College football Week 16 watchability rankings: This Army-Navy game really is must-watch

Let’s be honest for a moment. There are years in which the Army-Navy game is contested between two teams who are not very good at football.

Take the 2022 contest, for example, which pitted a four-win Navy team against a then-five-win Army team. Or in 2011, when teams that would finish 3-9 and 5-7 met in 2011 — the last time it was played in Landover, Maryland.

But we as a collective college-football-watching people watch anyways for several reasons. There’s the pageantry of two service academies matching up against each other on a neutral field that comes with must-watch pre- and post-game traditions, like the march-on, the prisoner exchange, and the winner singing second. For real whole-hog consumers of college football, it’s the chance to watch two teams who have mastered the triple-option attempt to misdirect, counter and fullback trap each other into submission. For casual observers, it’s often the only FBS game being played on the second Saturday in December, and a good enough reason to spend one more afternoon in front of the TV. For veterans, military brats and anyone with connections to the armed forces, it’s an opportunity to pick a side, but ultimately everyone is rooting for the stars and stripes. Some just watch for the awesome jerseys, others watch for gambling.

While those justifications for watching the Army-Navy game are valid, casuals and diehards alike shouldn’t need much convincing to turn their dials to CBS on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.

Because when the Midshipmen and Black Knights meet this year, it will be a matchup of two damn good football teams. Two of the best in the country, in fact. And that’s not hyperbole.

Army is 11-1 this season, champions of the American Athletic Conference in its first season in the league and ranked 22nd in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Navy, meanwhile, is 8-3, was ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll earlier this season and is enjoying its best campaign in six seasons. The Mids played a tough schedule too, as they were the only FBS team to play just two true home games in their final nine regular season matchups.

The Midshipmen and Black Knights both have offenses that rank in the top 40 in scoring, and Army’s defense ranks seventh nationally in points allowed per game, giving up an average of just 15. While Army leads the country in rushing, covering 314.4 yards on the ground per game, Navy is eighth. But the Mids — believe it or not — have a potent passing attack this season as Blake Horvath has been the catalyst for new schemes and designs introduced by first-year offensive coordinator Drew Cronic. Horvath has thrown for 1,154 yards and 11 touchdowns this season – making him just two passing scores shy of Ricky Dobbs’ single-season program record of 13. Horvath also needs just 105 rushing yards to join Malcolm Perry, Will Worth, Keenan Reynolds and Dobbs as Navy quarterbacks to throw and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.

Army has a legit dude at quarterback this season too in Bryson Daily, who was voted Offensive Player of the Year in the AAC and leads the nation in rushing touchdowns this season with 29. His 1,480 rushing yards lead the American and are ninth nationally, and he’s also thrown eight touchdowns this season to just one interception.

This matchup between the Mids and Black Knights — their 125th meeting — marks the first time since 2017 that both teams enter the game with a chance to win the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, as both Army and Navy beat Air Force this season quite comfortably.

Even when Army and Navy aren’t this good, the game is a must-watch – and often the only FBS game to watch on this day – every year. Ten of the last 13 matchups between the Mids and Black Knights have been decided by seven points or less.

This year, there’s no excuse to miss it. Come for the tradition but stick around for what should be an awesome game.

Best Game of the Week: No. 22 Army vs. Navy (Landover, Maryland)

Saturday, 3 p.m. – CBS, Paramount+

Do I need to explain more? Don’t miss this.

Game that crowns a champion: Jackson State vs. South Carolina State (Atlanta, Georgia)

Saturday, 12 p.m. ET – ABC

The HBCU national champion will be crowned once again this year in the ninth annual Celebration Bowl in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which pits the winners of the MEAC and the SWAC against each other. Jackson State finished 11-2 in second year of the post-Deion Sanders’ era while South Carolina State went 9-2 in its first season under Chennis Berry.

Eric Phoenix, the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, powers the Bulldogs and led the FCS in passer efficiency rating this season with a 164.2 mark. On defense, the Bulldogs are armed with Ashaad Hall, who leads the FCS in sacks with 11. However, Jackson State enters this game with the FCS’s fifth-best scoring offense, putting up 37.1 points per game, and its 10th-best scoring defense, allowing just 17.9 points.

Why is this game happening on this day? South Alabama vs. Western Michigan (IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl)

Saturday, 9 p.m. ET – ESPN

Look, with all due respect to the Jaguars and Broncos — who both finished with 6-6 records in the regular season — Army-Navy should be the only FBS game happening on this day.

But if you want to watch two mediocre teams play in Birmingham, Alabama, after the Heisman Trophy presentation, tune into this, I guess.

Weird Weekday Game of the Week: Idaho at Montana State (FCS Quarterfinals)

Friday, 9 p.m. ET – ESPN, ESPN+

Montana State is undefeated and is first in FCS in offensive SP+ and second in defensive SP+. This is a rematch of a game that Montana State won 38-7 in October, but Idaho has scored north of 30 points in every game since.

Sickos Guilty Pleasure Game of the Week: Mount Union at Salisbury (Division III Quarterfinals)

Saturday, 12 p.m. ET – ESPN+

If you want a triple-option appetizer before consuming the entree of the Army-Navy game, check out Sherman Wood’s Salisbury Sea Gulls, who are 12-0 and trying to make the semifinals of the Division III playoffs for the first time since 1983. Salisbury is fifth nationally in D3 in scoring, putting up 48.8 points per game and have the second-best rushing offense nationally, piling up 335.5 yards per game on the turf. Mount Union, meanwhile, is a power in Division III with 13 national titles since 1993. Salisbury slaying the Purple Raiders would be big news on the Delmarva Peninsula.