Army-Navy game is ‘college football at its purest’ amid NIL era, says sponsor CEO

NIL runs hotter and heavier than ever before – but there are two teams that cannot participate.

Of course, those schools are the Army and Navy—as USAA CEO Wayne Peacock puts it, it’s a “one-way portal” to the academies.

We just saw Bryce Underwood flip his commitment from LSU to Michigan for seven figures — even the potential No. 1 pick of the 2026 NBA Draft in AJ Dybantsa committed to BYU after reportedly receiving an offer of $5 million in NIL money.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

A general view of Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen helmets prior to the 122nd Army/Navy college football game between the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen on December 11, 2021 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Obviously the players in the academies are not able to go that route if they go to either the army or the navy. But with the 125th edition of the Army-Navy game kicking off Saturday afternoon just outside the nation’s capital, Peacock says that’s what makes the annual event that much more special.

“The way I think about it, especially in this day and age with the Portal and the NIL, this is college football at its purest. When these guys are out on the field, they compete like they’re in a game, and they compete against each other as if in battle.

FILE – Navy Midshipmen and Army Black Knights line up for snaps at the line of scrimmage during the first quarter of an NCAA football game at Gillette Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)

BILL BELICHICK SAID HE ALWAYS WANTED TO COACH IN COLLEGE AFTER TAKES UNC JOB: ‘DREAM COME TRUE’

“But what’s so special, after the game they will meet, march down the respective ends of the stadium, they will sing each other’s alma mater, and they will put on the uniform. The United States. They will defend our country, defend our freedom, and that is to me so spectacular about these individuals and about this game.”

“There is only a one-way portal to the Army and Navy,” Peacock added. “But what they find are these student-athletes who want to play but also want to do something more than just play, and that to me is what makes it so special. But their ability to set competitive team on the field in this environment also speaks to something that we don’t talk about much, and that is the strength of teamwork and culture.”

USAA announced Friday that it will remain the sole presenting sponsor of the game through the 2030 edition, a title it has held since 2009.

Army is ranked 22nd in the nation with their 11-1 record – while Navy is on the outside looking in, they are 8-3.

A general view of the Army/Navy logo at midfield prior to the 122nd Army/Navy college football game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen on December 11, 2021 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Black Knights have won six of the last eight meetings after the Midshipmen had taken 16 of the previous 17.

Navy leads the all-time series, 62-55-7.

Follow Fox News Digital sports coverage on Xand subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.