Pete Hegseth Handles Air Force-Navy Coin Toss After Hot Shooting

Pete Hegseth spent part of his visit to Colorado Springs around the Air Force-Navy football game doing more than ceremonial duties. Before appearing on the field for the pregame coin toss, he drew attention inside Clune Arena at the Air Force Academy by showing a surprisingly sharp touch from long range on the basketball court.

During his time in the arena, Hegseth stepped to the top of the arc and took 10 three-point attempts. He made nine of them, missing only once in a sequence that quickly turned heads. The showing stood out not because it was part of the day’s official schedule, but because of how comfortably he shot the ball and how quickly he found a rhythm.

The display gave the visit an unexpected athletic moment before the focus returned to football. Hegseth was in Colorado Springs primarily to address cadets ahead of Saturday’s matchup between the Air Force Falcons and the Navy Midshipmen. His stop at the academy included time with students before the rivalry game, followed by his appearance on the field just before kickoff.

That sequence made for a memorable lead-in to one of the service academy calendar’s notable games. After his time in Clune Arena, Hegseth went to the stadium and handled duties during the coin toss, placing him at the center of the pregame ceremony as both teams prepared to open play.

Pregame spotlight at the Academy

The basketball segment added a lighter moment to a visit tied to a major football event. Making nine of 10 shots from beyond the arc is notable in any setting, and doing it at the Air Force Academy before a nationally followed service matchup only amplified the attention. Even though it was informal, the shooting performance became one of the day’s most talked-about scenes.

Once the game began, the Falcons made enough plays to secure a close victory. Air Force defeated Navy 14-9, improving to 3-1 on the season. Navy fell to 1-3 with the loss in a result that reflected how tight and competitive the matchup was from start to finish.

What the result means

For Air Force, the win provided another positive step early in the season and sent the Falcons into their next week with momentum. Their upcoming game is a road trip to Northern Illinois, where they will try to build on the 14-9 result and continue their strong start.

Navy, meanwhile, returned from Colorado Springs with a narrow defeat and a 1-3 record. The Midshipmen’s next opportunity comes at home against Tulsa, giving them a chance to regroup after falling short in a rivalry game.

In the end, the day featured a little of everything: a visit to cadets, a pregame ceremonial role, and an unexpected burst of shot-making in Clune Arena. Hegseth’s involvement around the Air Force-Navy game made him part of the buildup in more ways than one, from speaking at the academy to taking the field for the coin toss. The football result ultimately belonged to Air Force, but the pregame basketball display ensured that Hegseth’s stop in Colorado Springs would be remembered for more than just the final score.