ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Air Force-Navy football game will be played Saturday after receiving the approval of the Department of Defense.
Naval Academy public information officer Commander John Schofield confirmed the decision Wednesday night.
The DOD suspended sports competition at the service academies on Tuesday due to a partial government shutdown stemming from the budget impasse in Congress. But funding for the game on Navy’s home field is provided by non-government funding.
Saturday’s game is a sellout, and Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk said the cancellation of the game would have cost the academy roughly $4 million.
Air Force, Navy and Army compete each year for the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, awarded to the team with the best record in games involving the three service academies.
