Introduction

The football rivalry between the United States Naval Academy and the United States Air Force Academy, while often eclipsed by the storied history of Navy and Army clashes, remains a compelling aspect of college football. This rivalry began in 1960 and has significantly shaped the dynamics of military academy sports.

Historical Context

The inaugural matchup between Navy and Air Force took place in Baltimore on November 12, 1960, wherein Navy emerged victorious with a score of 35-3.

In 1972, the formation of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy established a formal competition involving Army, Navy, and Air Force, further intensifying their football contests. The team that wins the face-off between Navy and Air Force has historically claimed the CIC Trophy in 41 of the first 54 seasons, representing an impressive 75.9% success rate; Air Force has secured the trophy 21 times during this period.

Series Overview

As of now, Air Force leads the overall series with a record of 34 wins to Navy’s 24. The longest winning streak in the rivalry belongs to Air Force, with 11 consecutive wins between 1982 and 1992. However, Navy countered this dominance by winning the rivalry seven straight times from 2003 to 2009, also securing the CIC Trophy during these years.

Currently, Navy has gained the upper hand, boasting a two-game winning streak along with the CIC Trophy.

Recent Matchups

In the thrilling encounter of 2025, both teams demonstrated their offensive prowess, combining for a staggering 977 yards of total offense. Navy’s quarterback, Blake Horvath, notably threw for 339 yards with three touchdown passes while adding 130 rushing yards and a touchdown. On the other hand, quarterback Liam Szarka of Air Force delivered an impressive performance with four touchdowns—two rushing and two passing—for a total of 364 yards.

In their most recent matchup, Air Force held a narrow advantage at 14-9 entering the fourth quarter, with Szarka contributing both of the Falcons’ rushing touchdowns.