Army-Navy game moves up a week to accommodate expanded CFP

A new date in Philadelphia

The 128th Army-Navy game is set for Saturday, Dec. 4, 2027, at Lincoln Financial Field. It had been scheduled for Dec. 11, but the expanded playoff prompted the date change.

Keeping the game standalone

A presidential executive order signed earlier this year called for the annual meeting of the two service academies to have an exclusive time slot, without other FBS games. Moving the contest to the first weekend of December is intended to make that possible, as conference title games will no longer fill those television windows.

The College Football Playoff will begin Dec. 9 under its 24-team format. The Army-Navy announcement said that change necessitated moving the game from Dec. 11.

Officials welcome coordination

Army West Point athletic director and chief executive officer Tom Theodorakis thanked Philadelphia and Lincoln Financial Field for managing the revised date. He said the effort would help ensure the game keeps its exclusive CBS window.

Naval Academy athletic director Michael Kelly also praised the city, stadium and academies for working together. Kelly said the arrangement preserves the game’s exclusive broadcast window while giving the program a rightful path to compete in the playoff.