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The Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen play their annual rivalry game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Dec. 9, 2023.
The Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen play their annual rivalry game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Dec. 9, 2023. (Edward Diller / Getty Images)

Army and Navy Football Teams Both Ranked for First Time Since 1960, Dawn of JFK's 'Camelot'

 By Randy DeSoto  October 14, 2024 at 3:10pm
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For the first time since 1960, both the Army and Navy service academy football programs are ranked in the top 25 teams in the country.

For historical perspective that was the year John F. Kennedy, a Navy World War II veteran, was elected president, ushering in what some historians deemed the “Camelot” age in America.

The Associated Press’ Top 25 has the West Point Army Black Knights at 23 and the Annapolis Midshipmen at 25, CBS Sports reported.

Both teams, who play in the American Athletic Conference are undefeated, as well, for the first time since 1945, when World War II had just come to an end and much of the country’s other college programs were rebuilding.

This season Army is 6-0 and has pummeled all its opponents so far this year, beating University of Alabama-Birmingham over the weekend 44-10.

Are you surprised how well Army and Navy are doing?

Army currently has the longest wining streak in the country among FBS teams at 10, which dates back to their upset win over then-17th ranked undefeated Air Force last November at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High.

CBS Sports reported that Army, with quarterback Bryson Daily, has the most efficient offense in college football and is ranked No. 7 in yards per play.

Daily rushed for four touchdowns in the game and passed for another, as the Army offense racked up 413 yards.

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Meanwhile Navy’s Blake Horvath is a duel threat on both the ground and air, having already thrown for more yards than the program’s leading passers in three of the last four seasons.

Both Army and Navy were coming off disappointing seasons last year with 6-6 and 5-7 records, respectively, which created a hunger in the programs.

“You want to be relevant,” Navy coach Brian Newberry said, CBS News reported. “This is a humble group. It’s a hungry group. It’s still a group that has a chip on its shoulder, which I love, but we want to be significant in the landscape of college football here.”

Navy fell to the Black Knights in last year’s Army-Navy game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with Army making a goal line stand in the contest’s final seconds.

This year’s Army-Navy game is slated to be played at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, on Dec. 14.

Both Army’s and Navy’s impressive records this year have come despite the players not being eligible to receive NIL (name, image, likeness) funds, which other college players now can.

Also, while the teams’ players can transfer out to join other teams through the college football portal, they cannot bring other players in because of the graduation requirements at the academies of completing all four years.

One interesting historical note: Though Kennedy served in the Navy, he followed the presidential tradition of spending a half sitting with each team when he attended the Army-Navy game in December 1961.

JKF, who loved football, attended the 1962 game, as well. Navy won both match-ups.

This season, the biggest test for both teams is when they play No. 12 ranked Notre Dame (5-1).

If Army and Navy continue to dominate the AAC, it is possible they will play each other for the conference title on Dec. 6 then come back a week later for a rematch on Dec. 14 for the official Army-Navy game.

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Randy DeSoto
Writer
Randy DeSoto has written more than 3,000 articles for The Western Journal since he began with the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




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