Air Force faces third quarterback in 2026 season

Air Force will turn to its third quarterback of the 2026 season this Saturday when it hosts Connecticut in a non-conference matchup. The Falcons must start a new player at the position because Evan Medders, who served as the second starter, is sidelined with an injury. Medders took over for Liam Szarka, the original starter, who is out for the remainder of the season due to a knee issue.

The quarterback position carries unique weight for the Falcons because of their complex option offense. Medders has rushed for 490 yards and six touchdowns this season, while Szarka accumulated 291 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Head coach Troy Calhoun stated at a press conference that Medders is out for an unspecified period with a turf toe injury. Calhoun did not declare Medders out for the season, noting that this specific injury lacks a fixed recovery timetable.

Senior Josh Johnson and freshman Howard Fisher IV are the two candidates to replace Medders. Calhoun has not named a specific starter and indicated that practice repetitions will be divided equally between the two players this week. Calhoun assured the media that the chosen player will be capable and well-prepared to help the team win. The Colorado Springs Gazette reports that Fisher is the likely starter, a decision influenced by his performance when he entered a 28-14 loss at Wyoming in the third quarter.

Fisher, who stands 5 feet 10 inches and weighs 185 pounds, finished that game for Air Force. Through the season, he is 3-for-7 passing for 36 yards and has carried the ball 12 times for 53 yards. The Falcons are listed as 1.5-point favorites against Connecticut in betting markets as of Thursday, October 29.

In other Mountain West news, New Mexico head coach Jason Eck remains a top candidate for three open Power Four head coaching jobs. Baylor, North Carolina State, and Maryland have all fired their coaches midseason. Media reports connect Eck to all three vacancies despite his lack of geographic ties to those regions. Recruiting writer Mike Farrell praised Eck as a premier program builder, citing his success at South Dakota State and his ability to develop talent in difficult environments.

Wyoming has won three consecutive games to improve its record to 5-3 overall. The Cowboys now sit alone in second place in the conference with a 4-1 record. Head coach Jay Sawvel described the team's energy as strong following a poor performance against Central Michigan. The Cowboys have a bye this week before traveling to UNLV on November 7, a game that will determine conference championship implications for multiple teams.

June Jones, the winningest head coach in Hawaii football history, died this week at age 73. Jones coached the Rainbow Warriors for nine seasons from 1999 to 2007, compiling a 78-41 record. His first season in 1999 saw a 9-4 finish, marking the largest single-season turnaround in NCAA history at the time. Jones also spent three seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and served as interim head coach of the San Diego Chargers in 1998.