On December 14th, the most iconic showdown in college football returns. America’s game has achieved higher anticipation than ever; with both contenders yielding dominant records. The strongest ever, twenty-second ranked nationally, ten-and-one Army seeks their most meaningful victory to complete a historic season. At the same time, a rising eight-win Navy squad hopes to revive the success of their undefeated start and reclaim the Commander in Chief’s Trophy in a grand upset. Worldwide, Americans and service members will closely watch the on-field battle of legacies. 

The Army-Navy Game is an iconic and historic college football rivalry, annually pitting the United States Military Academy (Army) Black Knights against the United States Naval Academy (Navy) Midshipmen. Through its deep traditions, the competition embodies the branches’ spirit and pride. Such patriotic spectacles occur before the game, unifying cadets of both academies in a coordinated march across the field, followed by a singing of the national anthem, which is concluded by an impressive flyover. Since 1930 the matchup has been uninterrupted, occurring on the second Saturday of December. Navy leads the series 62–55–7. 

Second only to the game itself, the unveiling of each team’s uniforms sparks excitement in the media and amongst fans. Both sides take pride in designing unique and elaborate kits that pay homage to their branches’ history, resulting in some of the most visually impressive jerseys in sports.  

This year’s reveal did not disappoint the high expectations set by past designs. Army was the first to debut its style, releasing an all-black jersey inspired by the 101st Airborne Division, who were dropped behind enemy lines to lead Allied forces on D-Day, and later were instrumental in repelling the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge to finalize World War Two. Details across the jersey emphasize this meaning. Over the heart, the patch “Bastogne” names the town the division took and defended, while the white flakes represent the snowy conditions. A suit card symbol on the helmet imitates the markers used to identify the soldiers’ units. 

The Navy displayed its design soon after, paying homage with a similar message. The “Jolly Roger” uniform represents the naval aviation unit of the same name, the most effective carrier squadron in history. It earned this title during World War Two when Jolly Roger pilots downed hundreds of enemy planes in the Pacific. Like the Army, numerous elements of the jersey carry further meaning. The design of the uniform is an adaptation of the liveries of the division’s jets, while the division’s insignia is stamped on the sides of the helmet. 

Army is favored to repeat this year, projected to win by six points. Their past game was victorious, championing Tulane for the American Athletic Conference title. In typical, dominant, run-heavy fashion the Black Knights displayed their reasoning for a national ranking and pushed analysts further in support. They boast the nation’s top rushing attack headed by quarterback Bryson Daily, who has 29 rushing touchdowns, equal to that of running back Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty. On defense, they are just as physical, with army veteran Kevin Cyr stating, “Their defensive line is stacked.” When asked about his prediction, he simply replied, “Sink Navy.” 

Navy has had a solid season under new offensive coordinator Drew Cronic, who has modernized the team’s offense by moving away from the classic wishbone. Quarterback Blake Horvath has thrived under these conditions, with an impressive eleven passing touchdowns and eight-hundred and ninety-five rushing yards. When asked about the team’s recent progress, Hingham alumni and Fourth-class Cadet Alex Doggett said, “Navy has only improved and now has an opportunity to make a statement win; beat Army.”