The Army-Navy game holds a special yet peculiar place on the college football calendar.

Its significance is undeniable given the history, ferocity and grandeur of the rivalry. It is literally the only championship weekend game on the Saturday after the conference in December. Still, the game’s stakes usually don’t matter when it comes to the rankings or the race for the national championship.

This year it’s complicated.

The service academies are both undefeated and ranked. And the 12-team College Football Playoff means the No. 23 Black Knights (7-0) and No. 24 Midshipmen (6-0) are bona fide playoff contenders — if either of them can win the American Athletic Conference .

But the playoff field will be determined Dec. 8 — six days before the start of the annual Army-Navy game in Landover, Maryland. And with Army and Navy now conference mates in the AAC, the Dec. 14 matchup could be the two teams’ second meeting in a season.

Here’s a look at how things could turn out.

How did we get here?

Army QB Bryson Daily leads all FBS players with 19 rushing touchdowns. (Lucas Boland/Imagn Images)

It is the first time since 1926 that the Army and Navy have each started a season 6-0.

The Black Knights are 7-0 and have yet to play a game. Of course, they lead the nation in rushing offense, led by quarterback Bryson Daily, who recorded 26 total touchdowns. Army is already 6-0 in AAC play, meaning only two conference games remain (at North Texas, UTSA).

The Midshipmen are 6-0 heading into a huge game against No. 12 Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and 4-0 in the AAC. It’s already their best season since 2019, when they won 11 games.

The Army and Navy currently occupy the top two spots in the AAC rankings.

So… does that mean they could play twice?

Yes – in consecutive weeks. They could face each other in the conference championship game on December 6th and meet again on December 14th for their annual rivalry.

But Tulane is right behind them with a 3-0 conference record heading into play against Navy on November 16th. A loss could end Navy’s chance of punching its ticket to the conference championship, thereby dashing the Mids’ playoff hopes.

Will the Army-Navy game be considered for the CFP?

A possible meet in the AAC Championship would be possible. But the annual, neutral game will not take place.

Selection day for the playoffs is Sunday, December 8, and the annual Army-Navy game is the following Saturday. In the four-team playoff era, the selection committee had a protocol that allowed it to wait for Army-Navy if it had an impact on the field. But with the 12-team playoffs starting the weekend of December 20-21, there was no waiting for the result this time.

This means there is a scenario in which a service academy wins the AAC and a spot in the CFP, then loses its final regular-season game against the same opponent it beat to advance to the playoffs.

There will still be bragging rights at stake, of course.

Would the Army or Navy have less time to prepare for a playoff game?

Given that no other team plays a game the week of Dec. 14, one of the service academies would have less time to prepare for its postseason opponent if it were to clinch a playoff spot.

What are the chances of Army or Navy making the playoffs?

The odds of Army or Navy making the playoffs are 29.6 percent, but both teams’ individual percentages look slightly different depending on the results of their next games.

If Navy beats Notre Dame on Saturday, the Midshipmen’s chances of making the playoffs increase from to 10 percent, according to the prediction model The athleteThis is Austin Mock. In the event of a loss, this drops to 5 percent.

The Army has an easier opponent in the Air Force, so the cadets’ odds are higher: 30 percent if they win and 14 percent if they lose. Army also must play Notre Dame on Nov. 23 at Yankee Stadium.

Mock’s model gives the Army a 63 percent chance of winning the AAC, while the Navy has a 15 percent chance.

Go deeper

What do Army and Navy’s historic starts mean for the AAC Championship? CFP?

What else has to happen for either team to make the playoffs?

Two things have to happen. First, it is obvious that Army or Navy will continue to win and win the AAC. It’s unlikely that either of them can make the playoffs as an overall team.

Second, they probably need the Mountain West to beat each other up. Boise State (5-1) is currently ahead of Army and Navy, and the Broncos’ only blemish is a road loss at Oregon.

The other Mountain West team to worry about is UNLV (6-1). Boise State plays at UNLV on Friday, which will have a significant impact on the Group of 5 playoff bid.

If you need a guide to getting Army or Navy into the CFP, I’d probably root for UNLV to make an upset this weekend and then continue to root for both of those teams to lose down the stretch. — Austin Mock

Has the Army or Navy ever won a national championship?

Under the leadership of Glenn Davis, the 1946 Heisman Trophy winner, Army won national titles in 1944, 1945 and 1946. (Bettmann via Getty Images)

Yes, but the details are a bit complicated since college football hasn’t always had a national championship game.

Army wins five national championships (1914, 1916, 1944, 1945, 1946), although several programs win titles in four of those years. Likewise, the Navy claims a share of the 1926 national title.

The last time either team reached the AP top 10 was 1964, when Navy peaked at No. 6.

What’s next?

Army finishes the regular season with Air Force (1-6), North Texas (5-2), Notre Dame (6-1), UTSA (3-4) and Navy.

Navy ties with Notre Dame, Rice (2-5), South Florida (3-4), Tulane (5-2), East Carolina (3-4) and Army.

(Top photo: Barry Chin / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)