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Notre Dame and Army will face off for the 52nd time—but the first since 2016—on Saturday, as one of college football’s oldest rivalries looks a lot different in today’s evolving college sports landscape.
The programs played each other every year but one between 1913 and 1947, and then 17 times since, but never more than two years in a row.
Saturday’s contest is taking place at Yankee Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC) as part of Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series, which regularly features the Fighting Irish in a neutral location. The most recent Army–Notre Dame matchup eight years ago took place at the Alamodome in San Antonio—a 44–6 rout by the Irish.
Big Stakes on the Line
The first season of the expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff is putting the game in a national spotlight it hasn’t had in 66 years.
No. 6 Notre Dame (9–1) and No. 19 Army (9–0) are meeting as ranked teams for the first time since 1958, which is the last matchup the Black Knights won (No. 3 Army beat No. 4 Notre Dame 14–2).
In the latest CFP rankings and projected Playoff bracket, Notre Dame would host Alabama in a first-round Playoff game, while Army would be left out despite its undefeated record so far. The Black Knights haven’t beaten a ranked team yet, so an upset victory over the Fighting Irish, who are favored by two touchdowns, would go a long way in improving their postseason chances.
Notre Dame’s only loss this year came in September against Northern Illinois, which was paid $1.4 million to travel to South Bend, Ind., and leave with a stunning victory. Army and No. 20 Tulane have already clinched the two spots in the American Athletic Conference championship game.
Big Bucks vs. No Spending
Notre Dame entered the season as one of the nation’s 15 highest spenders on NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals for its football players, according to On3. Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard, who transferred from Duke, has signed deals with well-known brands like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Rhoback.
In stark contrast to today’s top programs, Army—and every other service academy—prohibits players from accepting NIL deals.
That stance has been firm since NIL was first allowed in 2021, despite multiple recruiting arms of those same military branches striking NIL deals of their own with top college athletes at public universities. UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers partnered with GoArmy and journeyman quarterback DJ Uiagalelei in a campaign for the Marines.
Notre Dame and Army don’t have another football game scheduled as of now.
