The "Original Game of the Century" was played December 2nd, 1944 at Baltimore Stadium between the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen . As the days ticked down in 1944 for the 46th edition of the Army vs. Navy annual gridiron engagement, the success of the two squads that season had propelled public interest to a fever pitch unparalleled in the series. Breathless media declared the matchup of the No. 1 Cadets and the No. 2 Midshipmen the de facto national championship, and the interest of the public at large seemed to cement that sentiment. One of the greatest contests in the history of the service academies' rivalry and arguably one of the most legendary matchups in the history of the sport. Add to that the backdrop of a country at war made the season-ending rivalry game one of college football most highly-anticipated contests. And, arguably, it delivered. Army defeated Navy 23-7 and claimed the national championship.