The Army versus Navy game on Saturday, December 13, 2025 was a real nail-biter for both team’s fans and supporters at the Raven’s Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Army was leading most of the game, with their starting quarterback, Cale Hellums, until Navy had a thrilling comeback. At half time, the score was 16-10, but the game really took a turn after Hellums threw an interception in the fourth quarter. This occurrence boosted excitement and hope for both Navy players and fans. The starting quarterback for Navy, Blake Horvath, threw the game winning pass to Eli Heidenreich. The last minute touchdown gave Navy just enough points to win the game. The midshipmen held onto their one point lead and won the game with the score of 17-16. The Navy’s victory secured them the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy for two consecutive years.
This was a major victory for the Navy, due to the intense rivalry that runs deep in their college traditions. For over 100 years, the Army and Navy have gone head to head in an annual football game, known as, “The American Game”. Though, the game is much more than just football; It displays themes of service, respect, and legacy. Not to mention the amount of iconic traditions that make this game so unique. For starters, the game premiers with a variety of Army and Navy aviation assets flying over the stadium. The display of aircrafts is very distinct from any other college football game. The “prisoner exchange” is especially popular, as it is so eccentric. In this tradition, the cadets and midshipmen that were “prisoners” or interns at their rival school are returned at mid-field to cheer with their home team. Finally, it is customary for the U.S. President to attend the game. This year, Donald Trump attended the game for his sixth time. When asked what team he was favoring, he answered, “My answer is: ‘You must be joking if you think I’m going to give you that answer!’” The president participated in the ritual coin toss and showed deep respect for our nation’s armed forces.
Sources:
https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/football/fbs/navy-defeats-army-17-16-126th-matchup-between-rivals
https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/12/president-trump-attends-126th-army-navy-game/
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5648025-trump-attends-army-navy-football/
