Navy Brings 100 Years of History Back to the Field With Its 1926 Throwback Uniform

On 31 October, Navy will face Notre Dame at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough in a commemorative uniform inspired by the one it wore in 1926. It is not a literal reproduction, but a contemporary reading of a 9–0–1 season that remains the Academy's only one recognized with a share of the national championship. [1]

Nine stripes, nine wins

The jersey reinterprets the Chevron Stripe design: nine stripes run across its upper body, four on the front and five on the back. Each points to one of that season's nine wins; the final tie with Army completed the 9–0–1 record. The traditional blue-and-gold palette, "Navy Blue and Gold" inside the collar, references to the Class of 1926 and a centennial patch complete the tribute. [1]

A win over Michigan

That season's defining image came at Baltimore Municipal Stadium. Before roughly 80,000 spectators, Navy beat Michigan 10–0 after a scoreless first half. The contrast was impossible to miss: Michigan had handed Navy a 54–0 defeat the year before. Navy supporters celebrated the 1926 win by tearing down the goal posts and carrying away the markers lining the field. [1]

More than 110,000 for Army–Navy

Navy arrived at Soldier Field in Chicago at 9–0 for its finale against Army. After the early 14–0 lead, Army moved ahead 21–14 early in the third quarter. Alan Shapley answered with an eight-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-three. The 21–21 score also survived Army's last chance: a 25-yard field-goal attempt went wide. The tie preserved the unbeaten season. [1]

The day Knute Rockne left Notre Dame to watch Army–Navy

The Notre Dame connection is not a retrospective embellishment. The Fighting Irish entered their game against Carnegie Tech at 8–0 and had allowed only one touchdown all season. Confident that matchup was under control, Knute Rockne traveled to Chicago to watch Army–Navy. While he watched the 21–21 tie at Soldier Field, Carnegie Tech was beating Notre Dame 19–0 in Pittsburgh. It was the only loss for a team that would finish 9–1. [1]

One hundred years later, Navy and Notre Dame meet again

On 31 October 2026, Navy and Notre Dame will meet at Gillette Stadium. For that night, Navy will bring back the visual markers of 1926 — the Chevron Stripe, Navy Blue and Gold, the Class of 1926 and the centennial patch — turning an alternate uniform into a piece of sporting memory. [1]

It will not simply be another alternate uniform. It will be a way to carry a story that began exactly one hundred years ago onto the field.