Memphis, TN — The nationally ranked Navy Midshipmen and the Cincinnati Bearcats will face off in the 67th annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. The highly anticipated matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN, drawing national attention to Memphis as fans prepare for one of college football’s most storied bowl traditions.
Navy, ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press Poll, will make its third appearance in the Liberty Bowl. The Midshipmen previously competed in 1981 and 2019, securing a 20–17 victory over Kansas State in their most recent trip. Cincinnati returns for its second Liberty Bowl appearance, having defeated Vanderbilt 31–24 in 2011.
The Midshipmen conclude their regular season against Army this Saturday, entering the bowl with a 9–2 overall record and a 7–1 mark in the American Athletic Conference. Cincinnati finished 7–5 overall and 5–4 in the Big 12. The all-time series between Navy and Cincinnati is evenly split at 3–3, adding extra intrigue to this year’s contest.
Steve Ehrhart, Executive Director of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, expressed excitement about the matchup: “Navy has a chance to win 10 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in history and has a national following. Cincinnati had a winning record in the Big 12 Conference and is making its first trip to the Liberty Bowl since 2011, when the Bearcats brought thousands of fans. We look forward to both teams, their alumni and fans celebrating the New Year’s holiday with us.”
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
