The Military-Navy recreation is certainly one of faculty soccer’s biggest traditions. The pageantry and keenness are a microcosm of what makes the game so particular.
Whereas that custom shouldn’t be going wherever, it’s significance within the faculty soccer calendar is about to vary fairly a bit in 2024, due to the brand new bowl schedule.
Traditionally a standalone recreation on the Saturday between convention championship weekend and the beginning of bowl season, Military-Navy will now must share the highlight on Dec. 14 with the Celebration Bowl — the HBCU nationwide championship recreation in Atlanta between the SWAC and MEAC champions — in addition to the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama.
The Military-Navy rivalry recreation will now not be a stand-alone matchup beneath the brand new bowl schedule.
The Celebration Bowl & Camellia Bowl can be performed on the identical day.
(h/t @TheSpun) https://t.co/9bYYXIiIXU pic.twitter.com/DtyI8DuAK6
— On3 (@On3sports) June 10, 2024
That is all a downstream impact of the School Soccer Playoff’s growth from 4 groups to 12 starting this coming season. Whereas the third Saturday in December sometimes signified the start of bowl season, that day will now characteristic opening spherical CFP video games.
To regulate for this, the beginning of bowl season was pushed again one week earlier, coinciding with the Military-Navy recreation that beforehand solely occupied that Saturday slot.
Whereas it doesn’t detract from the sport itself, it’s nonetheless a bummer as it is going to virtually actually result in fewer eyes on the sport. And apart from, who wouldn’t need to watch some hard-nosed, possibility soccer on a chilly December day within the Northeast?
