TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, 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
Lead Columnist, Editor
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TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
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TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
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