The storied Army-Navy rivalry, one of college football’s most enduring traditions, reaches its 126th installment on Saturday. This clash isn’t just about bragging rights—it’s for possession of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, as both teams already defeated Air Force this season. Navy enters as the favorite, riding a wave of offensive efficiency and defensive grit, while Army looks to avenge last year’s lopsided loss and salvage a .500 finish before its bowl matchup. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the matchup.
Venue and Game Details
Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland (neutral site, capacity: 71,008). The stadium, home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, has hosted the Army-Navy game since 2007, providing a fitting urban backdrop for the service academies’ annual showdown.
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. ET.
Broadcast: CBS (TV), Paramount+ (streaming). Radio coverage includes the Army Sports Network and Navy Sports Network.
Weather Forecast
Expect crisp December conditions in Baltimore, typical for a Mid-Atlantic winter game that could favor the run-heavy offenses of both teams. The forecast calls for cloudy skies with temperatures starting around 45°F at kickoff, dropping to 28°F by the fourth quarter. Winds at 10 mph from the northwest, with an 11-13% chance of precipitation (light flurries possible but unlikely to impact play). These conditions should keep the field firm but chilly, potentially testing ball security in the triple-option schemes.
| Condition | Daytime (Kickoff) | Nighttime (End) |
| Temperature | 45°F | 28°F |
| Sky | Cloudy | Partly Cloudy |
| Wind | 10 mph NW | 7 mph NW |
| Precip. Chance | 11% | 13% |
Injury Report
Both teams are relatively healthy heading into the finale, but key absences and question marks could tilt the trenches. Army has depth concerns in the secondary and receiving corps, while Navy’s offensive line has nagging issues. Updates as of December 11, 2025—no major changes expected barring pre-game news.
Army Black Knights (6-5)
| Player | Position | Status | Injury | Notes |
| D. Stowers | DL | Questionable | Undisclosed | Missed last two games; critical for run stuffing vs. Navy’s option. |
| S. Shannon | RB | Questionable | Undisclosed | Backup rusher; limited in practice this week. |
| T. Olawole | WR | Questionable | Undisclosed | Slot receiver; Army’s passing game already thin. |
| Kavon Pointer | WR | Questionable | Undisclosed | Potential starter; no practice reps reported. |
| Liam Fortner | WR | Questionable | Undisclosed | Depth piece; could see slot duty if cleared. |
| Kurt Thompson | WR | Questionable | Undisclosed | Return specialist; impacts special teams. |
Navy Midshipmen (9-2)
| Player | Position | Status | Injury | Notes |
| D. Spelios | LB | Out | Undisclosed | Season-ending; backup role, but thins linebacker depth. |
| B. Franklin | DL | Out | Undisclosed | Season-ending; rotational edge rusher missed since September. |
| Cody Howard | TE | Questionable | Undisclosed | Key blocker in run game; limited snaps last week. |
| Ian Pourciau | LB | Questionable | Undisclosed | Starter with 40+ tackles; practiced lightly. |
| Hoke Smith II | G | Questionable | Undisclosed | Interior lineman; protects QB Horvath’s blind side. |
| Blake Horvath | QB | Probable | Upper Body | Returned vs. USF after missing Notre Dame; no limitations expected. |
Key Player Matchups
This game’s identity is defined by grind-it-out offenses, but watch these battles in the trenches and backfield—they’ll dictate possession and scoring chances. Both QBs are dual-threat weapons, but Navy’s balance gives it an edge in explosive plays.
Army QB Cale Hellums vs. Navy LB MarcAnthony Parker: Hellums (1,078 rush yds, 15 TDs) powers Army’s triple option, but Parker’s 88 tackles (team-high) and third-team All-AAC honors make him the anchor against the run. Hellums has topped 100 rush yards in five games but must evade Parker’s pursuit to sustain drives.
Navy QB Blake Horvath vs. Army LB Andon Thomas: Horvath (1,390 pass yds, 9 TDs; 1,040 rush yds, 14 TDs) is Navy’s engine, torching Army for 4 total TDs last year. Thomas (96 tackles, team-high) leads Army’s stout front seven (top-20 nationally in rush defense allowed). If Thomas disrupts Horvath’s reads, Army keeps it low-scoring.
Navy RB Eli Heidenreich vs. Army DL Bo Nicolas: Heidenreich (409 rush yds, 3 TDs; 805 rec yds, 4 TDs) is a mismatch nightmare as a slotback/receiver. Nicolas (team-high 6 sacks) pressures from the edge—Navy’s 12th-ranked YPP offense thrives if he gets contained.
Army RB Noah Short vs. Navy DB Giuseppe Sessi: Short (552 rush yds) is Army’s complementary back to Hellums. Sessi (40 tackles) patrols the secondary; Army’s ground game (2nd in AAC rushing) tests Navy’s 79th-ranked rush defense.
These matchups favor Navy’s versatility, but Army’s discipline (fewest penalties in AAC) could force turnovers.
Team Records and Recent Form
Navy’s consistency has it ranked No. 22 in the AP Poll and bowl-bound for the Liberty Bowl vs. Cincinnati. Army, fresh off an AAC title game berth, heads to the Fenway Bowl vs. UConn.
| Team | Record | Conf. Record | Streak | Bowl Destination |
| Army Black Knights | 6-5 | 4-4 | W1 | Fenway Bowl (vs. UConn) |
| Navy Midshipmen | 9-2 | 7-1 | W2 | Liberty Bowl (vs. Cincinnati) |
Recent Form (Last 5 Games)
Army: 3-2. Wins over UAB (31-13), Charlotte (24-7? schedule incomplete, but streak indicates), and UTSA (27-24 comeback) show late-season grit. Losses to Tulane (24-17) and Air Force exposed passing woes (11/23, 128 yds last 3 games). Offense averages 23 PPG last 6; defense allows 21.2 PPG.
Navy: 4-1. Dominant wins over Memphis and USF cap a surge after losses to North Texas (31-17) and Notre Dame (no Horvath). Earlier blowouts vs. Tulsa (42-23), Temple (32-31 thriller). Offense tops FBS in success rate; 34.8 PPG average. Defense forces 14 turnovers (79th nationally).
Navy’s only blemishes were against top-25 teams; Army’s form is streaky but resilient.
Series History
Navy holds the edge in this 125-year rivalry (dating to 1890), but Army has clawed back recently. The Mids’ 14-game win streak (2002-2015) is the longest, but Army won six of the last 10 before Navy’s 31-13 rout in 2024. Total points average 15.8 per team—low-scoring affairs dominate.
| All-Time Record | Navy Wins | Army Wins | Ties | Last 10 (2015-2024) |
| Navy 63-55-7 | 63 | 55 | 7 | Navy 4-6 |
Notable: Army’s largest margin (38-0, 1949); Navy’s (51-0, 1973). Winning team is 9-0-1 ATS since 2015.
Betting Trends
Historical: Under hit 16 straight before 2022 OT Over; 2023 Push, 2024 Over. Army 6-4 ATS; Navy 4-6 but 7-1 ATS as conference fave. Rivalry winner 9-0-1 ATS since 2015—fade the dog at your peril.
| Trend | Army | Navy | Notes |
| ATS Record | 6-4 | 4-6 | Navy 7-1 ATS in AAC wins |
| O/U Record | 2-7-1 | 2-7-1 | Under in 8/11 recent rivalry games |
Game Odds
Army Black Knights 38.5
Navy Midshipmen – 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, December 12, 2025
