Until last week, Navy fans had reason to believe the Midshipmen could rise to become the best team in the Group of Five.
Navy was undefeated going into its matchup with North Texas. But the Midshipmen fell 31-17 at UNT, and they are now 7-1 overall with a 5-1 mark in American Conference play.
The Midshipmen are still in a great position to finish off a strong 2025 season. Navy had earned close wins over teams like Rice and Temple and is seventh in this week’s HERO Sports Group of Five Top 25 Media Poll. Also, after beating Air Force, the Midshipmen could once again win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.
But next up, Navy has arguably its toughest test yet.
The Midshipmen go on the road to play No. 10 Notre Dame. After starting the season with close losses to Miami and Texas A&M, the Fighting Irish are 6-2 following a six-game winning streak.
Navy vs. Notre Dame Betting Odds
Notre Dame is a 28-point college football betting odds favorite against Navy, with the Over/Under being 55.5 as of this writing. The moneyline for Navy is +2000, while it’s -10000 for Notre Dame.
Navy vs. Notre Dame On TV
The matchup between Navy and Notre Dame will be televised on NBC and Peacock.
The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 8. The contest is taking place at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
Navy vs. Notre Dame Prediction
I predict Notre Dame will win but Navy will cover the 27.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 55.5 total points.
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee’s rankings this week, where no G5 team was in the top 25, has sparked a national discussion about whether a G5 team should be guaranteed a CFP spot. Even with great records, those teams aren’t ranked highly because of a perceived strength of schedule.
But looking at Notre Dame’s schedule, I’m not really all that impressed. I’m not saying the Fighting Irish are a bad team by any means. But I think this is a team that Navy can keep pace with – especially considering fellow G5 program Boise State lost just 28-7 against Notre Dame.
Navy’s triple-option offense is one of the best in the country at running the ball. The Midshipmen have rushed for 317.3 yards per game this season. And they have some star players on that side of the ball.
Blake Horvath has thrown for 1,143 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions on a 64% completion rate while rushing for 926 yards and 13 TDs. Alex Tecza has rushed for 523 yards and six scores. Eli Heidenreich leads the team with 575 yards and four TDs on 31 receptions while rushing for 342 yards and three TDs.
Do I think Navy will go on the road and upset the Fighting Irish? No. But I do think the Midshipmen have what it takes to limit the winning margin to 21 or fewer points.
