One of the most unique spectacle in all of sports is upon us as Army takes on Navy in a rivalry showdown that can rivaled by none. Conference championships have been decided and the College Football Playoff field is set, meaning 126 out of 128 FBS teams are dormant this weekend. That clears the stage for a grudge match that makes up the very foundation of college football.
This year marks the 124th meeting between the two foes and will be the end of an era in a way. A longtime independent, Army will join Navy as a member of the American Athletic Conference in 2024 with one exception: The rivalry will continue every year but will not act as a conference game to avoid disruption with its title race. However, that means there's a chance that one day Army and Navy could meet in the AAC's title game and then play in the Army-Navy Game the next week.
Wouldn't that be something?
As for this year's game, Army has had the better of the series in recent years. It won 20-17 in a double-overtime thriller last season and has won five of the last seven.
LIVE: Follow along with Saturday's Army-Navy Game
How to watch Army vs. Navy live
Date: Saturday, December 9 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Gillette Stadium -- Foxborough, Massachusetts
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
Streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime (Try It Free)
Army vs. Navy: Need to know
The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy is on the line: Having already lost to Air Force this season, Navy isn't eligible for the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy this year. But a win over Army on Saturday would create a three-way tie, in which case the Falcons would keep the CiC Trophy by virtue of being last year's winner. An Army win over Navy would give the Knights the trophy.
A win will not send either team to a bowl game: Both teams enter the game with records of 5-6, but the winner will not be going bowling after all the bowl slots were filled. Minnesota received a bowl bit at 5-7 because there was no guarantee either of these teams would be bowl eligible. If Army wins the game it will be 6-6, but two of its wins came against FCS opponents and FBS schools are only allowed to count one win against FCS teams toward bowl eligibility.
This marks the first time the rivalry will be played in Massachusetts: Philadelphia has been the most common location of the Army-Navy Game, hosting it 90 times in its history, but this season's game has a new location. Foxborough, Massachusetts becomes the eleventh host site, with this season's game being played at Gillette Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots. It'll be nice for Patriots fans to see teams score points in a football game this year. Some other surprising host cities over the years have been Chicago's Soldier Field in 1926 and the Rose Bowl in 1983.
Army vs. Navy prediction, picks
Odds via SportsLine consensus
There's an incredible trend in games between service academies that is impossible to ignore. Since the 2005 season, the under has gone 45-9-1 in games between Army, Navy and Air Force. That includes a run of 18 straight unders heading into this game. Will that streak end one day? Yes. Might it be Saturday? Sure. Are we going to bet on it ending? God, no. The under is an auto-fire in any game between academies. Prediction: Under 27.5
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