The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Commander-in-Chief (AF-Navy)

Navy24-35Air Force
Regional Program I#72 of 138–Regional Program II#89 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →

Air Force leads the all-time series 35-24. They've met 59 times since 1960. Air Force once took 11 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Navy
Transfer portal
-14
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -9
Air Force
Transfer portal
-5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -5

Stature & the series, 1960–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeNavyAir Forceevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Navy won, gray: Air Force won)19401960198020002020

The identity war

Air Force was the more pass-heavy program — then Navy took it over.

Air Force threw it more in 13 of 16 seasons, 2004–2019. Since 2020, Navy has led 7 of 7. Real exceptions: 2010, 2012, 2016.

more passmore runNavyAir Force2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262020Navy 4.1 ptsAir Force won 40-72012Navy 3.9 ptsNavy won 28-212016Navy 2.2 ptsAir Force won 28-14
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Air Force by 42 in 1998. The biggest crowd, 48,550, was in 2002.

The coaching duels

Ken Niumatalolo vs Troy Calhoun8-8
Charlie Weatherbie vs Fisher DeBerry1-6
George Welsh vs Ben Martin3-2
George Chaump vs Fisher DeBerry1-4
Paul Johnson vs Fisher DeBerry4-1
Brian Newberry vs Troy Calhoun2-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
10-6
Navy leads
1st-rounders
0-0
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
NavyAir Force
1980s1-0
1990s3-3
2010s2-1
2020s4-2

Best picks, either side

1986Napoleon McCallum Running Back · Los Angeles RaidersRd 4, pick 26#108 overall
2015Joe Cardona Long Snapper · New England PatriotsRd 5, pick 30#166 overall
1994Max Lane Offensive Tackle · New England PatriotsRd 6, pick 7#168 overall
1997Daniel Palmer Offensive Tackle · San Diego ChargersRd 6, pick 15#178 overall
2016Keenan Reynolds Wide Receiver · Baltimore RavensRd 6, pick 7#182 overall
1993Robert Kuberski Defensive End · Green Bay PackersRd 7, pick 15#183 overall
1995Kevin Hickman Tight End · Detroit LionsRd 6, pick 15#186 overall
2022Jordan Jackson Defensive Tackle · New Orleans SaintsRd 6, pick 15#194 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Air Force1.35×its own average home crowd
Navy1.22×its own average home crowd
2026Air Force14-9
2025Navy34-31
2024Navy34-7
2023Air Force17-6
2022Air Force13-10
2021Air Force23-3
2020Air Force40-7Navy — Navy routed by 33
2019Navy34-25
2018Air Force35-7Navy — Navy routed by 28
2017Navy48-45Air Force — decided by 3
2016Air Force28-14
2015Navy33-11
2014Air Force30-21
2013Navy28-10

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Navy’s chance to win through that meeting. Navy is 1-2 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2025: firestorm.

2026Air Force 14-9Navy lost 9-14 at Air Force. Chance to win started at 35%, low under 1%, high 46%.Busy
2025Navy 34-31Navy won 34-31 vs Air Force. Chance to win started at 91%, low 59%, high 97%.Firestorm
2024Navy 34-7Navy won 34-7 at Air Force. Chance to win started at 78%, low 73%, high better than 99%.Busy
2023Air Force 17-6Navy lost 6-17 vs Air Force. Chance to win started at 18%, low 1%, high 32%.Steady
2022Air Force 13-10Navy lost 10-13 at Air Force. Chance to win started at 15%, low 4%, high 32%.
2021Air Force 23-3Navy lost 3-23 vs Air Force. Chance to win started at 33%, low 1%, high 48%.
2020Air Force 40-7Navy lost 7-40 at Air Force. Chance to win started at 68%, low under 1%, high 74%.
2019Navy 34-25Navy won 34-25 vs Air Force. Chance to win started at 38%, low 21%, high better than 99%.
2018Air Force 35-7Navy lost 7-35 at Air Force. Chance to win started at 58%, low under 1%, high 79%.
“Eli Heidenreich just set the record for most rec yards in Navy history”
A Navy fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “B-21 emblem on the AF unis is sick”
    A fan of another team
  • 2025
    “Eli Heidenreich just set the record for most rec yards in Navy history”
    A Navy fan

Share the loudest meeting

Meetings with their own story page

11 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.