The annual Army vs. Navy game is one of college football’s most iconic rivalries, full of tradition and pageantry. It’s also one of the most anticipated uniform fights of the year, and now both the Army and Navy have revealed their special outfits for their duel on Saturday, December 9th. Of course, neither disappoints.
On Monday, the midshipmen unveiled submarine-style uniforms honoring the “Silent Service” to be worn during the annual battle with the Black Knights. Every element of the uniform, from the helmets to the gloves, references submarine warfare in some way. For example, the helmets are painted with a Virginia-class underwater submarine on one side, while the other side features the Navy’s anchor logo with an integrated submarine pin. That’s one aspect of a look that’s sure to catch a lot of people’s attention on game day.
The Army, meanwhile, continues its tradition of honoring specific Army divisions. This year the Black Knights of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) are paying their respects. The 3rd Infantry Division was activated on Nov. 21, 1917, the same year the U.S. entered World War I, but the Army is pursuing a more modern variant.
The Black Knights wear tan overalls to reference the desert in which the 3rd Infantry Division operated during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 3ID served as the tip of the armored spearhead during the land invasion of Iraq that began on March 21, 2003.
The Army uniform is full of small details honoring the 3rd Infantry Division. The Black Knights will wear helmets emblazoned with “Rocky the Bulldog,” the 3ID’s official mascot. Each player also wears the number and corresponding call sign of one of the division’s three brigades on the back of their helmet. The uniform also has the usual tank markings scattered throughout.
The 124th meeting of Army vs. Navy will take place on Saturday, December 9th at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts at 3:00 p.m. ET on CBS. The Black Knights will have a chance to win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy outright after previously upsetting Air Force on the road. Navy can only secure a share with a win after losing at home to Air Force.