Navy Football 2025: Midshipmen Dominate Memphis on Thanksgiving, Eye Conference Title & Army Rivalry

Navy football 2025,Navy football is having one of its most impressive modern seasons, blending old‑school toughness with renewed national relevance in 2025. With a 9–2 record after Thanksgiving and a real shot at a conference title and major bowl game, the Midshipmen are reminding college football why service academy football still matters.​

Navy football in 2025

Navy entered the 2025 season with quiet momentum after a bowl win over Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl, and has turned that into a genuine breakthrough campaign. Under head coach Brian Newberry, now firmly established in his role, the program has paired its traditional physical identity with smarter use of the passing game. The result is a team that has stayed in the Top 25 conversation, stacked quality wins, and forced opponents to respect both the option run and timely throws downfield.​

Season record and key results

Through late November, Navy stands at 9–2 overall and 7–1 in the American Conference, with its only league loss coming on the road to North Texas. The Midshipmen opened 7–0, including tight victories over Air Force and Temple, before stumbling in back‑to‑back road games at North Texas and Notre Dame. They answered that adversity with statement wins over ranked South Florida and then Memphis in the regular‑season finale, regaining control of their conference destiny.​

Some of the defining results of the 2025 regular season include:​

• A dominant season opener over VMI that showcased the depth of the roster.​

• A physical home win against UAB, a team that also upset Memphis earlier in the year.​

• A gutsy road victory at Tulsa and a grinding home win over Rice that kept the early streak alive.​

• A dramatic Commander‑in‑Chiefs series win over Air Force, edging the Falcons by a field goal.​

• A one‑point escape at Temple that made Navy bowl‑eligible in emotional fashion.​

• A bounce‑back thriller over ranked South Florida, which put Navy back in the title picture.​

• A 28–17 win at Memphis on Thanksgiving night, clinching at least a share of the conference regular‑season title.​

Thanksgiving win over Memphis

The latest headline moment came in Memphis, where Navy went on the road in a hostile holiday environment and imposed its will. Facing a Tigers team that entered 8–3 and dangerous offensively, the Midshipmen leaned on their ground game, time of possession, and opportunistic defense to earn a 28–17 victory. That result not only spoiled Memphis’ senior night but also locked Navy into the conference title conversation and pushed its win total to nine with at least two games still to play.​

For fans watching at home, the Memphis game captured what this Navy team is about: long, methodical drives, a quarterback who can hurt you with both arm and legs, and a defense that bends but refuses to break in the red zone. Even neutral viewers could feel the emotion on the sideline as seniors embraced coaches after the final whistle, clearly understanding they had just secured one of the most important road wins of their careers.​

Blake Horvath at the heart of the story

Quarterback Blake Horvath has emerged as the heartbeat of this Navy team in 2025. Unlike many traditional option quarterbacks who are primarily runners, Horvath is a true dual‑threat, leading the team in both passing yards and rushing yards. By late November he had completed around 62% of his passes for over 1,200 yards with more touchdowns than interceptions, while also rushing for close to 1,000 yards and double‑digit rushing scores.​

What makes Horvath special is not just his stat line but his composure. In narrow wins over Air Force, Temple, and South Florida, he repeatedly converted third‑and‑long situations and delivered accurate deep balls when defenses loaded the box. Teammates and coaches have praised his calm leadership in huddles, and there has even been outside chatter about whether he could sneak into broader national award conversations if Navy finishes with double‑digit wins again.​​

Offensive identity: still run‑first, but evolved

Navy still lives and dies with the ground game and ranks among the nation’s leaders in rushing offense, but the scheme has evolved beyond the classic under‑center triple option. The 2025 offense mixes pistol looks, shotgun option, and motion‑heavy formations that force defenses to declare their intentions before the snap. The philosophy is simple: use misdirection and leverage to create angles for the backs, then punish safeties who creep down with timely play‑action shots.​​

Key contributors include:​

• Running backs such as Alex Tecza and others who rotate to keep the backfield fresh and physical for four quarters.​

• Receiver Eli Heidenreich, who provides big‑play ability on the perimeter with hundreds of receiving yards and multiple touchdowns, stretching the field vertically.​

• An offensive line that has grown into one of the more cohesive units in the American, consistently winning at the point of attack despite facing larger fronts.​

Defensive toughness and key stats

On defense, Navy has been defined by hustle, gap discipline, and red‑zone resilience rather than overwhelming star power. The unit has held several opponents well below their season scoring averages, particularly in wins over Rice, Air Force, and Memphis. While Notre Dame’s explosive offense did expose some limitations, the Midshipmen have generally excelled at limiting big plays and forcing opponents to drive the length of the field.​

Statistically, the defense sits in the upper half of the American in scoring defense and rush defense, and has generated timely takeaways that swing field position. The front seven has been especially important against run‑heavy teams like Air Force and in short‑yardage situations inside the 10‑yard line. Behind them, the secondary has grown more confident, surviving long stretches of man coverage while the blitz packages try to disrupt opposing quarterbacks.​

Conference race and bowl implications

Navy’s surge has transformed the American Conference race, turning late‑season games into de facto elimination matchups. With a 7–1 conference record after beating Memphis, the Midshipmen hold at least a share of the league lead and can position themselves for the championship game depending on other results involving North Texas and Tulane. That has elevated every snap, because one slip not only affects the title but also the program’s bowl destination.​

The stakes are high historically as well. Navy already became bowl‑eligible in mid‑October and is now chasing back‑to‑back 10‑win seasons for the first time ever, with a chance to tie the school record of 11 wins set in 2015 and 2019 if it can close strong. Potential bowl options include high‑profile slots reserved for top American teams, which would mean another nationally televised stage to showcase the academy and its athletes.​

The looming Army–Navy showdown

No matter what happens in the conference race, one date still towers above the rest: the Army–Navy game in mid‑December. This year’s matchup will be played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, a neutral‑site venue that has hosted several classic editions of the rivalry. Navy enters the game with momentum and the chance to capture the Commander‑in‑Chief’s Trophy in back‑to‑back seasons for the first time since 2012–13.​

The emotional weight of Army–Navy goes beyond records. For seniors, it is a final chance to wear the Navy uniform before transitioning fully into their roles as officers, and each snap feels like a bridge between college football and future service. With national networks carrying the game and special uniforms drawing attention on social media, the atmosphere becomes part celebration, part farewell, and part intense battle for pride among the academies.​

Coaching, culture, and senior leadership

Brian Newberry’s tenure has emphasized culture as much as scheme, and the 2025 season reflects that blend. The Midshipmen are 13–3 at home under his leadership, and the current senior class (the Class of 2026) has already compiled the program’s highest win total since the group that graduated in 2020. That continuity has given Navy a clear identity: disciplined, aggressive, and unafraid to schedule tough non‑conference opponents like Notre Dame.​

Within the locker room, captains and upperclassmen play a huge role in holding teammates accountable on and off the field. Training at the academy is already demanding, but coaches have described this group as “self‑driven,” with players organizing extra film sessions and walkthroughs to stay sharp late in the year. For many fans, the most human part of this story is knowing that the same players making open‑field tackles today will be leading sailors and Marines tomorrow.​

Human side: balancing service and sport

What sets Navy football apart, especially in a season like 2025, is the human element. Every player on the roster is a midshipman whose schedule includes academic loads, military training, and physical demands that extend far beyond the practice field. Game day is not just about chasing a scholarship or a professional contract; it is about representing future service to the country while competing with national‑level athletes.​

That context gives close wins and tough losses a different emotional texture. When Navy edged Temple by a single point or outlasted South Florida in a shootout, the celebrations reflected months of sacrifice on multiple fronts, not just football. And when the team returned from a humbling loss at Notre Dame, the response was rooted in resilience they have been building since Induction Day at the academy. For many alumni and families, watching this group succeed feels like watching the next generation of leaders learn how to handle pressure in real time.​

Why Navy football matters right now

In a college football landscape dominated by realignment drama, NIL deals, and massive transfer numbers, Navy offers a different kind of story. The Midshipmen have benefited from stability rather than roster overhauls, competing against teams that sometimes feature dozens of transfers from power conferences. Their success underscores that cohesion, buy‑in, and culture can still beat raw talent when executed at a high level.​