With the College Football Playoff continuing to discuss expansion and what that might mean for the calendar, there’s a possibility the postseason schedule could be pushed back a week.
If that happens, the biggest question becomes what it means for the Army-Navy Game.
Traditionally, the Army-Navy Game stands alone as the final game of the season. No one else plays during “America’s Game,” and it draws a national audience. But the game has run into some real complications in recent years.
Army and Navy are now members of the American Athletic Conference in football. Because of the conference championship game, the Army-Navy matchup remains a non-conference game. That creates the awkward possibility that one or both teams could play in the conference title game and then face each other again the following week.
That’s part of why Army coach Jeff Monken is open to discussing a change.
Monken has proposed moving the game to an exclusive window around Thanksgiving. That could mean playing on the holiday itself or on Black Friday. However, Navy officials have pushed back, saying they do not want to move the game from its traditional end-of-season spot.
Should the game move? Here are the arguments on both sides.
Pro: Army and Navy Could Play in the Playoff
This is not as far-fetched as it sounds. Navy just missed the conference title game this past season, losing a three-way tiebreaker with Tulane and North Texas. Tulane went on to win the conference and reach the Playoff.
Even with the Power 4 leagues pushing to limit Group of 6 access, the American still has a path. If Army or Navy reaches 10 wins, it will have a realistic shot at the postseason.
If the playoff calendar gets pushed back, the Army-Navy Game would have to move or the academies would essentially be choosing tradition over playoff access. That’s not a trade Monken wants, and it’s hard to argue that he should.
Con: The Thanksgiving Window Isn’t the Same
If Army and Navy play on the second Saturday in December, they own the window. The NFL does not schedule early Saturday games in December, typically only a primetime matchup.
That would not be the case on Thanksgiving weekend. The NFL owns Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, and it is not moving those games. Even with the Army-Navy Game’s appeal, competing directly with the NFL would hurt viewership.
There are also numerous college rivalry games that week. When those games are spread across Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Army-Navy risks getting lost in the shuffle.
Pro: The Conference Championship Nightmare
Consider this scenario: Army and Navy both go 7-1 in conference play and finish first and second in the American. They meet in the conference championship game, then play again the following week in the scheduled Army-Navy Game.
Which game matters more? The conference title or the rivalry? And how do you keep both teams emotionally and physically ready for two matchups in back-to-back weeks?
There is no good solution. Moving the game removes the possibility of an immediate rematch.
Con: This Tradition Is Sacred
College football has already lost a number of traditions in the era of superconferences. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Oregon and Oregon State, and even Notre Dame and USC are no longer guaranteed annual matchups.
Army-Navy as the final game of the season is one of the last truly unique traditions in the sport. Taking that away would be difficult for many fans to accept, even if the scheduling reasons make sense.
Pro: Better Weather Could Mean a Better Game
December weather along the I-95 corridor is rarely ideal. The game is typically played in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, or Foxborough, all of which can bring cold, wind, and poor field conditions.
When the elements take over, the quality of play can suffer. Moving the game to late November could reduce the chance of weather becoming the dominant storyline.
Con: Playing in the Elements Is Part of Army-Navy
At the same time, the service academies typically run triple-option offenses that are built for tough conditions. Low-scoring, physical games in cold weather have become part of the identity of this rivalry.
For many fans, that atmosphere is part of what makes Army-Navy special. Taking that away would not be viewed as an upgrade.
Final Point
Monken is not wrong to be open to change, especially with the playoff landscape evolving. But this may not be the right place to make it.
Army-Navy as the final game of the season is one of the sport’s most meaningful traditions. Even if there are logistical reasons to move it, it is a change that would be difficult to justify for a lot of college football fans.
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