No. 22 Navy edged Army 17-16 in the 126th Army-Navy game on December 13, 2025, at M&T Bank Stadium, securing back-to-back victories over the Black Knights and retaining the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the second straight season.
Quarterback Blake Horvath connected with Eli Heidenreich on an 8-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal with 6:32 remaining, capping a dramatic comeback for the Midshipmen (10-2). Navy trailed 16-10 entering the fourth quarter but capitalized on an Army interception to drive for the winning score.
The decisive sequence began after Phillip Hamilton intercepted Army quarterback Cale Hellums, giving Navy possession at midfield with 11:19 left. Alex Tecza’s 24-yard run advanced the Midshipmen to first-and-goal at the Army 5. A fumble on second down from the 1 during a tush push attempt was recovered by Heidenreich at the 8. After an incompletion on third down, Navy elected to go for it on fourth, and Horvath found Heidenreich over the middle in the end zone.
Army (6-6) punted on its ensuing possession. On Navy’s final drive, Horvath fumbled on a run at the Army 43 but recovered the ball himself and reached for what appeared to be a first down. The play was reviewed, and officials ruled Horvath down before a second loose ball, placing it a yard short. Tecza then converted the first down on the next play, allowing Navy to run out the clock.
A brief post-play scuffle near midfield occurred after the final kneel-down, but the situation calmed for the traditional singing of both alma maters, with Navy performing second as the victor.
President Donald Trump attended the game, tossing the coin pregame and walking across the field at halftime from the Navy sideline to Army’s.
The teams opened with matching 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drives spanning over seven minutes each. Horvath scored on a 5-yard run for Navy, and Hellums answered with a 2-yard plunge for Army early in the second quarter.
Scoring slowed thereafter. Late in the second, Horvath fumbled while attempting to pass, with Army recovering at its 45. The Black Knights moved into range for Dawson Jones’ 45-yard field goal as time expired in the half, taking a 10-7 lead.
In the third quarter, Horvath was intercepted, setting Army up at Navy’s 30. The Black Knights settled for Jones’ career-long 48-yard field goal, extending to 13-7. Horvath later broke a 37-yard run, leading to a Navy field goal that cut the deficit to 16-10.
Navy outgained Army 272-202 in total yards and held possession for 34:35 compared to Army’s 25:25. The Midshipmen earned 17 first downs to Army’s 11. Navy committed two turnovers to Army’s one.
The win marked Navy’s first back-to-back 10-win seasons in program history and its first consecutive triumphs over Army since 2014-15. The Black Knights have not defeated a ranked Navy team since 1955.
The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, awarded since 1972 to the winner of the round-robin series among Army, Navy, and Air Force, returns to Annapolis. Navy has claimed it 17 times overall, including 12 in the last 22 years. Both teams defeated Air Force this season, making the rivalry game the decisive contest.
The annual matchup, known for pageantry including cadet and midshipman marches and special uniforms honoring service branches’ 250th anniversaries, drew national attention in Baltimore. M&T Bank Stadium, home to the NFL’s Ravens, hosted the game for the first time since 2016 in this rotation among neutral sites.
Army heads to the Wasabi Fenway Bowl against UConn on December 27 in Boston. Navy faces Cincinnati in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on January 2 in Memphis.
The series, dating to 1890, stands at Navy leading 63-55-7. This edition featured option offenses typical of the academies, with limited passing but sustained drives emphasizing discipline and execution.
