Army vs. Navy game history: H2H records, bold predictions, top players and more
One of the most anticipated games of the year is the annual battle of Army and Navy. Both teams have fared well this season, making this game something of a throwback to the glory days of the rivalry between the military service academies that few in college football can match.
Here’s a closer look at this storied competition.
Army vs. Navy Game History: H2H record, bold predictions, top players and more
Army vs. Navy: Head-to-Head
Navy leads the all-time series 62-55-7. The first game was played in 1890 and has been played every year since 1930. Navy claims the longest winning streak in the series, a 14-game run from 2002 to 2015 that helped the Midshipmen surpass Army in the all-time tally.
Though neither team has been a consistent powerhouse in recent years, the Army-Navy game was once a clash between two of the nation's elite programs. For example, in 1944 and 1945, the game featured the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country. This year marks only the fifth time in the last 60 years that both teams enter the matchup with winning records.
The game has also drawn interest from U.S. presidents. Teddy Roosevelt attended in 1901, while Harry S. Truman was the rivalry’s most devoted presidential fan, missing just one game during his eight years in office.
President-elect Donald Trump attended three times during his first term, putting him in position to match Truman’s record in his second term.
Army vs. Navy: Top Players
Army (9-0, 7-0 in AAC) is led by QB Bryson Dailya rushing specialist typical of service academy QBs. Daily has piled up 1,062 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Through the air, he has completed 51 passes for 644 yards, with seven touchdowns and just one interception.
Running back Kanye Udoh has added 856 rushing yards and nine scores for Army. Defensively, linebacker Kalib Fortner is second on Army's team with 54 tackles. Fortner leads the squad with 7.5 tackles for loss.
Navy (7-3, 5-2 in AAC) leans heavily on dual-threat QB Blake Horvath, who has rushed for 895 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 1,154 passing yards and 11 touchdowns.
Wide receiver Eli Heidenreich stands out on this run-heavy team, recording 30 receptions for 556 yards and five touchdowns, which account for nearly 40% of Navy's team production in the three areas.
Senior linebacker Colin Ramos has a whopping 102 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Ramos had 16 tackles against Army last season. His ability to work all over the field makes him a constant defensive threat.
Army vs. Navy: Bold Predictions
Army has won six of the last eight games against Navy. Only once in the last decade has the winning team eclipsed 21 points, but expect Army's offense to wear down Navy and post 30 in this year's contest.
The key to the game will be turnovers. Navy has been disciplined with just 13 turnovers this season, but Army has been nearly flawless, committing only three turnovers — half as many as the next-best team in FBS football.
The last time this rivalry was decided by more than two scores was in 2019, when Navy won 31-7. This year, the prediction flips: Army 31, Navy 7.