Story bySteve HelwickFri, January 2, 2026 at 8:12 AM UTC·6 min readGame notesTime and date: Friday, January 2 at 4:30 p. m. ETNetwork: ESPNLocation: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium — Memphis, TNSpread: Navy (-7.5)Over/under: 54.5All-time series: Series tied, 3-3Last meeting: Cincinnati 20, Navy 10 — November 5, 2022Current streak: Cincinnati, 3 (2018-22)Navy last bowl: 2024 Armed Forces Bowl, 21-20 win over OklahomaCincinnati last bowl: 2022 Fenway Bowl, 24-7 loss to Louisville2024 Liberty Bowl matchup: Arkansas 39, Texas Tech 26Setting the sceneOld American Conference rivals meet again in an American Conference venue. The Navy Midshipmen (10-2, 7-1 American) and Cincinnati Bearcats (7-5, 5-4 Big 12) reunite in Memphis, concluding their seasons in one of the few post-New Year’s bowl games. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNavy can seal its third 11-win season in program history, putting 2025 on a pedestal with 2015 and 2019.
