For the past five years, BYU has had Air Force's number.

It's been a funny series that way, for both teams. The Cougars won 16 of the first 17 meetings, but the one Air Force victory spoiled the debut of the renovated Cougar Stadium in 1982. From 2000 to 2003, Air Force won three of four against BYU, but the Cougars have now won five straight games.

Today's meeting (1:30 p.m. MT, CBS-C) has Air Force coming off an emotional 42-17 victory over UNLV, the last home game for the Falcon seniors. BYU has the ranking and the home-field advantage, but the Cougars also offered a poor effort in a close victory over winless New Mexico last week.

Maybe this series is entertaining because the programs are so similar. Both work with obvious restrictions that would cripple most Division I football programs: Air Force players must give a five-year commitment to serve their country after college and BYU has its Honor Code. Only certain types of student-athletes fit both universities.

"This is always one of our favorite games of the year," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "It's not only the uniqueness of scheme that Air Force plays with, but it's who they play with. We have a lot of admiration for the players and what the institution is about, and the quality of coaching."

Earlier this week, Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun reciprocated the respect, saying BYU was "tradition rich" and playing at LaVell Edwards Stadium is a difficult environment.

BYU senior defensive end Jan Jorgensen had a different outlook preparing to face Air Force for the fourth time in his career.

"Air Force is a whole 'nother animal," Jorgensen said. "You only see them once a year and you have to prepare like crazy. You have to put the last game you played behind you and just focus 100 percent on Air Force or you're in trouble.

"I don't know what Coach Mendenhall said about them. Maybe with me as a D-lineman, it's a little different. I'm the one that has to deal with all the cut blocks, he doesn't. He just gets to stand there and watch. I'm the one that comes away with beat up shins after the game. It's legal but dirty, that's how I feel."

Ah, the cut blocks. Legal, and Air Force's undersized linemen are the best in college football at taking larger players out with low blocks.

"I enjoy playing the option," said BYU linebacker Coleby Clawson, who added that his experience facing option teams in the WSFL while at Snow College is to his advantage. "It's a totally different aspect of football when you're dealing with cut blocks from everyone: The wide receivers, the line, the running backs, everyone. As a defense, we have to get prepared for a physical game."

The most intriguing aspect of this year's meeting will take place when the Cougars are on the other side of the ball, facing a Top 10 Air Force defense. The Falcons are No. 1 in the country in pass yardage allowed (127.91 yards per game), seventh in total defense (265.36) and ninth in scoring defense (13.27 points allowed per game).

"Both corners (Anthony Wright and Reggie Rembert) are playing really well," Mendenhall said. "Traditionally Air Force plays with a collective approach to defense, similar to how they run the option. This year with their two corners playing really well, they've run a lot of zone blitzes and gotten nice pressure on the quarterback. But if they chose to leave the corners alone out there, they do very well."

How good is the Air Force defense? Earlier this year, the Falcons didn't score an offensive touchdown but still beat San Diego State 26-14. Air Force handled New Mexico 37-13 -- the same New Mexico team BYU escaped 24-19 last week -- and battled before falling to TCU 20-17. The Cougars lost at home to TCU 38-7.

Clearly, the Falcons come into today's game a dangerous team.

BYU looks to establish its running game against the Falcons, something the Cougars couldn't do against New Mexico last week. BYU junior running back Harvey Unga (ankle) is expected to be a game-time decision today. Starting left tackle Nick Alletto (calf) is expected to return to the starting lineup.

• At the top: A win against Air Force would give BYU quarterback Max Hall 30 victories as the starter at quarterback, passing former Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer. Only three BYU quarterbacks have thrown for more than 10,000 yards: Detmer, Hall and John Beck.

• Ground game: Unga is 20 yards from passing Curtis Brown as the all-time leading rusher in BYU history. Unga comes into the Air Force game with 3,201 yards. Brown rushed for 3,221 yards during his career (2002, 2004-06).

• Helping out the team: Former Skyline quarterback Matt Marshall has simulated the Air Force option this week in practice for BYU. Marshall, a reserve wide receiver, has been a special teams star for the Cougars this year.

• Ode to the familiar: There are five BYU players from the state of Colorado on the 2009 roster. That includes defensive lineman Brett Denney (Thornton), tight end Andrew George (Englewood), defensive back Blake Morgan (Greeley) and offensive linemen Nick and Terrance Alletto (Parker). Air Force running back Jared Tew played his prep career at Park City High School.

• Extra points: From 2000-2003, Air Force won three of four in the series but BYU has won five straight meetings. ... Last year Austin Collie's stirring halftime speech ignited the Cougars to a 38-24 win in Colorado Springs. ... Hall's 23 touchdown passes this year have been to nine different receivers.

• Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at 801-344-2555 or by e-mail at ddickson@heraldextra.com.

Air Force (7-4, 5-2) at No. 19 BYU (8-2, 5-1)

• When: Today, 1:30 p.m. MT

• Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium

• TV: CBS-C (Tom Hart, Aaron Taylor)

• Radio: KSL 1160 AM and 102.7 FM (Greg Wrubell, Marc Lyons and Nate Meikle)

• The Word: BYU leads the all-time series with Air Force 23-6. ... BYU has gone 7-5 against Air Force since 1995.