As it turns out, Navy’s seniors have not played their final home football game.

The Midshipmen and members of the Class of 2018 will make an encore appearance at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium when they meet Virginia from the Atlantic Coast Conference in the Military Bowl on Dec. 28 at 1:30 p.m.

“Our players are excited about the opportunity to play one last game on what is hallowed ground at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “Having the opportunity to represent the American Athletic Conference against a team from the ACC makes it even more exciting.”

Navy will host Virginia in what works out as a dream matchup for Military Bowl organizers because it will almost certainly attract a sellout crowd. The Cavaliers and Midshipmen have not met since 1994.

“We are thrilled to renew this regional matchup in our 10th anniversary game,” Military Bowl president and executive director Steve Beck said. “Obviously, we were hoping for this pairing. It really is the perfect matchup for our bowl this year.”

This marks the 14th postseason appearance in the span of 15 years for Navy (6-5), which closes the regular season Saturday against archrival Army West Point. The Mids will be making their third appearance in this game, having previously played ACC opponents in 2008 and 2015.

Navy lost to Wake Forest in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl at RFK Stadium, then defeated Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl two years ago.

“The 34 seniors that will be playing their last football game for Navy deserve to play in front of a full house at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium one final time,” Niumatalolo said.

Meanwhile, Virginia (6-6) is bowl-eligible for the first time since 2011 with second-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall directing a turnaround after five straight losing seasons. The Cavaliers, who went 2-10 in 2010, are led by a group of seniors whose motto for this season was setting a “new standard.”

“This is a tangible step of progress,” Mendenhall said. “There is a certain benchmark that bowl eligibility means. It gives us recognition and adds momentum to what we’re doing.”

Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk was pleased the program was selected for the Military Bowl as it provides the best opportunity to sell tickets. Gladchuk thanked American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco for not sending the Mids elsewhere.

“With the main event on our home turf against a successful team from the ACC completes what I call the total postseason package,” Gladchuk said. “You combine those two factors and it’s easy to see why the Military Bowl was the top possible bowl for Navy to play in this year.”

bwagner@capgaznews.com

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