Army star QB Bryson Daily ruled out vs. Air Force: How it could impact Black Knights' CFP hopes

2 November 2024Last Update :
Army star QB Bryson Daily ruled out vs. Air Force: How it could impact Black Knights' CFP hopes

Army star quarterback Bryson Daily is out for Saturday’s game against Air Force, the school announced Saturday. Daily is sidelined with an undisclosed injury/illness, according to multiple reports.

Daily leads the nation in rushing touchdowns with 19. His 909 rushing yards — already more than his 2023 total (901) when he started 10 games — are the most of any QB in the FBS and rank 11th in the country. With those marks, the senior QB broke Army’s single-season records for touchdowns responsible for (26) and rushing touchdowns (19) in just seven games.

In Army’s last contest, a 45-28 victory over East Carolina University on Oct. 19, Daily carried the ball 31 times for a career-high 171 rushing yards and six total scores, five of which came on the ground. He also went 7-of-10 passing for 147 yards and one TD.

With Daily sidelined, junior Dewayne Coleman will make his first career start under center. Heading into Saturday, Coleman played in five games this season, completing 6 of 8 passes for 73 yards and scoring two total touchdowns.

No. 21 Army is 7-0 overall and 6-0 in conference, sitting in first in the American Athletic Conference — meaning the Black Knights are bona fide College Football Playoff contenders in the expanded bracket era. But with Tulane (7-2 overall) and Navy (6-1 overall) trailing closely behind in the conference standings, Army may not be able to afford a loss and keep its playoff hopes alive given the weakness of its schedule strength.

Army beat Air Force 23-3 last year, and the Falcons have struggled to a 1-6 record this year.

Required reading

  • Army and Navy are in the College Football Playoff race. Which means they could play twice
  • College Football Playoff race at midseason: Miami, Indiana, Army and Navy are big risers

(Photo: David Jensen / Getty Images)