**Notre Dame vs. Navy Football Rivalry Returns to MetLife Stadium**

The celebrated Notre Dame-Navy football rivalry is set to return to the Meadowlands this weekend. The No. 11-ranked Fighting Irish will face off against the No. 24 Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The highly anticipated game is scheduled to kick off at noon ET on Saturday. This event marks the eighth time the Meadowlands Complex will host this iconic matchup, with the previous occurrence dating back to 2010.

This year's game carries significant stakes, as it is the first time since 2019 that both teams enter the contest ranked in the top 25. Back then, No. 16 Notre Dame emerged victorious over the 21st-ranked Midshipmen with a decisive 52-20 win. Navy, on the other hand, is looking to replicate its 2009 success when it last defeated a ranked Notre Dame team, overcoming No. 21 Notre Dame in a narrow 23-21 triumph in South Bend.

Navy aims for a historic start to their season, seeking a 7-0 record for the first time since 1978, a feat achieved only four other times in the program's history. Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish, recovering from an early-season setback against Northern Illinois, need to secure consecutive victories to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.

The decision to host the 2024 edition of this annual matchup at MetLife Stadium was announced on August 5, 2021. Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk and MetLife Stadium President and CEO Ron VanDeVeen revealed the news, emphasizing the enthusiasm and high expectations surrounding the game. Gladchuk highlighted the stadium's dynamic atmosphere and detailed the significance of the event in their annual schedule.

Due to the limited capacity of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, which holds 34,000 spectators, Navy typically opts for a neutral site when hosting Notre Dame. MetLife Stadium, with a much larger capacity of 82,500, provides a fitting backdrop for the game. Recent venues for the storied rivalry have included locations such as Baltimore, Jacksonville, San Diego, Philadelphia, and Orlando.

The upcoming game will be the second time since 2000 that Notre Dame and Navy square off in East Rutherford. The last encounter here was in 2010 when Navy claimed a 35-17 victory at the then-called New Meadowlands Stadium. This time, the stakes and excitement are as high as ever, promising a thrilling day of college football for fans and teams alike.