Irish Face Resilient Navy Despite Midshipmen's Woes

Notre Dame returns to action after a bye week, facing a Navy team that, despite a 2-5 record, has lost games by narrow margins. The Midshipmen's struggles this 2026 season are attributed to the loss of crucial offensive players like Blake Horvath and defensive anchor Landon Robinson, who were NFL Draft picks. This mirrors a cyclical challenge for Navy, which operates without NIL or transfer portals, relying heavily on recruiting cycles to replenish talent.

Offensively, Navy is led by quarterback Jackson Gutierrez, who has performed well in both passing and rushing the triple-option, accounting for seven touchdowns and one interception through the air, with 869 rushing yards and 12 scores. Running back Michael Barrown and fullback Vic Listorti also contribute.

Defensively, Navy's rush defense has been adequate, but their pass defense is a significant liability, allowing 255.9 passing yards per game. They also struggle with turnovers, having not recovered a single fumble this season. Notre Dame's offense is expected to find success through the air against this vulnerable unit.

The traditional rivalry game will be played at Gillette Stadium. Amidst this matchup, Notre Dame aims to shake off rust and focus on defeating Navy. The teams last met in 2010 with a brief hiatus due to past incidents, and a resumption of the rivalry with Maryland is unlikely due to scheduling and interest.