Notre Dame has played Navy nearly every year since 1927 because of a historical agreement and mutual benefit that began during World War II, and the tradition has endured since then. Key points

• Historical origin: During World War II, Notre Dame offered the U.S. Navy use of its campus and facilities to host the Navy’s V-12 officer training program, which helped keep the university financially solvent. In return, Navy supported Notre Dame, and a long-standing annual football game grew out of that relationship. This established a deep, ongoing connection between the programs.

• Formal commitment to annual play: Notre Dame invited Navy to continue meeting on the gridiron as a thank-you and a sign of enduring friendship. Over the decades, the game became one of the sport’s most storied annual rivalries, continuing with only a brief interruption in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Current status and exceptions: Since 1927, the series has been uninterrupted for all but 2020, making it one of the longest-running annual intercollegiate matchups in football history. The rivalry has also seen games at neutral sites (notably in Dublin in some years) but remains an annual fixture when feasible.

Additional context

• The rivalry is often framed as “mutual respect” and gratitude for Navy’s role in supporting Notre Dame during a difficult period, which is why Notre Dame has continued to schedule Navy every year when possible. Contemporary coverage continues to emphasize the historical bond as well as the on-field competitiveness of the series.

If you’d like, I can pull up the exact year-by-year schedule and results, or summarize notable games in the series.