ANNAPOLIS, Md.—The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl announced today the Navy Midshipmen (8-3) and the Oklahoma Sooners (6-6) have accepted invitations to play in the 22nd Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Friday, Dec. 27 at Amon G. Carter Stadium (47,000) in Fort Worth, Texas. Kickoff is set for 12 noon (ET), 11:00 AM local time and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN.

“We are extremely pleased and honored that Oklahoma and Navy, two historically prominent, powerhouse programs, will be participating in the ‘Bowl for the Brave,’” Armed Forces Bowl Executive Director Brant Ringler said. “We are excited to welcome their proud fan bases to Fort Worth to be a part of honoring our military heroes on a national stage.”

This marks Navy’s 25th bowl appearance (12-11-1 all-time) and the third time Navy has appeared in the Armed Forces Bowl. The Mids defeated Middle Tennessee State 24-6 in the 2013 Armed Forces Bowl and lost to Louisiana Tech 48-45 in 2016. Overall, the Mids have won two-straight bowl games and five of the last six.

This will be the first time that Navy has played an SEC team in a bowl game since 1954 (1955 Sugar Bowl) when Navy knocked off Ole Miss 21-0. Navy has also played current SEC teams Missouri (1961 Orange Bowl and 2009 Texas Bowl) and Texas (1964 Cotton Bowl) prior to those schools being in the SEC.

Navy last played a team from the SEC in 2011 when Navy lost at South Carolina 24-21.

“Congratulations to head coach Brian Newberry and the entire Navy football program for earning an invitation to this prestigious bowl game,” said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. “I couldn’t be more pleased and grateful to the Armed Forces Bowl committee for inviting us to one of the most tradition-rich and patriotic bowl games in America. My deepest and sincere appreciation to my good friend Armed Forces Bowl Executive Director Brant Ringler. We talked about this possibility earlier in the season and we are all grateful the stars have aligned for Navy. We look forward to embracing the community and accentuating our military influence by bringing together our alumni, midshipmen, enlisted personnel and veterans in a manner that exudes patriotism and enthusiasm in the Navy and Marine Corps family.”

“Our players are extremely excited to be invited to the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl and to have the opportunity to play such a prestigious opponent like Oklahoma,” said Navy head football coach Brian Newberry. “Going to a bowl game is always one of our top goals, but right now our only focus is to get goal No. 1 and that is to BEAT ARMY and bring home the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy.”

This will be just the second meeting between Navy and Oklahoma and the first in postseason play. Navy defeated the Sooners in the previous meeting, 10-0, on Oct. 2, 1965 in Norman.

Oklahoma will be playing in a bowl game for the 26th-consecutive season and the 58th time overall (31-25-1), the fourth most by any school. The Sooners, playing as an SEC member for the first time in 2024, picked up a signature win in November, dropping then-No. 7 Alabama, 24-3, to earn bowl eligibility. Of the team’s 12 opponents, eight were ranked among the nation’s top 25 during the season.

On the year, Oklahoma averaged 24.3 points per game, while allowing 21.6 per contest and just 2.9 yards per rush. Danny Stutsman (110 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss) is a finalist for the Butkus Award presented to the nation's best linebacker. Head coach Brent Venables is 22-16 in three seasons at the helm. OU is only the second SEC team to play in the Armed Forces Bowl, joining Mississippi State (2020).

Navy fans can purchase tickets to attend the Armed Forces Bowl or donate tickets right now at: https://navysports.evenue.net/events/BOWL

Ticket prices range from $50 to $95. The only way to sit with the Navy contingent is to buy your tickets through the Navy ticket office. Navy will be seated on the east sideline of the stadium in sections 120 through 128 and 230 through 238.

If you are interested in sending a midshipman or any enlisted military personnel in the area to the game, the donation price would be $50.

Additionally, there will be a Brigade of Midshipmen pregame tailgate located outside the southeast side of the stadium. Join Naval Academy leadership, the cheer team, two-legged Bill the Goat and the Drum and Bugle Corps along with midshipmen, Navy alumni, parents and fans to cheer Navy on to victory. The price is $75 per adult and $50 for those ages 5-12. Children 5 and under are admitted free of charge. Fans can purchase tickets to the tailgate at the same ticket link above.

The “Bowl for the Brave” has featured the armed forces theme since 2006. The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, played in honor of the Armed Forces of the United States, was the first collegiate football bowl game to host all three U.S. Military Academy football teams, and this marks the 14th time in the past 18 years that the game has featured an academy team. Air Force (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2022, 2023), Army (2010, 2017, 2018, 2021) and Navy (2013, 2016, 2024) have been frequent participants over the past nearly two decades.

Since 2014, the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl is the second-highest scoring of the more than three dozen bowl games in the nation with a total of 654 points. Only the Rose Bowl Game (680) has had more points scored.

#19 Army (11-1) and Navy will meet in the 125th Army-Navy Game presented by USAA on Saturday at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. The game will be televised nationally by CBS and on radio by Westwood One and the Navy Radio Network. Kickoff is set for 3 PM.