TJ Chapman
Editor
The Navy Midshipmen (6-0, 4-0) have won all six games so far this season. In five of the six games, they have scored at least 32 points. At the midway point of the season, the only question is, why aren’t the Midshipmen ranked in either Top 25 poll?
Navy has played four conference games so far. While the American Conference is loaded this year, Navy’s competition is a combined 10-15. However, at some point, the wins have to matter.
When breaking down the offense, you start with the quarterback and leader, Blake Horvath. The senior is No. 10 in the FBS and No. 1 among QBs in rushing yards with 640. Horvath is tied for No. 6 in the FBS with 8 rushing TDs. Horvath has been named to the midseason watchlist for the Davey O’Brien Award. He has also been named the American Conference offensive player of the week the last two weeks.
The weapons available to Horvath are the Pittsburgh Connection of RB Alex Tecza and WR Eli Heidenreich. Tecza is second on the team in rushing with 409 yards and 5 TDs. Heidenreich is far and away the top receiver, registering 23 catches for 485 yards and 4 TDs. Navy’s offensive line has just been named to the Joe Moore Award’s midseason honor roll.
On defense, the Midshipmen give up 361.0 yards and 21.5 points per game. Both numbers are in the middle of the pack in the FBS. Defensive leader Landon Robinson leads the team with 5 sacks. Robinson was just named to the midseason watchlist for the Lombardi Award.
As far as the schedule is concerned, Navy’s average margin of victory is 9 points against FBS competition. While not an overly large margin, that is a two-score margin of victory.
A team like Texas, which has two losses already and has not looked good, was thrust back into the AP Top 25 with a win over Oklahoma. Big brands get preferential treatment over the Group of 5 schools. But has Texas really looked like a Top 25 team? Outside of the Red River Rivalry, I say no.
The unfortunate thing for Navy is that no matter what they do, the Midshipmen will never get treated better than a big brand like Texas. All Navy can do is keep winning. But the voters need to start recognizing that, at 6-0, Navy is a Top 25 team.
TJ Chapman
Editor
Week 12 will feature the highs and lows of the Group of 5 conferences. While we like to feature the better games, it’s also fun to give some love to the teams struggling this season. Below are this week’s featured games. American Conference No. 24 USF (7-2, 4-1) @ Navy (7-2, 5-1) noon ET, Nov. […]
TJ Chapman
Editor
Week 10 in the Group of 5 will see another brick in the wall that is the American Conference fall. Seven American teams have one or no conference losses. In the remaining four conferences, two teams are looking to become bowl-eligible this week. The others are attempting to add to their win total to creep […]
TJ Chapman
Editor
Over the next few weeks, the Group of 5 conferences are going to start sorting out their championship game participants. This week, there are major games in the American Conference and Mountain West Conference. These games will start to shape the postseason for both. Below are this week’s featured games. American Conference USF (6-1, 3-0) […]
