President Donald Trump pledged to protect the traditional December time slot for the annual Army-Navy college football game from potential conflicts with the expanded College Football Playoff (CFP).
In a December 22, 2024, post on Truth Social, Trump stated the Army-Navy game is "one of Sports Greatest Traditions" and affirmed he would "fight hard to make sure this Great Tradition continues, and is not hurt by the new College Football Playoff."[1][2]
The Army-Navy rivalry, dating to November 29, 1890, is played annually on the second Saturday in December, a slot held by CBS since 2009. Army holds a 64-54-7 series lead following its 31-21 victory over Navy on December 14, 2024, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, before an attendance of 43,746.[3][4]
The win clinched the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for Army, awarded annually since 1972 to the service academy with the best record against the other two (Army, Navy, Air Force). Army has won the trophy in 2023 and 2024; Navy's last victory came in 2019.[5]
| 2024 Army-Navy Key Stats |
|---|
| Army: 443 total yards, 31 points |
| Navy: 291 total yards, 21 points |
| Army QB Bryson Daily: 2 pass TD, 1 rush TD |
The 12-team CFP expansion, which began in 2024 with first-round games December 20-21, has raised concerns about future scheduling overlaps with the Army-Navy game, scheduled for December 13, 2025.[6]
Trump hosted a January 30, 2025, roundtable at Mar-a-Lago with NCAA President Charlie Baker, former Alabama coach Nick Saban, Power conference commissioners and others to discuss college sports issues including name, image and likeness (NIL) rules and governance.[7]
Sources
- Fox News. "Trump vows to protect Army-Navy game from College Football Playoffs encroachment." December 23, 2024. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trump-vows-protect-army-navy-game-college-football-playoffs-encroachment
- Truth Social / Newsweek. "Donald Trump warns College Football Playoff: Nobody messes with Army-Navy." December 22, 2024. https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-army-navy-game-college-football-playoff-2000134
- ESPN. "Army 31-21 Navy (Dec 14, 2024) Game Recap." Accessed October 2025. https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401736288
- NCAA.com. "Army vs. Navy football box score." December 14, 2024. https://www.ncaa.com/game/6256801
- GoArmyWestpoint.com. "Army West Point Football 2024 Commander-in-Chief's Trophy." December 2024. https://goarmywestpoint.com/sports/football/roster
- CFP official site. "2024-2028 Championship Schedule." Accessed October 2025. https://collegefootballplayoff.com/schedule/
- Fox News. "Trump hosts college athletics leaders for NIL roundtable at Mar-a-Lago." January 30, 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trump-hosts-college-athletics-leaders-nil-roundtable-mar-lago
