The annual Army-Navy football game heads to Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium this year. Rich in pageantry and tradition, the stand-alone game that now marks the conclusion of the regular season is a true celebration of the sport. It’s well worth watching in any year, but it’s even better when both programs are enjoying successful campaigns. Such is the case this time as the academy rivals get set to square off for the 126th time, as both enter with winning records and will have a bowl game awaiting them after this all-important rivalry showdown. Here are the particulars for this year’s meeting.
No. 25 Navy vs. Army
Time/TV: Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, CBS.
Why watch: Not that you need another reason, but it’s also worth noting that once again the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy will be on the line, as both squads defeated Air Force earlier. The roles are somewhat reversed from a year ago, when it was Army coming into the contest with a US LBM Coaches Poll ranking and fresh off a victory in the American championship game. But it was the Midshipmen that wound up sailing to a 31-13 triumph, a result that seemingly laid the groundwork for their strong 2025 season. Following the Army win with a 21-20 victory against Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl to conclude 2024, Navy began this season 7-0 which, for a time, had the Mids enjoying the longest active winning streak in the Bowl Subdivision. The Black Knights were considerably slower out of the gate this fall, dropping three of their first four including an opening-week setback against Championship Subdivision member Tarleton State. But Army also claimed an early win against Kansas State, and a season-ending triumph at Texas-San Antonio assured both academies are bowl bound once again. Navy returned most of last year’s key offensive contributors, a major reason for their 9-2 mark thus far. The driving force is QB Blake Horvath, who has 1,390 yards passing and another 1,040 on the ground, while accounting for 23 total TDs. RB Alex Tecza and SB Eli Heidenreich are his primary weapons who can get the ball in a variety of ways. They will all become well acquainted with Army LBs Andon Thomas and Kalib Fortner as well as DB Collin Matteson. Black Knights QB Cale Hellums doesn’t throw as often but still finds ways to get SB Noah Short plenty of touches. When a big play is needed, WR Brady Anderson is usually the target. Frequent playmakers on the Midshipmen defense include LB MarcAnthony Parker and DT Landon Robinson.
Why it could disappoint: Last year’s somewhat one-sided result was actually surprising, as the game is close well into the fourth quarter more often than not. But even if one team somehow pulls away, it should still be an entertaining spectacle.