The scene as the Army-Navy game gets underway

A man descends in a stadium with a parachute that reads “NAVY” and a flag billowing out behind him.

The U.S. Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, perform before the Army-Navy game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

The 126th annual football match between the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy began at 3 p.m. ET Saturday at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium.

But the stadium was a hive of activity hours before the match kicked off, as staff set up equipment and cadets and midshipmen entered the field.

A vertical photo of a man with sunglasses, a prop smoking pipe, a prop military cap and a purple jacket.

The “Tailgate General” roots for Army in the M&T Stadium concourse before the game’s start. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Rows of midshipmen in black uniforms stand in a field surrounded by mostly empty bleachers.

U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen enter the field at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A closeup of cadets and midshipmen in uniform and singing.

West Point Cadets and U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen practice singing the national anthem before their academies face off in Baltimore on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A conductor raises his hands as rows of Midshipmen and Cadets in uniform stand and sing.

West Point Cadets and U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen enter the field and practice singing the Star Spangled Banner before their academies face off in Baltimore on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Midshipmen with instruments walk onto a football field.

U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen enter the field at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Out-of-focus service academy students on the left side of the image and in-focus students farther away in the right half.

West Point cadets and U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen enter the field before the Army-Navy game in Baltimore on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A person stands partly obscured by tarp as they tend to stands of equipment.

A staff member helps set up equipment on the sidelines of the Army-Navy game in Baltimore on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A midshipman holding an instrument poses for a photo being taken by his peers.

A midshipman has his photo taken on the field before the Army Navy game on Saturday, Dec 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Things only got more exciting as the teams ran into the field before the showdown.

The game was joined by President Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy George.

President Donald Trump walks onto a football field with a military official on either side of him.

President Donald Trump walks to the center of the field to perform the coin toss before the Army-Navy game at M&T Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Four high-ranking defense officials in a football field, with Hegseth and Driscoll close together in the center.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, left, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Gen. Randy George, Chief of Staff of the Army attend the Army-Navy game at M&T Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A team of football players in white run onto a field.

West Point’s football team enters the field before academy’s match against the U.S. Naval Academy. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A team of runners in camouflage pants and black hoodies.

The West Point marathon team runs onto the field before the game. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A man descends with a parachute that reads “SEAL” and a blue flag that reads “GO NAVY.”

The U.S. Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, perform before the Army-Navy game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Two people shake hands on a football field as cadets and midshipmen look on from both sides.

Representatives from the U.S. Naval Academy and West Point greet each other before the beginning of their match. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

The Capital Gazette contributed to this report.

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The scene as the Army-Navy game gets underway

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