Landover, Md. — The Navy Midshipmen (8-3) will face off against the Army Black Knights (11-1) in the 125th edition of the Army-Navy Game, presented by USAA, on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. at Northwest Stadium. The game, broadcast nationally on CBS, marks a historic meeting as both teams contend for the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Service Academy football competition.
High Stakes for Both Teams
Army, the American Athletic Conference (AAC) champion, enters the matchup ranked #22 in the College Football Playoff, #19 in the AP Poll, and #18 in the Coaches Poll. The Black Knights aim to secure their 11th Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy. Meanwhile, Navy seeks its 17th CIC Trophy victory and a chance to finish the season with 10 wins for just the sixth time in program history.
Navy leads the all-time series 62-55-7, including a win in the only previous game played at Northwest Stadium. This year’s contest is notable as the first since 2017 in which both teams are eligible to claim the CIC Trophy.
Key Players to Watch
For Navy, quarterback Blake Horvath has been a dual-threat standout, with 1,154 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes, while closing in on a 1,000-yard rushing season. Senior safety Rayuan Lane III anchors the defense, having started 41 consecutive games. Lane has three forced fumbles this season and was named to the Sporting News Midseason First-Team All-America.
Army’s offense is led by Heisman Trophy candidate Bryson Daily, who has rushed for 1,480 yards and 29 touchdowns, tying for the most in FBS. Sophomore running back Kanye Udoh adds another 1,064 rushing yards to the team’s ground attack, supported by an offensive line that ranks among the nation’s best.
Pre-Game Pageantry
The game day schedule includes traditional ceremonies that showcase the spirit of the service academies. The March-On of the Corps of Cadets and Brigade of Midshipmen will begin at 12:10 p.m. and 12:40 p.m., respectively. Flyovers by Army and Navy aircraft will precede kickoff, featuring F/A-18F Super Hornets from the Jolly Rogers squadron.
Broadcast and Coverage
CBS’s pregame coverage begins at 2:30 p.m., with Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, and Jenny Dell calling the game. Fans can also listen on the Navy Football Radio Network or the national Westwood One broadcast.
Looking Ahead
Both teams’ seasons will continue beyond the Army-Navy Game. Navy will face Oklahoma in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 27 in Fort Worth, Texas, while Army eyes a New Year’s Six bowl berth.
The Army-Navy Game remains one of college football’s most cherished traditions, embodying the spirit of competition and service. As both teams prepare to leave everything on the field, the stakes have rarely been higher in this storied rivalry.
