50 epic photos of the Army vs. Navy football game

In the history of sports, a few great rivalries stand out. Baseball has the Red Sox and Yankees. College basketball has Duke and North Carolina. One of the longest-running and most-heated rivalries in college football is the one between the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Yes, we're talking about the Army-Navy game.

In 2008, the Army Black Knights wore jerseys that read "Duty. Honor. Country" on the back.

Every year, Midshipmen players choose patches to wear on their uniforms to honor special or significant military units.

Army has a miniature tank affixed with a T-shirt cannon that it brings to big football games.

Here, the Navy Midshipmen sing "Navy Blue and Gold," the academy's alma mater, after falling to the Army Black Knights in December 2020. 

The 115th Army-Navy football game, in 2014, was held in Baltimore. Here, two players celebrate after defeating their rival squad.

An Army player leaps over the defense to advance the football during a game in 2008.

No matter what the stats say, the students come prepared to cheer their respective teams to victory.

A Navy receiver dives to catch a pass during the 2008 matchup in Philadelphia.

One fun tradition that takes place during the annual game is an event called the "prisoner exchange." During the exchange, seven West Point cadets and seven Annapolis midshipmen march to midfield, signaling their return to their home academy. 

Of course, they're not really prisoners, these are students who participated in the Service Academy Exchange Program. The program allows students from Army, Navy, the Air Force Academy and the Coast Guard Academy to spend fall semester in "enemy" territory.

Defensive back Dean Ngendakuriyo, No. 21 of the Army Black Knights, gets pumped up before the game in 2020. Army would win this game easily, with a final score of 15-0.

Three hours before each game, before they take their seats to cheer their respective football teams, the Army cadets and the Navy midshipmen march onto the field in formation and salute the American flag.

President John F. Kennedy applauds from his box on the Army side of the Army-Navy game in 1962.

In this photo from 2011, President Barack Obama greets Navy team captain Alexander Teich, before the coin toss at the 50-yard line.

President Donald Trump looks on as players from Army and Navy shake hands before the 2020 football game.

At the 2017 game, an Army cadet holds up the jersey of a teammate who died in a car accident earlier that season.

If you're attending one of these games, don't forget to look up!

Here's another look at the Corp of Cadets marching onto the field in their dress uniforms, this time in 2009.

Here, First Captain Reilly McGinnis leads the cadets in a pre-game chant on the field.

Here, Army quarterback and team captain Ahmad Bradshaw celebrates in the snow following the Black Knights' 2017 victory.

Cheerleaders lift West Point Superintendent Lieutenant General Robert L. Caslen, Jr., into the air following Army's 2017 victory.

Here, the Navy football team shows off the Commander-in-Chief's trophy, after their 2005 victory.

Navy Midshipmen running back John Howell scores a touchdown during the Army-Navy game in 2010.

Here's an aerial view of the Army cadets standing in formation before the big game in 2009.

Here, Navy Midshipmen players climb a wall the celebrate with fans after downing Army in 2015.

The Army Golden Knights parachute team land on the field before the 2004 Army-Navy game.

Here, the Army Black Knights celebrate after a victory against the Navy Midshipmen in 2017. This win was their second in as many years.

The Midshipmen's mascot is Bill the Goat. The first Bill the Goat appeared in 1893. 

Always prepared, Navy even has goats in training.

The 1926 Army-Navy game stands out for a few reasons. First —  it's the only game of the series to ever be played in Chicago.

Here's an aerial look at the Army cadets in attendance at the 2009 Army-Navy game.

Young fans cheer in support of the Midshipmen at the Army-Navy game in 2015.

Here, Navy students cheer during the 2014 match, played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

As T-Pain once sang on a DJ Khaled track, "If you going in, put your hands in the air, make 'em stay there." 

Army Black Knights quarterback Chris Carter finished the 2015 matchup with 208 passing yards.

In 2009, members of the Army Black Knights ran onto the field carrying an American flag.

In this photo from 2014, Army cadets celebrate after the Black Knights' special teams blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown.

The Midshipmen unveiled these hand-painted helmets ahead of the 2015 Army-Navy game.

Snow and rain fell throughout the 2013 rivalry game.

Here's another look at the Black Knights taking the field — this time with the Army Mule mascot pointing the way.

In this photo from 2004, cheerleaders lead the crowd in a chant in support of the Naval Academy football team.

Cadets on two Army mules watch reluctantly as Annapolis scores a touchdown in this 2004 meeting. 

Midshipmen safety Daiquan Thomasson makes an interception during the 2015 Army-Navy game.

In 2004, West Point cadets cheered on the sidelines. As the players ran onto the field, choppers flew overhead.

At West Point, it's customary to burn a boat — or a makeshift submarine — before the annual game.

Navy midshipmen sing in the stands during the 2009 Army-Navy game.

In the foreground, the Brigade of Midshipmen stands in formation on the football field, before taking their seats for the 2013 Army-Navy game.

Here's another play from that rainy 2013 matchup.

President Barack Obama laughs with Navy midshipmen and other fans at the 2011 Army-Navy game.

Here's NASA's Gemini 6A spacecraft in orbit, in December 1965. In the window, there's a sign that reads "Beat Army."