TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
The Navy Midshipmen host the UAB Blazers as both squads open conference play in the American. The Midshipmen walloped the VMI Keydets in Week 1, 52-7. UAB held on to defeat the Alabama State Hornets 52-42.
Navy and UAB will be the first in-conference meeting for the American in 2025. Navy is the heavy favorite to win, a 3 TD favorite in some places. I don’t know if there is a coach in the FBS whose seat is hotter than UAB head coach Trent Dilfer. He needs this win to cool off that seat.
Offense: The three-headed monster of QB Blake Horvath, RB Alex Tecza and SB Eli Heidenreich accounted for 44.7 percent of the Navy offensive production against VMI. This despite playing only the first half of the game.
Defense: Senior DT Landon Robinson led the defense with 2 sacks. Robinson came into the season on the watchlist for the Nagurski, Outland, Bednarik and Lombardi Trophies.
Offense: QB Jalen Kitna threw for 247 yards and 2 TDs last week. Kitna’s top two targets were WRs Corri Milliner Iverson Hooks. Milliner finished with 5 catches for 98 yards and 1 TD. Hooks led in catches with 7 for 73 yards and 1 TD.
Defense: LB Devin Hightower tied for second on the team with 6 tackles and he also recovered a fumble last week. Safety Sirad Bryant led the Blazers in tackles with 8.
UAB’s defense struggled in stopping Alabama State in Week 1. The offense they’ll be facing against Navy is considerably better. UAB needs this game to become a shootout to have any chance of winning.
Keep an eye on Navy’s backup QB, Braxton Woodson, who rushed for 180 yards and 2 TDs against VMI. If Navy pulls away early, head coach Brian Newberry could put Woodson in to get a fair number of snaps in the 2nd half. I expect Navy to cover the spread in this game, winning 41-10.
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 […]
TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
We are halfway through the 2025 season, and the postseason picture for a number of conferences is going to start to take shape. The next few weeks will feature games that have major postseason implications for the Group of 5. Below are this week’s featured games. American Conference Army (3-3, 2-2) @ Tulane (5-1, 2-0) […]
TJ Chapman
Lead Columnist, Editor
Week 7 has the chance to be the best week of Group of 5 games this year. Of the 10 teams featured, only two have records under .500. Four of the teams have either one loss or no losses. Below are this week’s featured games. American Conference No. 24 USF (4-1, 1-0) @ North Texas […]
