Air Force vs Army vs NavyCommander-in-Chief's Trophy
A 170-pound silver trophy Air Force, Army and Navy play for in a three-way round robin every season.
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Start a pick'em contestHow the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy came to be
The trophy was the idea of George B. Simler, a former Air Force Academy athletic director who later rose to lieutenant general.
Air Force, the youngest academy, had trouble getting Army and Navy to come to Colorado, and early academy games were often played in neutral cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington and Baltimore.
Simler pitched a three-way prize as a way to lock in annual games between Air Force and both of the older academies, including trips to Falcon Stadium.
It was first awarded in 1972, the first season in which all three rivalry games were played, and the academies' alumni associations jointly sponsor it.
Simler did not see it awarded: he died on September 9, 1972, in a T-38 crash on takeoff at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.
The trophy itself. A three-sided silver trophy about two and a half feet tall that weighs roughly 170 pounds, with three silver footballs stacked in a pyramid on a round base and a mascot figurine for each academy. The original 1972-2020 trophy now sits in the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, and an identical copy has been in circulation since the 2020 season ended.
Commander-in-Chief's Trophy history
- 1959
Air Force plays Army for the first time, a 13-13 tie at Yankee Stadium on Halloween.
- 1972
The trophy is awarded for the first time, and Army wins it.
- 1982
Air Force wins the trophy outright for the first time.
- 2003
Navy starts a record run of seven straight trophies, which lasts through 2009.
- 2020
The original trophy is retired after the season and replaced with an identical one. The original goes to the College Football Hall of Fame.
- 2021
The trophy is shared for the fifth time, and Army keeps it as the previous holder.
- 2025
Navy wins back-to-back trophies (2024 and 2025), beating Air Force 34-31 and Army 17-16. It is Navy's 18th trophy.
Recent results
| Season | Result | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Navy Midshipmen 17, Army Black Knights 16 | M&T Bank Stadium |
| 2025 | Army Black Knights 20, Air Force Falcons 17 | Falcon Stadium |
| 2025 | Navy Midshipmen 34, Air Force Falcons 31 | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium |
| 2024 | Navy Midshipmen 31, Army Black Knights 13 | Northwest Stadium |
| 2024 | Army Black Knights 20, Air Force Falcons 3 | Michie Stadium |
| 2024 | Navy Midshipmen 34, Air Force Falcons 7 | Falcon Stadium |
| 2023 | Army Black Knights 17, Navy Midshipmen 11 | Gillette Stadium |
| 2023 | Army Black Knights 23, Air Force Falcons 3 | Empower Field at Mile High |
| 2023 | Air Force Falcons 17, Navy Midshipmen 6 | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium |
Commander-in-Chief's Trophy facts worth knowing
The trophy weighs about 170 pounds. MOAA points out that this matches Army legend Glenn Davis's playing weight when he won the 1946 Heisman Trophy.
When all three academies finish 1-1, no one wins it outright. The prize is shared and the previous holder keeps it. That has happened five times: 1974, 1976, 1980, 1993 and 2021.
Navy's seven straight trophies from 2003 to 2009 are still the longest streak in the competition.
The trophy is named for the President, and the winning academy often visits the White House in the spring to receive it.
Air Force did not win it outright until 1982, a decade after it was introduced. It has since become the all-time leader with 21.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy?+
The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy is the trophy Air Force, Army and Navy play for in college football, first awarded in 1972. A three-sided silver trophy about two and a half feet tall that weighs roughly 170 pounds, with three silver footballs stacked in a pyramid on a round base and a mascot figurine for each academy. The original 1972-2020 trophy now sits in the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, and an identical copy has been in circulation since the 2020 season ended.
How did the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy come to be?+
The trophy was the idea of George B. Simler, a former Air Force Academy athletic director who later rose to lieutenant general.
Who has the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy right now?+
Navy holds the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy after the 2025 round robin (Navy 34, Air Force 31 and Navy 17, Army 16). The live block on this page updates as soon as the next meeting is played.
Which school has won the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy most often?+
Air Force has won it the most. The count as of the end of the 2025 season: Air Force 21, Navy 18, Army 10, shared 5. Shared years (1974, 1976, 1980, 1993, 2021) count for no one; the previous holder kept the trophy.
When is the next Commander-in-Chief's Trophy game?+
Navy Midshipmen play at Air Force Falcons on Saturday, Oct 3, 2026 at Falcon Stadium. Odds and the community lean post on the matchup page as the game approaches.
Where can I bet on the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy game?+
You can bet Air Force vs Army vs Navy on BettorEdge, a peer-to-peer marketplace where you trade with other bettors rather than a sportsbook, so the price carries no built-in house vig. You can also run a free pick'em contest for the game with your group.
More college football
Records and the current holder are as of the end of the 2025 season; the next-game block and recent results update from ESPN. Shared years (1974, 1976, 1980, 1993, 2021) count for no one; the previous holder kept the trophy.Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, navysports.com, navysports.com.
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