Army vs. Navy: A Clash for the Ages

The annual Army-Navy game, presented by USAA, a longtime partner of Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP), is one of college football’s most iconic rivalries.

Dating back to 1890, the Army-Navy game, also known as America’s Game, has thrilled fans with patriotic storylines, unforgettable plays, and legendary traditions. On Dec. 13, 2025, Navy won the 126th meeting between the rivals in a thrilling last-minute 17-16 victory over Army at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

"The Army-Navy Game represents more than just a rivalry on the field — it embodies the spirit of service, leadership, and camaraderie that defines the future military leaders who will shape our nation moving forward,” said USAA Senior Vice President and Head of Military Affairs Major Gen. (Ret.) Bob Whittle. “This game is a tradition that transcends sports, reminding us of the commitment and sacrifice that define our armed forces."

Here are some other interesting facts about the history of the Army vs. Navy game: 

Honoring 250 Years of Service

In 2025, both the Army and Navy celebrated their 250^th birthdays, marking a remarkable legacy of service that predates the Declaration of Independence. As America approaches its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, the Army-Navy game honored the contributions of both branches over two and a half centuries.

“This milestone year adds depth to the rivalry, reminding us that the values of duty, honor, and country that these young men embody on the field are the same principles that have guided our military leaders for generations,” said Whittle.

The special commemorative uniforms worn for the game, which are as celebrated as the matchup itself,  honored 250 years of Army and Navy service.

"As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation's Army and Navy, the Army-Navy Game takes on even greater significance, symbolizing the enduring partnership and shared commitment to service that have defined these two branches for centuries,” Whittle said.

Read more about the Army and Navy’s 250-year histories.

The Start of the Army-Navy Rivalry

The first matchup between Army and Navy took place on Nov. 29, 1890, at West Point, New York. Navy won the game 24-0 to finish its season with a 5-1-1 record.

While the Midshipmen had been playing intercollegiate football since 1879, the 1890 game against Navy was the first for the Army football team, and the only one that season. There were 1,000 spectators in attendance.

The cadets from West Point paid for half of Navy’s expense to travel from Annapolis, Maryland, to West Point, because Army cadets weren’t allowed to leave the campus.

The teams have only not played 10 times since then, but have played every year since 1930.

The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy

The Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy is awarded to the season’s winner between three of the United States Military Academies — U.S. Military Academy at West Point (Army), U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Air Force Academy. The coveted trophy only dates back to 1972, when former Air Force Academy Athletic Director Gen. George B. Simler came up with the idea in an effort to create an annual series among all three schools. Before 1972, only Army and Navy met every year, with the Air Force playing Army in odd years and Navy in even years.

Trophy Victories

• Air Force – 21
• Navy – 18
• Army – 10

With the Navy's 17-16 win over Army this season, the Midshipmen retained control of the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy. Both teams earned wins over Air Force this season, leaving the Falcons out of the hunt. Navy beat Air Force 34-31 on Oct. 4, and Army defeated the Falcons 20-17 on Nov. 1.

A Tie and the Title

Football games that end in a tie are usually disappointing, but that wasn’t the case in the Nov. 27, 1926, Army-Navy game at Soldier Field in Chicago. Navy entered the game undefeated, and Army’s only loss that season was to Notre Dame (which was undefeated until a 19-0 loss to Carnegie Tech on the same day).

The matchup, which drew a crowd of more than 100,000, would decide the national championship. The Midshipmen jumped out to an early 14-0 lead before the Black Knights rallied to take a 21-14 lead in the third quarter. Navy scored in the fourth and Army missed a late field-goal attempt, resulting in a 21-21 tie. Thanks to the Fighting Irish’s shocking loss, Navy became the de facto national champion with no losses and one tie.

Biggest Margin of Victory in the Series

On Dec 1, 1973, Navy crushed Army 51-0 in Philadelphia. The Midshipmen weren’t having a great season, having only won three games heading into the matchup, but that was three more than the Black Knights.

Cleveland Cooper, the first Black player on Navy’s football team, rushed for 102 yards and scored three touchdowns in the victory, helping the Midshipmen improve to 4-7, while Army ended the season 0-10. Navy jumped out to such an early lead that then-coach George Welsh played all 59 players suited for the game.

Navy’s Win Streak, Army’s Skid Comes to End

On Dec. 10, 2016, for the second year in a row, the final score of the Army-Navy game was 21-17, but for the first time in 15 seasons, the Black Knights finished on top.

The last time Army had beaten Navy was a 26-17 victory in 2001, before enduring the longest skid by either service academy in the series’ history. The win gave the Black Knights a 7-5 regular season record, and Army advanced to a bowl game for the first time since 2010.

The Midshipmen ended the regular season with an impressive 9-4 record and a trip to the Armed Forces Bowl, but that likely didn’t erase the sting of losing to their biggest rival after a 14-game winning streak in the series.

Army-Navy Game Uniforms

While fashion may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about football, the Army-Navy game uniforms are certainly worth a look.

For more than a decade, the two teams have often worn “alternate” uniforms, designed specifically for this special rivalry.

Over the years, Army players have honored the 1st Infantry Division with an all-black design; boasted digital camo pants; wore all-white uniforms and a skiing panda on their cleats to honor the World War II Pando Commandos; and donned matte-finish helmets featuring the symbols of the Army Division each player will serve in after graduation.

Not to be outdone, Navy has had some dazzling duds over the years as well, including unis paying homage to longtime mascot Bill the Goat; red-and-white stripes adorning mostly blue uniforms and helmets; shiny blue, multi-dimensional helmets embellished with different Naval vessels; and vibrant blue unis and helmets with yellow striping that honored the Blue Angels.

New Uniforms for 2025

Both teams recently revealed their 2025 uniforms, and as expected, they pay tribute to their branches’ 250 years of service.

Army’s 2025 uniforms

• Overall uniform is marble-colored to represent soldiers’ headstones at Arlington National Cemetery.
• The numbers and lettering are in a Constitution-style font with numbers outlined in purple to honor Purple Heart recipients.
• The gray metallic helmets will showcase the U.S. Army seal and an Espontoon, symbolizing the Army’s role as the “tip of the spear.” Along the back of the helmets will be the number 1775, the year the Continental Congress established the Army.
• The Great Chain will be displayed on the front of the jersey and signifies the role of West Point during the American Revolution.

Learn more about Army’s 2025 uniforms.

Navy’s 2025 uniforms

• The entire uniform pays tribute to the USS Constitution — the only remaining frigate from the original six and the world’s oldest commissioned warship.
• The washed-Navy jerseys and stone-colored pants reflect what sailors wore back in 1776 attire.
• Copper helmets symbolize the plated sheathing beneath a ship’s hull. On the right of each helmet is a sketch of the USS Constitution, on the left is the original U.S. Navy mark, and on the top is a rope with 63 knots, representing Navy’s 63 wins in the series.
• Uniform lettering and numbers use a font inspired by the Act to Provide Naval Armament, which authorized the Navy’s first six frigates.
• The jerseys include ropes with 250 knots to commemorate the Navy’s anniversary.

Learn more about Navy’s 2025 uniforms.

Traditions, Fanfare, and Festivities

A lot of the excitement and fervor surrounding the annual Army-Navy game has little to do with what’s happening on the playing field. The buildup around the game is almost as big as the game itself. There are the time-honored traditions, such as:

• “March-On.” The student bodies of both academies take the field in uniform before the game to display their precision and skill in concise formations.
• “Honoring the Fallen.” Both teams sing each other’s alma mater to the fans after the game as a show of respect.
• The “prisoner exchange.” Seven West Point students and seven students of the USNA are returned to their respective schools after spending a semester at their rival academy.
• “Spirit Spots.” This might be a relatively newer tradition, but it often receives the most attention before kickoff. Spirit spots are videos that take #GoArmyBeatNavy and #GoNavyBeatArmy to new and hilarious heights. The spoof videos are generally used to taunt the opponent and often feature entertaining parodies, creative storylines starring West Point and USNA students and/or graduates, and no shortage of mules and goats. While plenty of other schools do spirit videos and Navy produces spirit spots against other opponents, the Army-Navy spirit spots — much like the game itself — are in a league of their own.

Army-Navy Game in Pop Culture

During the inaugural season of the hit TV show M*A*S*H, an episode centered around a fictional Army-Navy game. In the episode, which originally aired Feb. 25, 1973, a buzz about the game is circulating around the 4077th, with members of the Army medical unit betting on the game.

As the game begins, the camp is attacked by enemy fire. During the attack, an unexploded shell lands in the middle of the compound and members of the unit scramble to try to find out who the bomb belongs to. When Hawkeye calls headquarters to seek assistance, a preoccupied Col. Hersh tells Hawkeye to find out if the bomb is still ticking, check the casing for markings, and report back to get instructions on how to defuse it — preferably at halftime.

The unit’s commander, Lt. Col. Blake, relays the markings to Col. Hersh, who verifies it’s not an enemy bomb, or an Army device, and suggests Blake call the Navy. When asked, “Why would the Navy drop a bomb on us?”, Hersh responds, “because we’re beating them 14 to nothing.”

Later, Hawkeye and crew receive reports from the Navy that the bomb belongs to the CIA. After a mix-up with dismantling instructions, the “propaganda bomb” detonates, filling the compound with harmless leaflets.

The episode ends with an announcement of the final score: Navy 42, Army 36. Father Mulcahy, who initially wasn’t interested in participating in the betting pool and was disappointed to learn the game didn’t feature Notre Dame, won the $1,000 purse.

Contact: Paris Moulden, Public Relations, pmoulden@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.570.7910

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