 hats on every snap. Daily followed his blockers through a gaping hole on the right side and threw a stiff arm at a defender en route to the end zone.
This is Primordial Football [complement] pic.twitter.com/VPOTLztjOj
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) October 19, 2024
According to head strength coach Conor Hughes, the max squat average for the 11 Black Knights on the field for that specific play is 516 pounds. Think about that for a second. That is the average!!!
Very few schools, if any, can boast a similar number. Skill guys like Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams aren’t putting up more than 500 pounds on the squat rack, just as an example.
Army is 7-0, with a true Hesiman Trophy candidate quarterback, because it goes stupid hard in the weight room!