Hallowed Sports History, Upcoming Games, and Planning Your Visit
Navy on the Gridiron – American Athletic Conference Rivalries and Several Exciting Home Football Games on the Schedule
Every autumn, Navy football takes center stage on the Annapolis sporting scene when the USNA midshipmen play their home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on select Saturday afternoons. The first home game of the academic year usually commences on or around Labor Day, followed by a handful of games spread throughout the fall months. Navy plays in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), part of the top-tier Division 1 FBS system, with 15 schools competing against each other for the coveted conference championship. In an intriguing development leading into the 2024 season, the Military Academy at West Point (Army) and chief rival of the USNA have been added to the AAC, meaning they could face off in the championship game if they finish #1 and #2 in the standings.
In 2024, see Navy against Temple in Annapolis on 9/7, followed two weeks later on 9/21 by a matchup against Memphis, one of Navy’s most formidable and talented football opponents, sure to be entertaining. Charlotte comes to town on Oct 19th, and Navy faces off against Tulane for their last home game on 11/16. Tulane, who finished in either 1st or 2nd place in the conference the previous two seasons and upset favorite USC in the 2022 Cotton Bowl, will bring a high level of play. True Navy football fans will enjoy seeing legendary coach Paul Johnson celebrated during half-time at the Temple game, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Johnson receiving the National College Coach of the Year Award in 2004 – when he led the Navy midshipmen to their first 10-win season in a century and the only Navy coach to reach five bowl games during his tenure.
After the conclusion of the Navy home football season, the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium hosts the Military Bowl on December 28th, 2024. Featuring the winning teams of the Atlantic Coast Conference and AAC facing off, it’s one of the country’s most prestigious Division 1 college football bowl games – made even more special if the midshipmen win their conference and play in the game on their cherished and fiercely-protected home turf.
USNA Lacrosse in the Spotlight During the Spring
After the fall football frenzy has wound down and a brief sports break over the cold winter months, springtime ushers in lacrosse season at the stadium. The US Naval Academy men’s lacrosse team brings back several excellent players in 2025 after their successful spring 2024 season, when they notched their first victory in the Patriot League end-of-year tournament since 2010, reaching the quarterfinals. They’ll have a new offensive coordinator taking the reigns, plus it will be head coach Joe Amplo’s fifth season leading the lacrosse midshipmen, bringing a wealth of experience and improvement year after year. Although the precise dates for their spring 2025 schedule are not on the schedule yet, the team plays 7-8 home games every spring, spread out over February, March, and April. Check their team website for updates in the months leading up to the start of the season.
The Navy men’s and women’s lacrosse teams play in the Patriot League, which comprises ten colleges. Every season, multiple players across the conference win All-American and All-Academic awards, and it consistently ranks #1 for the top student-athlete graduation rate of any conference in the country. Expect high-quality play from the USNA women’s lacrosse team, who return after one of their best seasons in history – when they reached the Patriot League Championship game, losing heartbreakingly in overtime versus Loyola.
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium has also hosted the quarterfinals of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship seven times, set to do so again on May 18, 2025 – sure to be a memorable matchup of top lacrosse talent in Annapolis, facing off in one of the country’s most storied venues.
What to Expect on Game Day – A Midshipmen March Through Downtown, Tailgating, and Navy Traditions
With its incorporation of age-old USNA traditions, seeing a Navy home game is unlike any other stadium experience. It begins with the Naval Brigade March 70 minutes before the game’s start, when thousands of midshipmen march in their uniforms from the USNA campus through the streets of downtown Annapolis and into the stadium, where they command the seating section on the blue side (the west side of the stadium is “blue” and the east side “gold”). To get the complete Navy game-day experience, head a block over from your Annapolis Inn suite to catch the midshipmen marching in formation before heading to the stadium, building up the anticipation for the big kick-off. When you arrive at the stadium, stroll through the massive parking lots to check out the tailgate scene and “NavyFest,” comprised of 70+ civilian and Naval Academy grad groups that set up hours before the game for on-site barbeque, drinks, and Navy-themed festivities.
During the game, marvel at the fitness of USNA plebes (first-year midshipmen) who drop to the field and do pushups every time the Navy team scores, matching their pushups to whatever the score is (if they rack up 36 points, they do 36 pushups!). At the stadium, enjoy concessions from local standbys like Ledo Pizza, who’ve been making Italian pies in Annapolis for two decades, and Always Ice Cream, perennial winners of the best ice cream in town award since 2004. Tickets for home football games are reasonable – as cheap as $30-40 for standing room and upper-level seats, while lower-down zones are still only $55 (much more affordable than any NFL stadium) – but they do sell out, so purchase your Navy tickets online in advance once you have a game in mind. Navy games end in rousing fashion with the midshipmen singing the famous “Blue & Gold” alma mater song – an inspiring and patriotic moment to share with 34,000 other Navy faithful. Games take place relatively early – at noon or 3:30 pm – ideal for heading down to City Dock afterward for celebratory drinks and dinner on the picturesque Annapolis waterfront.
Plan your visit to Annapolis and experience the thrill of USNA sports at the iconic Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium!
Coast Guard helicopters fly over Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at the start of the Military Bowl 2014 in Annapolis, Md. Dec. 27, 2014. Virginia Tech beat Cincinnati 33-17. (DoD News photo by EJ Hersom)