It is storied rivalry, perhaps the most storied rivalry in NCAA sports. It is the Army - Navy game, specifically in football, and it has a long history which, because the two teams are no longer relevant on a national level, is more important to the two schools and branches of the military than anyone else. Still, the 2009 Army - Navy game had Army on the cusp of a bowl bid, at least for 60 minutes.

In the 2009 game, once again Navy defeated Army's Black Knights. By doing so, it ended Army's hopes for a bowl bid. The Midshipmen now have an eight-game winning streak in the Army - Navy game series, in fact, and at 9-4 already have a postseason date against Missouri in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 31.

Meanwhile, Army entered the Army - Navy game hoping to finish the season at .500 and 6-6, but failing that, with a loss ended at 5-7. They would have played in the EagleBank Bowl with a win. That bowl is now filled with Temple vs. UCLA at RFK Stadium in Washington on Dec. 29.

This time the Army - Navy game ended with a 17-3 win for Navy.
Ricky Dobbs ran for a score to set an NCAA single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 24. He also threw a TD pass, helping Navy improve to 54-49-7 overall against Army. This is the biggest lead for Navy in a series that began in 1890.

Ricky Dobbs had been in a three-way tie for rushing TDs by a quarterback. He had been even with Air Force’s Chance Harridge (2002) and Florida’s Tim Tebow (2007, his Heisman Trophy year).

Navy has won a service academy-record 15 consecutive games against Army and Air Force. Navy’s last loss to a service academy was against Air Force in 2002.

The 2009 Army - Navy game wasn't as easy as it sounds or as the records might indicate. Army actually led 3-0 at halftime. It was the first time Army led at halftime in the series since 2001. It was also the first time Navy was shutout in the first half of the series since 1993. Finally, it the first time Army led against Navy since the first quarter of the 2006 game.

The Army - Navy game win gave Navy the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy. That is awarded to the team with the best record in games between the three service academies. This is a school-record seventh straight year that Navy has won the trophy.