NIL Running Hotter Than Ever, But Army and Navy Are Left Out
The National Invitation to Learn (NIL) is running hotter than ever, with top prospects committing to top programs and receiving lucrative offers. However, there are two teams that are unable to participate in this trend: Army and Navy.
According to USAA CEO Wayne Peacock, the academies are a “one-way portal” into the schools, meaning that students who attend Army or Navy cannot pursue NIL opportunities. Despite this, Peacock believes that the annual Army-Navy game is what makes college football at its purest form.
“This is college football at its purest form,” Peacock said. “When these guys are out on the field, they are competing like they are in battle, and they’re competing against each other like they’re in battle.”
The game, which is set to kick off on Saturday afternoon, is special because it is a reminder of the importance of teamwork and culture. Peacock believes that the student-athletes at Army and Navy are not just playing for their teams, but are also doing something more.
“What they find are these student-athletes that want to play, but also want to do something more than just play, and that to me is what makes it so special,” Peacock said.
The Army Black Knights are ranked 22nd in the nation with their 11-1 record, while the Navy Midshipmen are 8-3 and on the outside looking in. The Black Knights have won six of the last eight meetings after the Midshipmen had taken home 16 of the previous 17. Navy leads the all-time series 62-55-7.
USAA announced on Friday that it will remain the only presenting sponsor of the game through the 2030 edition, a title it has held since 2009.
