The 126th edition of America’s Game – the Army-Navy Game – took place on Saturday, December 13, 2025. This year, it was M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore’s turn to host the prestigious event. Jeff Monken and his 6-5 Army Black Knights were looking to get redemption over Brian Newberry’s 9-2 Navy Midshipmen, the winner of last year’s game. The graduation of Army’s previous star QB, Bryson Daily, was a crucial blow to Army’s roster in 2025. The Midshipmen came into 2025 with QB Blake Horvath returning for his senior season, fresh off an Armed Forces Bowl victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in 2024.
The military students of West Point and Annapolis packed the stands, and so did US President Donald J. Trump. Casual fans waited hours just to enter the secure facility. Meanwhile, CBS broadcaster Gary Danielson was ready to work his final Army-Navy broadcast before retirement.
From the opening kickoff, a ton of fans were expecting both teams to run the ball most of the game with minimal passing – and from the first quarter on, that seemed to be the answer. Navy’s Blake Horvath scored the game’s first touchdown with 7:16 left in the first quarter, giving them a 7-0 advantage.
Then came the Black Knights in the second quarter, as junior QB Cale Hellums punched the ball into the end zone from two yards out, tying the game at 7, five seconds in. Kicker Dawson Jones kicked two field goals to give West Point’s faithful a 13-7 halftime lead.
The third quarter also remained quiet, with both teams splitting field goals. The score read 16-10 Army with one quarter left in the contest.
However, with 11:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, Hellums threw an interception at midfield. The Midshipmen took advantage of this turnover as Horvath threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenrich on 4th & Goal, putting them up late, 17-16. All they needed was just one more stop on Army, a few first downs, and they would be going back-to-back in America’s Game.
And so, it happened.
After forcing a punt on what would be the Black Knights’ final drive, Navy got the first downs they needed to hold off their arch-rivals, 17-16. These first downs weren’t easy, though, as Horvath had to recover his own fumble on the Army 43-yard line just before the two-minute timeout.
Horvath finished 7/14 for 82 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He also ran for 107 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries. Heidenrich caught six passes for 72 yards and the go-ahead score.
10-2 Navy and 6-6 Army will each finish their 2025 football seasons on Saturday, December 27. The Midshipmen will face off against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis. Meanwhile, the Black Knights will play the UConn Huskies in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl in Boston.
The 127th Annual Army-Navy Game will take place on Saturday, December 12, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
