Navy enters 2026 as a conference favorite, reloading after key offensive departures but boasting a veteran offensive line and a dual-threat quarterback.
Head coach Brian Newberry is headed into year four at the helm for the Midshipmen. The last two seasons, Navy has spent time ranked in the AP Top 25, won their last two bowl games and has a record of 21-5 the last two seasons. After starting off his career as head coach 5-7, Newberry has Navy rolling and is looking to continue that momentum despite some key losses on offense and defense.
Losing your top three producing players on offense and one of your best defensive lineman to graduation and a starting cornerback to the transfer portal on defense is never ideal for any head coach. But if there's a team that's geared to reload, it's the Navy Midshipmen.
The dates for their schedule has yet to be released, but they're set to play another rigorous schedule in the AAC with games against Air Force on the road and UTSA on the road along with playing Notre Dame, Memphis, North Texas, Tulsa and Army at home. Navy is one of the few programs in the AAC that didn't have to replace their head coach after this past season; currently, they're one of my favorites to win the conference.
Let's take a look at the Midshipmen.
2025 Record: 11-2 / 7-1 (Beat Cincinnati 35-13 in the Liberty Bowl)
2024 Record: 10-3 / 6-2 (Beat Oklahoma 21-20 in the Armed Forces Bowl)
Navy Offense
Starters Returning - WR Joshua Guerin, TE Jake Norris, LT Sean Crowley, C Cam Nichols, RG Hoke Smith II, RT Malcolm Johnson,
Starters Lost - QB Blake Horvath, HB Brandon Chatman, FB Alex Tecza, WR Eli Heidenreich, LG Ben Purvis
The losses for this offense is significant. Horvath (1,580 passing yards, 12 TD, 6 INT, 224 att., 1,200 rushing yards, 5.4 YPC, 16 TD), Tecza (158 att., 902 yards, 5.7 YPC, 10 TD) and Heidenreich (77 att., 499 yards, 6.5 YPC, 3 TD, 51 rec., 941 yards, 18.5 YPC, 6 TD) were a dominating trio the last two seasons for the Midshipmen and they'll have to be replaced. Chatman (57 att., 431 yards, 7.6 YPC, 3 TD, 17 rec., 159 yards, 9.4 YPC) was the team's fourth leading rusher and second leading receiver; he's also departing.
Despite their losses, Navy retains a lot in the trenches. Their left tackle, center, right guard and right tackle all return in 2026 with their only loss being Purvis (32 career starts). Their returners of Crowley, Nichols, Smith II and Johnson have a combined 53 career starts and will likely be one of the more experienced offensive lines Notre Dame will face this season.
The biggest news, however, for the Navy offense is the return of quarterback Braxton Woodson who started against the Irish last season in South Bend. Woodson isn't the passer that Horvath was and only completed nine passes on 19 attempts for 110 yards. But his abilities as a runner are exceptionally. He rushed for 414 yards on 44 attempts and 6 touchdowns in 2025 and was the first 100-yard rusher Notre Dame's defense allowed in 2025.
Navy Defense
Starters Returning - DE Julien Moutome, DT Griffen Willis, LB MarcAnthony Parker, LB Coleman Cauley, CB Irabonoise Oniha, S Giuseppe Sessi, S Phillip Hamilton
Starters Lost - DT Landon Robinson, EDGE Luke Pirris, CB Justin Ross (Transfer - Virginia), CB Jaxson Campbell
The losses on defense weren't as heavy as the losses on the offensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator PJ Volker has a lot of experience coming back in 2026. Parker (97 tackles, 2.0 sacks) at linebacker and Sessi (81 tackles, 1 fumble recovery) return to anchor the Midshipmen defense. Both players led the team in tackles in 2025. Two of their defensive lineman return in Moutome (41 tackles, 3.5 sacks) and Willis (48 tackles, 3.0 sacks).
Cauley (79 tackles, 2 INT) also returns alonside Parker at linebacker and was the team's third leading tackler last season. Their secondary returns most of their starters between Sessi, Hamilton (49 tackles, 2 passes defended, 3 INT) and Oniha (24 tackles, 7 passes defended) at cornerback. Their losses are impactful, but what they return leads me to believe that Volker will have a solid defensive unit in 2026.
2026 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 129 Rivals/On3 - No. 132 247Sports
2026 SCHEDULE
Notre Dame 2026 Opponent Previews:
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