The previous season ended in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year's Day. The 1971 Falcons began at 5–1 and were No. 18 in the AP Poll in late October, but lost three of their final four games, fell out of the polls, and did not play in the postseason.[1]
This was the last season that Navy was not on the Falcons' schedule. The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy was introduced in 1972 and matched the three military academies annually. Previously, Air Force played Navy in even years and Army in odd years.