Navy Football vs. FAU: Conference Showdown Preview

by Javier Moreno - Sports Editor
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Navy vs.FAU Game Information

Table of Contents

Navy (6-0, 4-0 American) vs. FAU (3-4, 2-2 American)

When: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 | 3:30 pm (ET)

Location: Annapolis, Md. | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium | [Parking & Fan Guide](link not provided)

Television: CBS Sports Network (Chris Lewis,Randy Cross,Brandon Baylor)

Live Video Stream: CBS Sports Network

Listen: Navy Football Radio Network (Joe Miller, Mike James, Keenan Reynolds, Keith Mills, Scott Wykoff)
* WBAL 1090 AM / 101.5 FM (Baltimore)
* WFED 1500 AM (Washington, D.C.)
* WFED 104.5 FM (Western Fairfax / Loudon, Va.)
* WNAV 1430 AM (Annapolis)
* KWFN 97.3 FM (San Diego)
* WGH 1310 AM / 100.9 FM (Norfolk, Va.)
* WJGM 105.7 FM (Jacksonville, Fla.)
* KIKI 990 AM (Honolulu, Hawai’i)
* Satellite: Sirius 145, SXM App 145
* Apps: Audacy (WNAV and KWFN) and TuneIn (WBAL)

Live Stats: StatBroadcast

Game Notes: Navy Game Notes Link | FAU [Game Notes Link](link not provided)

Navy Football: By the Numbers – Ahead of FAU Matchup

Navy enters Saturday’s Homecoming game against Florida Atlantic with impressive momentum and a wealth of programme history. The Midshipmen have won six consecutive games against American Athletic Conference opponents, tied for the third-longest such streak nationally.

This season, Navy has achieved a 6-0 start for the second year in a row, a feat not accomplished since 1978-79. That 1978 team finished 9-3 with victories over Air Force, Army, and BYU, while the 1979 squad ended at 7-4, also defeating Air Force and Army.

Home-field advantage is notable for Navy, boasting a nation-leading 76-game winning streak when leading after the third quarter. Their last home loss in that scenario dates back to 1999.

Navy clinched bowl eligibility with a thrilling 32-31 win over Temple on October 11th. The program has a 13-11-1 all-time bowl record, including a recent 21-20 victory over Oklahoma in last year’s Armed Forces Bowl.

Saturday’s game is also Homecoming, where Navy holds a 45-28 record. They’ve won the last three Homecoming contests, with their last loss coming in 2021 to cincinnati.

The Midshipmen lead the all-time series against FAU 2-0, with wins in 2012 and 2017. Notably, this will be the third time in four games Navy faces a team nicknamed the “Owls.”

Throughout its 145 seasons, Navy has compiled a 754-603-57 record, ranking 23rd in FBS history in total wins – the moast among Service Academies and non-Autonomy 4 teams.

Head Coach Brian Newberry has started his Navy career with a 21-10 record, the best 30-game start for a Navy head coach as Wayne Hardin (1959-61).

Navy has demonstrated a knack for close games, with four of their last six wins decided by one possession. The team features 23 players from the state of Florida, including key contributors like Jaylin Acevedeo, Xavyer Arrington, Isaiah Bryant, Brandon Chatman, Greyson Crawford, Seth English, Josh Guerin, TK Hodges, luke Pirris, and Kendall Whites.

Navy Football: Horvath and Heidenreich Leading the Charge

Navy football is witnessing extraordinary performances from quarterback Tai Horvath and wide receiver Eli Heidenreich, with both players etching their names into the program’s record books.

Horvath joins Malcolm Perry as the only Navy players with multiple 90-yard rushing plays in a career. his career average of 8.3 yards per play ranks second in school history, trailing only Shun White’s 8.9.Horvath also boasts the second-best career yards-per-completion average at 17.5,just behind Ricky Dobbs’ record of 18.8.

Recently, Horvath shattered the school record for total offense in a single game with 469 yards (130 rushing, 339 passing) against Air Force, surpassing Will Worth’s previous mark of 428. He became the first FBS quarterback since LSU’s jayden Daniels in 2023 to achieve over 330 passing yards with 3+ touchdowns and 130+ rushing yards with 1+ touchdown in a single contest. He is currently on a four-game streak of rushing for over 100 yards, a feat last accomplished by Malcolm Perry in 2019. Horvath’s 8 rushing touchdowns are tied for sixth-most among FBS quarterbacks, and he leads all quarterbacks nationally with an average of 106.7 rushing yards per game.

Looking ahead,Horvath’s current season statistics project to break school records. His 189.3 passing efficiency would surpass Malcolm Perry’s record of 181.6, and his 9.1 yards per play would exceed Malcolm Perry’s 8.5. He is also averaging 18.8 yards per completion, which would rank fourth all-time at Navy and lead the FBS with enough attempts. With 22 career passing touchdowns,Horvath is one behind Jim Kubiak for fifth place in program history. Pro Football Focus currently ranks Horvath as the 7th-best quarterback in the FBS (88.4 overall grade), 16th as a passer (84.1), and 15th as a runner (76.6).

Complementing Horvath’s stellar play is eli Heidenreich, who holds the Navy record for career receiving touchdowns with 14. his 1,538 career receiving yards are the third most in school history, trailing Jamir Tillman by 88 yards and Rob Taylor by 198. Against Air Force, heidenreich delivered a historic performance with a career-high 8 catches for a school-record 243 yards and a school-record-tying 3 touchdowns, becoming the first Navy player to surpass 200 receiving yards in a game.

Heidenreich currently ranks 8th in the FBS in yards per reception, averaging 21.1 yards per catch. Notably, Pro Football Focus ranks Heidenreich as the best running back in the FBS (91.7 grade) and his receiving grade of 93.1 is the highest among all running backs and wide receivers. Alex Tecza is also recognized by PFF, ranking as the 4th-best pass-catching running back in the FBS.

The American Athletic Conference’s Bowl agreements for 2025

The American Athletic Conference has established a robust set of bowl agreements for the 2025 season, ensuring its teams have prominent postseason opportunities. These agreements include both primary and secondary tie-ins, providing adaptability and maximizing exposure for the conference.

Primary Bowl Affiliations

The American has secured eight primary bowl affiliations for 2025. These are guaranteed slots for the conference’s top bowl-eligible teams, based on their performance and bowl selection order. the primary bowl games include:

Secondary Bowl Agreements

In addition to the primary affiliations, The American maintains secondary agreements with two additional bowl games. These agreements provide opportunities for bowl-eligible teams that are not selected for the primary bowls. The secondary agreements are with:

Understanding Primary vs.Secondary Agreements

primary bowl agreements guarantee a spot for a conference team if a certain number of bowl-eligible teams exist. Secondary agreements are typically filled after primary bowl slots are claimed and offer additional postseason opportunities.The specific selection process for these bowls depends on the conference’s internal bowl selection procedures and the bowl’s criteria.

Key Takeaways

  • The American Athletic Conference has eight primary bowl affiliations for the 2025 season.
  • Secondary agreements with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and Quick Lane Bowl provide additional postseason opportunities.
  • These agreements aim to maximize bowl access for eligible teams within the conference.

The American Athletic Conference’s bowl lineup for 2025 demonstrates its commitment to providing its member institutions with valuable postseason experiences and national exposure. As the college football landscape continues to evolve,these bowl agreements will play a crucial role in showcasing the conference’s competitive strength.

Published: 2025/10/21 15:58:02

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