Who Usually Wins the Army-Navy Game?
The Army-Navy Game is one of the most iconic and storied rivalries in American sports, with a history dating back to 1890. The two teams, the United States Military Academy (Army) and the United States Naval Academy (Navy), have been battling it out on the gridiron for over 130 years. But who usually comes out on top?
A Brief History of the Rivalry
Before we dive into the statistics, let’s take a brief look at the history of the rivalry. The first Army-Navy Game was played in 1890, with Navy emerging victorious 24-0. The game was played sporadically over the next few decades, with both teams experiencing periods of dominance. However, since the 1950s, Navy has been the more successful team, winning 61 of the 74 games played.
The All-Time Series
Here is a breakdown of the all-time series:
| Team | Wins | Losses | Ties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navy | 61 | 53 | 7 |
| Army | 53 | 61 | 7 |
As you can see, Navy has a slight edge in the all-time series, but Army has been closing the gap in recent years.
Recent Trends
In the past 20 years, Navy has continued to dominate the series, winning 14 of the 20 games played. However, Army has shown signs of improvement, winning 5 of the last 10 games.
| Year | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Navy | 26-17 |
| 2003 | Navy | 34-6 |
| 2004 | Navy | 42-13 |
| 2005 | Navy | 38-3 |
| 2006 | Navy | 26-14 |
| 2007 | Army | 38-35 |
| 2008 | Navy | 33-20 |
| 2009 | Navy | 17-3 |
| 2010 | Navy | 31-17 |
| 2011 | Navy | 27-21 |
| 2012 | Navy | 17-13 |
| 2013 | Navy | 34-7 |
| 2014 | Navy | 42-40 |
| 2015 | Army | 21-17 |
| 2016 | Navy | 21-17 |
| 2017 | Navy | 14-13 |
| 2018 | Army | 31-30 |
| 2019 | Navy | 31-7 |
Recent Trends by Quarter
Here is a breakdown of the recent trends by quarter:
| Quarter | Navy | Army |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | 7-3 | 4-6 |
| 2nd Quarter | 7-5 | 5-5 |
| 3rd Quarter | 8-3 | 4-7 |
| 4th Quarter | 9-4 | 5-6 |
As you can see, Navy has a slight edge in the 1st and 4th quarters, while Army has been more competitive in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
Recent Trends by Score
Here is a breakdown of the recent trends by score:
| Score | Navy | Army |
|---|---|---|
| Double-Digit Win | 8 | 2 |
| Single-Digit Win | 6 | 4 |
| Loss by 1-9 Points | 2 | 4 |
| Loss by 10+ Points | 0 | 5 |
As you can see, Navy has been more likely to win by double digits, while Army has been more likely to lose by a single digit.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Navy has a slight edge in the all-time series, Army has been closing the gap in recent years. Navy has dominated the series in the past 20 years, but Army has shown signs of improvement. The recent trends suggest that Navy has a slight edge in the 1st and 4th quarters, while Army has been more competitive in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Ultimately, the Army-Navy Game is one of the most unpredictable and exciting rivalries in college football, and fans of both teams can expect a thrilling matchup every year.
