The historic and ferocious rivalry of the Army-Navy football game stands alone on the annual college football calendar. This season however, adds another dimension as both teams have debuted undefeated, making them potential contenders for the College Football Playoff. Ranking at No. 23 and No. 24 respectively, Army’s Black Knights (7-0) and Navy’s Midshipmen (6-0) are closely watched by the American Athletic Conference (AAC). However, the scheduling places the Playoff field set on December 8th – six days in advance of the annual Army-Navy game, potentially complicating matters if one team makes it to the Playoffs and then loses to the other in the traditional game.
This season marks the first time since 1926 that the teams began season 6-0. Army, with 7-0 has not trailed during a game this season, whereas Navy with a 6-0 record is gearing up for a critical match against No. 12 Notre Dame. Added competition comes from Tulane, which has not lost any of its three conference games and is lined up against Navy in mid-November – a potential stumbling block on Navy’s road to the Playoffs.
The AAC championship holds significance for the CFP. However, should the Army-Navy game take place after Selection Day for the Playoff, it will not influence the decisive selection process. In the previous four-team Playoff era, any implications of the Army-Navy game could be taken into account but with the extension of the Playoff to 12-team, time is not on the side of the service academies.
The timing of the Army-Navy game could impact the preparation duration for the service academies. Given that other teams will not play during the week of December 14, if either Army or Navy secures a place in the Playoff, they will have less time to prepare for a game in the postseason. Projections from The Athletic’s Austin Mock sets a 29.6% chance to either Army or Navy making the Playoffs, with chances swaying dependent on the outcomes of their succeeding games.
To secure a spot in the Playoff, either Army or Navy will have to continue their winning streaks and claim victory in the AAC. Another deciding factor comes from the Mountain West, particularly the performance of teams like Boise State (5-1) and UNLV (6-1) which could potentially eclipse the service academies in the run for the Playoff. Predictions recommend rooting for an upset against Boise State and UNLV to bolster the chances of either Army or Navy.
In the tumultuous history of college football, Army claims five national championships while Navy stakes claim to a share of the 1926 national title. However, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing as college football hasn’t always held a national championship game. The last time that either team entered the top 10 AP chart was in 1964. As the regular season draws to a close, the rival teams will face various quality opponents. The Army-Navy game allows for a fitting end to the season, fostering the anticipation for a thrilling Playoff.
