No. 12 Notre Dame and No. 24 Navy will compete for the Rip Miller Trophy this Saturday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This marks the third consecutive year that this historic college football rivalry is being held at a neutral location.
The series between Navy and Notre Dame dates back to 1927, and they faced each other annually until 2019, making it the longest uninterrupted non-conference series in college football history. However, the competition was disrupted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Historically, Notre Dame has a significant edge with an all-time record of 80 wins, 13 losses, and 1 tie in 96 matches (excluding vacated games). The Midshipmen have managed to secure only one victory over the Fighting Irish in the last decade and four since the year 2000.
Navy did achieve a 35-17 victory in their last encounter in East Rutherford in 2010. This clash will also be just the third meeting of ranked teams in the last 67 seasons, with Notre Dame holding a 7-2-1 lead in the all-time series when both teams are in the AP Top 25.
While this game won’t affect conference standings, it carries significant weight in the College Football Playoff landscape, beyond the traditional rivalry stakes. According to DraftKings, Notre Dame has a -250 betting line to qualify for the CFP, while Navy stands at +1500.
Details for watching Notre Dame vs. Navy live:
Date: Saturday, October 26 | Time: Noon ET
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
TV: ABC | Live stream: fubo (available for free trial)
Key points about Notre Dame vs. Navy:
This is one of the most significant matchups in years. With both teams at 12-1, they are entering this contest with their best combined record since 1945, when both were 5-0 and ended in a 6-6 tie. Navy aims for its first 7-0 start since 1978, while Notre Dame seeks to achieve a six-game winning streak for the first time under head coach Marcus Freeman. Navy hasn’t defeated multiple ranked teams in the same season since 1958.
Notre Dame is rebounding from a surprising loss to Northern Illinois and has since won five straight games, matching its longest winning streak under Freeman. They have been particularly strong defensively, allowing just 10.8 points per game during this stretch, which leads the FBS. Notably, their last two victories were by a combined score of 80-20, and three of their four recent wins have been by at least 25 points.
Despite experiencing numerous key injuries, Notre Dame’s performance remains impressive. They are currently missing two starting offensive linemen and two starting defensive linemen, in addition to their top cornerback.
On the offensive side, Navy has enjoyed an impressive resurgence under offensive coordinator Drew Cronic, leading the American Athletic Conference with an average of 44.8 points per game—up 27.1 points from the previous season. This marks the largest scoring increase for any FBS team this century, with Navy scoring at least 34 points in each game this season, achieving six consecutive games with 30 or more points for the first time since 2010.
Quarterback Blake Horvath is having a standout season, contributing significantly in both rushing and passing, and currently leads the FBS in passer efficiency and yards per attempt. He is among a select group of quarterbacks this year to surpass 10 rushing touchdowns, and he is the first player since Jalen Hurts to average over 100 yards passing and rushing per game through the first six games.
Prediction and analysis for Notre Dame vs. Navy:
Notre Dame has shown considerable strength lately, which may result in a widened point spread. However, Navy presents a serious challenge, potentially testing Notre Dame more than their earlier opponents this season. While the Midshipmen’s strong offense has drawn attention, their defense has allowed fewer than 10 points to their last three opponents. Despite facing injuries, Notre Dame appears to be regaining momentum on both offense and defense. While the betting line favors Notre Dame, expect a closer game than predicted. Recommended bet: Navy +12.5.