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THE ARMY NAVY GAME IS A RIVALRY UNLIKE ANY OTHER


By Buddy Blouin
Some teams are timeless. Others go through cycles. But there’s no denying that the rivalry between the Army Black Knights from the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point and the Navy Midshipmen hailing from the United States Naval Academy (USNA) is one of the greatest rivalries in college football. The tradition, the trash talk, the glory, and the respect all come together into a game that’s about much more than any scoreline could convey. We’re talkin’ the Army Navy game because college football is back!

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When Is the Army Navy Game?

On Saturday, December 10, 2022, the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen will take the field for the 123rd time with the final chance of the season to win the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.

What Time Is the Army Navy Game?

The Army Navy game will kickoff at 3:00 p.m. EST from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. Fans can catch the game broadcasting on CBS. Additionally, subscribers to Hulu + Live TV can also stream the game at this time.

Who Won the Army Navy Game?

In 2021, the latest rendition of the Army Navy game, the Midshipmen claimed victory over the Black Knights with a second-half comeback to take the lead with 17-13 as the final score. But don’t be fooled. There’s no telling who'll win when these teams take the field. In fact, while the Navy won the last game, the Army finished the 2021 season with a much better record, going 8-4, with the Midshipmen finishing 4-8.

A Storied Rivalry

The history between these two teams goes way back, and the Navy has the lead with an all-time record of 62–53–7 when facing Army. Although the first meeting between these two occurred on November 29, 1890, the tradition continues to go strong. Common taunts can be heard between the two branches, such as “Beat Army!” and “Beat Navy!” depending on where you serve or your allegiance lies. Army vs. Navy traditions include the infamous "prisoner exchange" before the game starts, the singing of the national anthem by both choirs, and both alma maters being performed after the game. As a sign of respect, the winning team will stand alongside the losing team while their song is played and face the losing side’s students. The losing team will then go with the winning team and return the favor. But even in respect, this is football, of course, and the rivalry doesn’t stop. This is why it’s said that you want to “sing second” as a bit of a jab, as the winning team’s alma mater is played last. It should be of no surprise that the military breeds competitive football teams. Both are conducive environments for such activities. Nobody's gonna back down, and both sides have a lot to prove. Especially because the all-time leading winner of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy isn’t the Army or Navy at all, but rather the Air Force.

The Army Navy Game Is on the Move

Army vs. Navy has been played in many places, and it looks like this storied matchup will be on the move in the years to come. The Army vs. Navy Game has five locations and dates announced for upcoming matches that'll spread some of the most contentious battles every season. All of the locations selected for the Navy Army game will still take place in the Northeast, but here’s where you can catch the action in the upcoming years:
  • Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, will host on December 9, 2023, in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party and the 225th anniversary of the USS Constitution.
  • On December 14, 2024, the Army Navy game returns to FedEx Stadium in Washington, D.C., for the first time since 2011.
  • Fans will be elated to know that the game will head back to Baltimore on December 13, 2025, to play close to Fort McHenry, the birthplace of our national anthem.
  • In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, New York City's MetLife Stadium will host Army vs. Navy on December 12, 2026.
  • Philadelphia will once again host the matchup for the 91st time on December 11, 2027.
Whether you tailgate in person, grab tickets, or just plan on watching from your preferred device, don’t miss the Army Navy game. It's a classic matchup that delivers year after year.

Read next:

Army Basic Training: Everything You Need to Know

Image: Jonathan Newton | The Washington Post

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