Army engaged in ‘positive’ talks with American about joining conference as replacement for SMU

The American Athletic Conference has been engaged in “positive” talks with Army West Point about joining the league as a football-only member, assets inform CBS Sports. A deal might be finalized in a way of weeks. 

The Black Knights would change SMU, which left the AAC for the ACC closing week.

Army returned to being an impartial in 2004 after a seven-year stint in Conference USA. It has lengthy drawn passion from the American as a result of its nationwide enchantment as an army academy. Navy is already a member of the conference.

Service academies additionally recruit closely in Texas and the Southeast the place the American already has individuals.

Sun Belt energy Appalachian State had additionally drawn passion from the American.

Army withdrew from Conference USA in large part for aggressive causes. The feeling inside the American is that Army has turn into a more potent program over the past twenty years.

Under trainer Jeff Monken, the Black Knights have completed ranked in the overall AP Top 25 ballot (2018) for solely the second one time since 1958. Monken, in his tenth season, is 2nd all-time in wins on the academy with 64, trailing solely the mythical Earl Blaik (121).

The majority of Army’s different sports activities compete in the Patriot League.

It used to be introduced closing week that SMU used to be joining the ACC starting in 2024. The Mustangs were an AAC member because the league’s inception in 2013. Army would turn into the not too long ago expanded league’s 14th soccer member. 

If the deal is struck, the normal Army-Navy Game in December would now not depend as an AAC sport however fairly a nonconference contest, assets indicated to CBS Sports. Army, like Navy, could be eligible to play in the AAC Championship Game the previous week. 

ESPN first reported passion between the 2 events.