WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- The annual Army-Navy football game kicks off Saturday in Maryland, but there are already politics at play to make sure a time-honored tradition sticks. A bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter Thursday to the College Football Playoff and Bowl Season leaders, asking they set aside the second Saturday in December solely for the Army-Navy game.  Excluding the pandemic, this year's matchup will be the first time since 2009 other games have played on the same day. "We wish both sides a good game," said John Kirby, the spokesperson for the White House National Security Council. "We thank them for their service now, of course, at these service academies and for their service in the future." President-elect Donald Trump filled out his suite ahead of the rivalry game. "We'll all be there together," said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). "It'll be a lot of fun." Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also plans to attend with Trump, along with Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran who was just acquitted in the choking death of New York subway rider, Jordan Neely.  Fellow Marine veteran, Vice President-elect JD Vance, confirmed his invite on X, writing, "Daniel's a good guy, and New York's mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone. I'm grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he's able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage."