Navy @ Air Force preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 3, 2015 ) Air Force 11, Navy 33

Navy and Air Force enter their annual meeting undefeated for the first time, adding to the significance of Saturday's game at Falcon Stadium as the winner also gains the inside track on claiming the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy. The Midshipmen also put their 19-game undefeated streak against unranked opponents on the line and look to start 4-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1978-79, while Air Force last started a campaign 4-0 in 2003.

"We've got to make sure we keep the game between the white lines," Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo told reporters. "Obviously, there's going to be a lot of hype and a lot of intensity. There's going to be a lot of nerves because the players are human. You can't worry about anything you can't control. It's going to be a hostile environment. We just have to focus on our preparation." The Midshipmen have been doing just that for two weeks after their 21-14 victory over Tulane on Sept. 17 improved them to 2-0 in the American Athletic Conference. The Falcons, winners of a school-record 14 straight at home, are coming off a 27-20 win at Utah State last week in their Mountain West opener and boast the nation's No. 2 rushing attack at 359.3 yards per game with Navy fifth (316.3).

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Air Force -7.5

ABOUT NAVY (3-0): Senior quarterback Will Worth (four rushing touchdowns, 14-of-23, one TD) led the Midshipmen to comeback victories over Connecticut 28-24 on Sept. 10 and Tulane in his first two career starts. Junior fullback Chris High averages 10.1 yards with four touchdowns, including a 70-yarder, on 26 carries. Senior wide receiver Jamir Tillman recorded nine of Navy's 15 receptions this season, averaging 15.9 yards.

ABOUT AIR FORCE (3-0): Senior quarterback Nate Romine, who plays in his first Navy game since his freshman season, is 13-of-32 for 364 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 153 yards. Senior running back Jacobi Owens averages 8.8 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns while junior wide receiver Tyler Williams ran for a team-high three touchdowns and averages 7.8 yards on 17 runs. Senior safety Weston Steelhammer, who led Air Force in interceptions (five) and tackles (80) last season, was ejected for targeting in the second half against Utah State and must sit out the first half Saturday.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Midshipmen are 12-for-16 in the red zone this season (11 touchdowns) after going 53-for-56 (44 TDs) in 2015.

2. Either Navy or Air Force has won the last 19 Commander-In-Chief's trophies, a round-robin event which includes Army and began in 1972. Navy won it last season for the third time in four years and has claimed 10 of the last 13. The Falcons boast 19 trophies with Navy winning 14.

3. Air Force leads the series 28-20 after the Midshipmen's 33-11 victory in Annapolis, Md., last season.

PREDICTION: Air Force 24, Navy 23