Army, Navy each start 4-0 for first time since 1945 as service academies remain in thick of CFP race

Army and Navy are both 4-0 for the first time since 1945 after the Midshipmen thrashed UAB 41-18 on Saturday. Navy's dominant win followed Army's 42-14 dismantling of Temple on Thursday night as both service academies have emerged as legitimate powers in the AAC.

The Black Knights and Midshipmen are also the last remaining undefeated teams in the AAC and among a dwindling number of unbeaten Group of Five teams. Entering Week 5, the only other unbeaten Group of Five squads were James Madison , Liberty and UNLV .

Navy's strong start has come with a surprising dose of aerial acumen behind the dual-threat play of quarterback Blake Horvath . While the Midshipmen are still running the football at high clip, Horvath has proven to be a threatening thrower as well.

His 77- and 74-yard touchdown strikes in the first half Saturday made him the first player in college football this season with multiple touchdown passes of 70+ yards in a game. That performance came after he shredded Memphis for 403 total yards and six total touchdowns in a 56-44 Week 4 victory.

Army's success formula has been more familiarly run-heavy but impressive nonetheless. All four of the Black Knights' victories have come by double-digits. While both academies must still play Notre Dame , neither faces a particularly daunting path in conference action. Army avoids Memphis and Tulane , while Navy has already beaten Memphis and gets the Green Wave at home.

So, it's possible that Army and Navy could meet on Friday, Dec. 6 in the AAC Championship Game eight days before their annual meeting on Dec. 14, which does not count as a conference game. Either team's candidacy for the College Football Playoff would be unaffected by the Dec. 14 game as the CFP is set to announce its 12-team field on Dec. 8.