What Conference is Navy Football?
The United States Naval Academy, also known as Navy, is a prestigious institution in Annapolis, Maryland, with a rich football tradition. The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the academy in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). But which conference does Navy football compete in?
American Athletic Conference (AAC)
As of the 2020 season, the Navy Midshipmen football team has been a member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). The AAC is a collegiate athletic conference that was formed in 2013, consisting of 12 member institutions, including Navy.
Previous Conferences
Before joining the AAC, Navy football was a member of the Navy’s Independents from 1879 to 1995. During this period, the team played a balanced schedule against other independent programs, including Army, Notre Dame, and Air Force.
In 1996, Navy joined the Conference USA (C-USA), where it remained until 2005. The team played some notable games during this period, including a rivalry series with Army and a non-conference matchup against Miami.
Current Conference Situation
As a member of the AAC, Navy plays a 12-game schedule, with eight conference games against other AAC teams, and four non-conference games. The conference games are divided into two divisions: the East Division, which includes Cincinnati, Connecticut, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, South Florida, Temple, and UCF; and the West Division, which includes Nevada, Rice, San Diego State, SMU, Tulane, Tulsa, and Wichita State.
Here is a breakdown of Navy’s conference schedule:
- AAC East Division: UConn, East Carolina, Temple, Tulane
- AAC West Division: Houston, Memphis, SMU, Tulsa
- Non-Conference Games: Army, Fordham, Notre Dame, and one additional opponent TBA
Why Join the AAC?
The decision to join the AAC was a strategic move by Navy to strengthen its competitive position in the FBS. The conference provides:
- Increased exposure: The AAC has a national television contract with ESPN and CBS Sports, ensuring increased exposure for Navy games.
- Competitive scheduling: The conference schedule includes a mix of strong Power Five programs and competitive mid-major teams, providing Navy with a challenging and entertaining schedule.
- Postseason opportunities: The AAC has a guaranteed bowl bid, which increases Navy’s chances of participating in postseason play.
Conclusion
The Navy Midshipmen football team is a proud member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC), a group of 12 institutions with a rich football tradition. After a brief stint as an independent program and a period in Conference USA, Navy joined the AAC in 2015, benefiting from increased exposure, competitive scheduling, and postseason opportunities. As the team navigates the conference schedule, fans can expect exciting games against a mix of top-notch opponents and rival teams.
Table: AAC Team Alignment
| Division | School |
|---|---|
| East | Cincinnati, UConn, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, South Florida, Temple, UCF |
| West | Nevada, Rice, San Diego State, SMU, Tulane, Tulsa, Wichita State |
Bullets:
- Navy football has been an independent program from 1879 to 1995
- The team joined Conference USA (C-USA) in 1996 and remained until 2005
- Navy is currently a member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC)
- The conference schedule includes 12 games, with eight conference games and four non-conference games
- The team plays a mix of strong Power Five programs and competitive mid-major teams
