In a highly anticipated matchup between two ranked teams, No. 12 Notre Dame emerged victorious over No. 24 Navy with a commanding 51-14 win, ending Navy’s unbeaten streak. The Irish entered MetLife Stadium with a clear goal: to create turnovers and disrupt Navy’s typically disciplined offense. The Midshipmen, however, deviated from their usual precision, committing six costly turnovers that Notre Dame converted into 28 points, ultimately sealing the Midshipmen’s fate.
Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love continued his impressive run, rushing for 102 yards and two touchdowns, marking his eighth consecutive game with a rushing TD. Love’s 64-yard burst to the end zone early in the game set the tone, while his shorter 2-yard touchdown capped off his dominant performance. Quarterback Riley Leonard also contributed significantly, running for a touchdown and throwing for two more, including a notable 37-yard strike to Beaux Collins.
The Midshipmen’s turnover woes were evident throughout. Navy coughed up the ball five times via fumbles, an unusual breakdown in their ball security that became Notre Dame’s advantage. Jaylen Sneed capitalized on one of these errors, recovering a fumble in the end zone for an Irish touchdown, further widening the gap. Additional scoring plays from Leonard to receiver Kris Mitchell and a late 4-yard touchdown by Kedren Young showcased Notre Dame’s ability to convert opportunities.
Navy coach Brian Newberry was candid about his team’s performance, acknowledging that Notre Dame was the superior team “in every way.” He noted that playing on such a grand stage at MetLife Stadium, just miles from New York City, may have been overwhelming for his players.
Despite the defeat, Navy had some bright moments. Blake Horvath’s 47-yard rushing touchdown highlighted his athleticism, and he managed 129 yards on 14 carries. Eli Heidenreich added another touchdown for Navy, but these efforts couldn’t offset the Irish’s advantage in both turnovers and total yards.
Notre Dame’s dominant performance resulted in a 31-7 halftime lead, effectively squashing any chance of a Navy comeback. The Irish outgained the Midshipmen 466-310, with their 51 points marking the most given up by Navy this season.
With this victory, Notre Dame extended its winning streak to six games following a surprising loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2. For Navy, the loss marked the end of their unbeaten record, and they’ll need to regroup quickly as they move forward in the season. The game marked the 97th meeting between these historic rivals, with Notre Dame’s execution on both sides of the ball proving decisive in this storied matchup.