A chaotic 2020-21 bowl schedule that saw several games canceled left Army without a postseason destination despite a 9-2 record.
The Black Knights accepted an invitation to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., way back in October, but were left without an opponent after several Pac-12 teams opted out of the postseason due to concerns over COVID-19. Contractual obligations between other bowls and various conferences would not allow Army to play in those games, sending the likes of 3-7 Mississippi State and 2-8 South Carolina to the postseason instead.
A total of 14 bowl games — including the Independence Bowl — have been canceled for 2020-21 season due to either COVID-19 concerns or a lack of available teams: the Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas), Holiday Bowl (San Diego), Fenway Bowl (Boston), Pinstripe Bowl (New York), LA Bowl (Inglewood, Calif.), Bahamas Bowl (Nassau), Hawaii Bowl (Honolulu), RedBox Bowl (Santa Clara, Calif.), Las Vegas Bowl, QuickLane Bowl (Detroit), Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas), Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Phoenix) and Birmingham Bowl. A 15th — the Military Bowl, ironically — remains likely to be canceled though no official word had come as of late Sunday.
Mike Buddie, Army’s athletics director, released a statement Sunday indicating the Black Knights were still looking to play in a bowl game of some sort.
“These young men haven’t quit all year and we surely won’t quit now,” Buddie said. “They deserve better. Period. They have earned an opportunity to get 10 wins and, as we have all year, we will continue to fight to get them that opportunity. “We want to thank all the constituents at the Independence Bowl for their invitation and hospitality as we were looking forward to our trip to the City of Shreveport.”
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