The University of Colorado and, to a lesser degree, Colorado State University suck up most of the oxygen in the state when it comes to talking about college football, but it’s clear that the Air Force Falcons are easily the best team in the state this year. After the Falcons dismantled the hapless CSU Rams this weekend 49-27 (recap via the Fort Collins Coloradoan), Air Force flew into the lineup of the nation’s top 25 teams, landing at number 23 in the Associated Press rankings.

“We’re not unaware of it,” coach Troy Calhoun tells The Denver Post. “But otherwise, we’ll let that ride for now.”

Calhoun is rightly focused on a batch of injuries to some key players, but football observers are starting to notice the Falcons’ strength. Bleacher Report calls Air Force one of the most underrated teams in the nation, citing a nation-best 353 rushing yards-per-game.

The Rams are 1-5 after the Falcons dominated them this weekend, and the Coloradoan points out that the team just can’t put together all facets of the game. When the passing game is clicking, the running game doesn’t show up. When the defense is stout, the offense as a whole takes a break.

Meanwhile, the Buffs were on a nice roll heading into this weekend, taking a 3-1 record to Missouri. Then Mizzou walloped them 26-0. Starting quarterback Tyler Hansen was pulled from the game for the lackluster Cody Hawkins, notes Boulder’s Daily Camera, and although coach Dan Hawkins says Hansen will keep his job, Buffs fans may not be ready to buy bowl-game tickets just yet.