Army-Navy Game Move to Thanksgiving Eyed to Simplify CFP Schedule
The Army-Navy Game is one of college football’s most legendary rivalries. For years, it’s been played on the second Saturday of December—at least, since 2009.
Lately, there’s been some noise about changing that. College Football Playoff (CFP) expansion and shifting schedules have put this old-school matchup under a brighter spotlight than usual.
Army coach Jeff Monken has floated the idea of moving the game to Thanksgiving weekend. His thinking? If the CFP starts earlier, the season won’t drag into late January.
That would bring the championship game closer to January 1, which just feels right, doesn’t it?
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People call it *America’s Game* for a reason. This rivalry kicked off in 1890, and the teams have squared off every year since 1930.
Right now, Navy leads the series 64-55-7. Last season’s 17-16 finish was a nail-biter—one for the books.
There’s nothing quite like the spectacle and tradition of this game. That’s probably why it’s had its own weekend, away from the chaos of other matchups.
Historical Significance
Since 2009, the game’s held court on the second Saturday of December, all by itself. CBS Sports has owned the broadcast rights since 1996 and isn’t letting go until at least 2038.
The 2026 game will be a big deal—it lands on December 12 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, marking 25 years since 9/11.
Proposed Changes: Moving to Thanksgiving Weekend
Monken’s proposal is pretty straightforward: shift the Army-Navy Game to Thanksgiving weekend. That way, the CFP can get rolling sooner and the season won’t stretch on forever.
He’s not shy about it—he’d rather see the season wrap up with the new year than bleed into the back half of January.
Benefits of the Change
So, what’s in it for everyone?
- Earlier Start for CFP: Kicking things off a week earlier means less downtime between playoff rounds.
- Season Alignment: The season could actually end around January 1, which feels a lot more natural.
- Maintaining Tradition: The game might still snag a unique slot—maybe Thanksgiving Day, or that Friday or Saturday right after.
Challenges and Pushback
Of course, not everyone’s on board. Messing with the Army-Navy Game’s timeslot is bound to ruffle feathers—this is college football history we’re talking about.
Fans, alumni, and plenty of stakeholders are likely to dig in their heels if someone tries to move it.
Presidential Intervention
Even former President Donald Trump has weighed in, saying he wants to keep the game right where it is. He talked about signing an executive order to make sure no other football games overlap with Army-Navy.
This came up after the LA Bowl (which, honestly, isn’t around anymore) started just thirty minutes after the 2025 Army-Navy Game kicked off.
The Future of College Football Scheduling
All this talk is really part of a bigger debate about how to handle college football’s ever-growing schedule. The CFP is jumping from four to twelve teams, so the season’s only getting longer.
Adjusting when big games like Army-Navy are played might help keep things manageable.
Balancing Tradition and Modernization
College football is soaked in tradition, but it’s also evolving. Changing the schedule means walking a tightrope—honoring the past while making room for what’s next.
Moving the Army-Navy Game could make sense logistically, but it’s got to be done with a real respect for everything the game stands for. That’s the tricky part, isn’t it?
Conclusion: A Game Worth Protecting
The Army-Navy Game isn’t just another football matchup. It’s a tradition that’s pulled in fans for more than a hundred years.
There’s plenty of talk these days about expanding the College Football Playoff and shuffling the schedule. But honestly, messing with this rivalry? That’s a big deal.
Some folks think moving the game to Thanksgiving weekend could be a smart move. Maybe it would get more eyes on it, maybe not. But you can’t just forget what this game means to so many people.
If you want to dig deeper into all this, there’s a full article here.
