College GameDay Announces Return to Storied Rivalry It Skipped the Last Two Years

GameDay returns to MetLife

The show covered Army-Navy every December from 2014 through 2021, then missed the game in 2024 and 2025. In 2024, it did not travel during the first season of the 12-team College Football Playoff. A year later, it aired from the SEC title game the weekend before and was off on Army-Navy Saturday.

Fans expressed frustration online during the 2025 absence as Navy beat Army 17-16 in Baltimore. GameDay had previously visited Baltimore, Philadelphia, West Point, East Rutherford and Foxborough, Massachusetts. Its only earlier MetLife visit was in 2021, when the crew set up in Lot J before Navy’s 17-13 win.

Trophy already decided

The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy will not be at stake when the teams meet at MetLife. Air Force clinched it on Nov. 7 with a 24-21 win at Michie Stadium, earning its first trophy since 2022 after defeating Navy earlier in the season.

Army erased a 10-point halftime deficit and moved ahead 21-17 late in the third quarter before Air Force responded. The Black Knights are 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the American. Coach Jeff Monken, in his 13th season at West Point, said, “Surely disappointed for our team. Our guys, I really thought, played hard.”

Quarterback Cale Hellums and Army need one more win to become bowl eligible. East Carolina and a road game at Rice remain on the schedule.

Navy seeks late turnaround

Navy is 3-6 after an 11-2 season that finished with a Liberty Bowl victory and a No. 22 final ranking. Quarterback Jackson Gutierrez accounted for six touchdowns, including five rushing scores, in a 42-35 win over Temple on Nov. 7. Navy needed his late touchdown after Temple erased a 28-point deficit. Coach Brian Newberry said, “I’m glad to get a win, but we lost all our momentum.” Navy must beat Memphis and Charlotte to reach MetLife with a chance to finish 6-6.

Broadcast details

Rece Davis will host the ESPN broadcast with Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban. The show is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon ET on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Army will be the designated home team for the 127th meeting, which kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on CBS.