It seems to go in cycles. None of the academies have been able to recruit blue chip talent in recent decades, with a rare exception now and again.

In the mid-1980s, Army had a resurgence bringing back the Wishbone offense to utilize the smarts and athleticism of their players. They went to at least three Bowl games that decade.

Air Force easily dominated most years, though, in the 1980s and 1990s. Colorado Springs is more glamorous and playing in a real conference (then the WAC and later the Mountain West) were big draws.

Navy was awful, awful, awful throughout most of that period despite the occasional superstar, like RB Napolean McAllum. They seem to have come together a few years ago under just departed head coach Paul Johnson, who’s now at Georgia Tech. We’ll see if his successor can keep up the good recruiting.