The College Football Playoff expansion will maintain the Army-Navy game's exclusive broadcast window, ensuring the historic rivalry remains a standalone television event. The decision protects the traditional scheduling arrangement that has made the annual matchup between the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy a unique fixture in American sports.
The 126th Army-Navy Game, played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on December 13, 2025, drew attention with President Donald Trump in attendance. The game's broadcast exclusivity has long been considered vital to its national appeal and military tradition.
CFP officials confirmed that the expanded playoff format will not encroach on the dedicated broadcast slot reserved for the rivalry game, preserving its status as a singular showcase for the service academies.
