As the season comes to a close for the Air Force Falcons, visiting Provo is their last chance at beating one of the conference’s so-called big three.

With a close 20-17 loss to conference leader TCU and a heart-breaking 23-16 overtime loss to Utah, the Falcons are finishing their season against BYU. Air Force has not beaten BYU since 2003, and has a measly 6-23 record all-time against the Cougars.

“In terms of noise, attendance, they let you know they are there,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said in a press conference about playing at LaVell Edwards Stadium in front of BYU’s fans.

“For us, we realize to be able to go play well there it requires extraordinary focus and preparation.”

Since taking the job as head coach in 2007, Calhoun has posted a 23-14 overall record and a 16-7 mark in conference play.  While Calhoun says he isn’t concerned with the numbers, of those seven conference losses, six have come from BYU, TCU and Utah.

“The Falcons run a unique offense, with a heavy rushing attack highlighted by different formations, tricky handoffs and option looks. Air Force rushes for nearly 280 yards per game and is currently ranked fourth in the nation in total rushing yards.

While their offense always provides a difficult challenge to defend, it’s the Falcon defense that has been the story this year. The Air Force secondary has been stingy, leading the nation in limiting teams to an average of 127.9 yards through the air, and ranking tenth in pass efficiency defense, allowing a rating of just 98.9. The Falcons are also second in turnover margin at plus 18 and ninth in scoring defense, allowing an average of 13.3 points per game.

“[The Falcons] are very innovative in what they do,” BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “I think it’s a combination of another year under their defensive coordinator, more specific in what they’re doing, better use of personnel and then two corners that are playing pretty well.”

With the defense giving opponents fits and the offense holding its own, it’s only a matter of time before the Falcons dethrone one of the big three.