If you’re looking for the quick answer to what’s the score of the army game, the most recent high-stakes matchup saw Army fall to Navy with a final score of 17-16. It was a brutal one. One of those games where you could feel the air leave the stadium in Baltimore as the clock hit zero.
The game went down on December 13, 2025, at M&T Bank Stadium. For a long time, it really looked like the Black Knights had it in the bag. They were leading 16-7 deep into the third quarter. Then, the wheels sort of just... wobbled. Not a total collapse, but enough for Navy to find a gap.
Breaking Down the 126th Army-Navy Score
Most people asking about the score are talking about the annual classic against the Midshipmen, which doubled as the winner-take-all battle for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy this year.
Army’s quarterback Cale Hellums was doing what he does best: grinding. He scored on a 2-yard sneak in the second quarter, which was actually his 16th rushing touchdown of the season. At that point, the energy was electric. Dawson Jones, the kicker, was also having a day. He nailed three field goals, including a massive 48-yarder that put Army up by nine points.
But Navy is Navy. They don't quit.
Blake Horvath, their QB, led a comeback that ended with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich. That happened on a fourth-and-goal with only 6:32 left on the clock.
Imagine the tension. Fourth down. Goal to go. The season on the line.
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Horvath squeezed the ball in, and just like that, the score flipped to 17-16. Army couldn't answer back in the final minutes.
The Full 2025 Season Recap
Football seasons are long, so "the army game" might refer to their latest outing in the postseason. After the heartbreak in Baltimore, Army actually bounced back in a big way.
They headed to the Wasabi Fenway Bowl in Boston on December 27, 2025.
If you want that score, it’s much happier: Army 41, UConn 16.
They absolutely dismantled the Huskies. It was a complete 180 from the Navy game. The offense clicked, the defense was suffocating, and they finished the year with a 7-6 record.
Honestly, looking at the full 2025 schedule gives you a better picture of how this team operated:
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- They started with a weird 2-overtime loss to Tarleton State (30-27).
- Then they shocked Kansas State with a 24-21 win.
- They beat Air Force 20-17 in November.
- They narrowly escaped Temple 14-13.
- They ended on that high note in the Fenway Bowl.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Score
People often think these games are high-scoring affairs because of the "modern" era of football. They aren't. Not usually.
When you look at what’s the score of the army game over the last decade, you see a lot of 17-13, 14-10, and 10-7 results. It’s the "triple option" effect—though Army has evolved their look lately—and the fact that both teams know exactly what the other is doing.
Every yard is a chore.
In the 2025 matchup, Navy only outgained Army by about 70 yards. It was that close. One fumble that Army couldn't recover late in the game was basically the difference between winning the trophy and watching Navy celebrate on the field.
Why the Navy Game Score Matters More
The score of the Army-Navy game isn't just a stat. It determines who keeps the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Since both Army and Navy had already beaten Air Force earlier in the 2025 season, the winner of this specific game took the hardware home.
Navy’s 17-16 win meant they kept the trophy for the second straight year.
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For the seniors at West Point, that’s a tough pill to swallow. You spend four years training, and to lose the biggest game of your life by a single point? That stays with you.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the team into the 2026 season, keep an eye on these specific factors that usually dictate the final score:
Turnover Margin: In 2025, Army actually won the turnover battle against Navy but still lost the game. That's rare. Usually, the team that protects the ball wins this rivalry.
Red Zone Efficiency: Army struggled to turn drives into touchdowns in the second half of the Navy game, settling for field goals. In the Fenway Bowl, they finished those drives. That’s the 25-point swing right there.
The Kickers: Never overlook the Army kicker. Dawson Jones was a reliable source of points all year. In games where the score is consistently in the teens, a missed 40-yarder is a death sentence.
Keep track of the spring practice reports coming out of West Point in the next few months. They’ll be looking to replace some key defensive starters who graduated after the bowl win. The next chance to see the Black Knights in action will be the 2026 season opener, where they'll try to build on that dominant bowl performance.