The competition for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy begins Saturday morning as Air Force visits Navy, where the Falcons have won two in a row.

Air Force (1-3) at Navy (4-0)

Kickoff: 10 a.m. Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.

TV/Stream: CBS – channel 11.1 in Colorado Springs via antenna and Channel 11 on DirecTV, Dish and Xfinity. The game will also be streamed through CBS Sports and the CBS Sports app.

Broadcast crew: Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst), Tiffany Blackmon (sidelines)

Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, Varsity App, SIRIUS XM 384

Air Force broadcast crew: Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Jesse Kurtz (analyst)

WHAT I’LL BE WATCHING

The Gazette’s Brent Briggeman breaks down three specific areas he’ll be monitoring during the game.

Air Force’s defense

Two distinct storylines have developed this season, the emergence of the offense under quarterback Liam Szarka and the deep struggles of the defense. Nothing is likely to matter Saturday or for the ensuing weeks if the defensive issues aren’t fixed. As good as Navy is on offense, scoring 38.3 points per game with the best rushing offense in the nation, this at least presents the Falcons with an opportunity to defend an attack that prefers to run right at you as opposed to spreading the field with three or four receivers and pick you apart. That style has been particularly difficult for Air Force this season with a secondary that is entirely comprised of sophomores and freshmen. The Falcons typically build their defenses to stop the run first. If they can’t slow Navy, a discouraging situation will grow even more dismal.

The offensive style

Air Force scored 10 combined points in its service academy games last season and hasn’t scored more than 20 points against Army or Navy in its past seven meetings (though it has salvaged three wins in that time). The low scoring can be attributed to limited possessions in games where teams tend to keep the ball on the ground, but more than that it has resulted from a struggle to gain yards up the middle. Air Force has utilized multiple players effectively in the passing game this season, with slot receiver Cade Harris already at 16 catches for 439 yards and two touchdowns, wide receiver Quin Smith at nine catches for 260 yards and three touchdowns and tight end Bruin Fleishmann with six catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns. Will it continue to look that way in a game that has generally brought about a more conservative, ground-based approach?

Third down

Navy has been the best in the nation at converting on third down (.617). Air Force has been one of the worst at stopping teams on third down (.571). It’s a strength vs. biggest weakness situation. On the other side, the Falcons rank 15^th offensively on third down (.532) while Navy ranks 35^th (.327). Bottom line, Air Force (unless it finds a slew of big plays on first and second down to limit the number of third) has to find a way to get off the field defensively while continuing what it’s been able to do offensively against a team that is strong in that area.

BY THE NUMBERS

1

Air Force’s national rank in yards per completion (21.55). Navy is second at 18.14.

1

Navy’s national rank in rushing yards (352.3 yards per game). Air Force is seventh at 254.3.

3

Of the past four meetings between Air Force and Navy won by the visiting team – including two straight road wins in the series for the Falcons. Prior to that the home team had won eight in a row.

7

Consecutive wins for Navy, tied for the fourth-longest streak in the FBS.

21

Times Air Force has won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, with Navy second with 16 (including last year) and Army third with 10.