Army Looks to Upset Tulsa and Boost Playoff Hopes
The Black Knights face a crucial conference matchup against the Golden Hurricane, with Cale Hellums leading the charge.
The race for the American Athletic Conference Championship has become more open following Tulane's upset of Memphis, creating an opportunity for Army to improve its standing. The Black Knights, currently 4-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play, face a critical road game against Tulsa (4-3, 1-2) on Friday night.
Tulsa is a 1.5-point favorite in the matchup, which is seen as make-or-break for Army's conference title aspirations.
Offensive Focus on Hellums
Army's offensive strategy hinges on its triple-option attack, spearheaded by quarterback Cale Hellums. Hellums has been a significant contributor this season, accumulating 719 rushing yards on 129 carries for an average of 5.6 yards per attempt, and has already scored 13 touchdowns. In 2025, he rushed for 1,223 yards and 18 scores on 304 carries.
Defensive Struggles for Tulsa
The Golden Hurricane's defense has struggled against the run, ranking 123rd in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in rushing yards allowed per game and 88th in yards conceded per rush attempt. Despite facing Navy's triple-option offense just 13 days prior, Tulsa allowed the Midshipmen to gain 386 rushing yards on 67 attempts, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
Army's offense, led by Hellums, is expected to leverage these defensive weaknesses with sustained, ball-controlling drives. The Black Knights are favored to win and keep their conference championship hopes alive.