Notre Dame vs Navy Predictions
The Fighting Irish (6-2) play host at home to Navy this Saturday evening in South Bend. According to the first release of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee rankings, Notre Dame checks in at No. 10 in the nation.
They’re coming off solid momentum, while Navy brings a very disciplined rushing attack and the desire to knock off a highly regarded opponent.
Strengths & Storylines
- Notre Dame’s offense has dynamic talents. At quarterback, freshman CJ Carr has shown flashes of poise and big-play potential.
- In the backfield, the Irish boast a powerful 1-2 punch: junior running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Love is the more boisterous big-play threat, while Price complements him with consistency.
- Love rushed at an average of 6.3 yards per carry in 2025 (through the data available) and has already tallied 11 rushing TDs this season according to ESPN’s stat lines.
- Price brings his own numbers: in 2025 he has rushed for 521 yards with eight touchdowns and a 6.1 ypc average, per ESPN.
- On the other side, Navy’s identity is clear: a dominant ground-game, disciplined clock management, and opportunities to make mistakes for the opponent.
- The matchup pits Notre Dame’s balanced offensive weapons against Navy’s run-heavy army of plays; the question is whether Notre Dame can impose its will and avoid being bogged down in Navy’s tempo.
What’s at stake
- For Notre Dame: Maintain momentum, keep playoff hopes alive, and demonstrate consistency. Being ranked top 10 puts pressure on them to perform.
- For Navy: An upset win would be a banner moment — no shame in the attempt, and they’ll be ready for a physical grind.
- For the fans: This game has rivalry energy, national relevance (because of the ranking and the spotlight), and the kind of feel-good moment that Notre Dame programs aim for.
What Notre Dame Must Do To Win
For the Irish to come out on top, several things must happen:
- Stay disciplined in the run-defense and force Navy into uncomfortable passing situations. If Navy can’t reliably establish the ground game, the Irish will be in control. Notre Dame must stay gap-sound, tackle well, and avoid big-chunk runs.
- Let the offense lean on Carr, Love and Price but protect the football. With CJ Carr at QB, Notre Dame has fresh legs and big play upside. But turnovers, sacks, or stalled drives will play right into Navy’s rhythm. The Irish should let Carr manage the game while the backs do the heavy lifting.
- Love: his big-play ability must be showcased—he’s not just a power back but can produce explosive runs.
- Price: by maintaining efficiency and keeping defenses honest, he prevents the opposition from keying exclusively on Love.
- Control the tempo and field position. If Notre Dame can mix up plays—establish the run with Price and Love, occasionally open it with Carr’s arm—they’ll keep Navy off balance. Special teams, too, must not give away hidden yards or momentum swings.
- Win the red-zone battle and capitalize on opportunities. When the Irish get close, they must convert drives into touchdowns (not just field goals) and avoid giving Navy short fields or momentum through mistakes.
- Avoid letting Navy’s grind-style wear them out or shift the narrative. A physical opponent like Navy can force misfires late in the game if Notre Dame becomes sloppy. The Irish must stay sharp, stay fresh, and execute fundamentals late in the second half.
Prediction & Final Score
Given the matchup dynamics, Notre Dame has the edge. They have the deeper roster, high-ceiling offense, and the ranking momentum. If they execute, I expect them to cover and win fairly comfortably.
Final Score Prediction: Notre Dame 34, Navy 17
I lean toward a mid-30s scoring night for Notre Dame, with Navy managing a decent ground-gain total but not enough explosive plays to keep pace.
Ranking Note
As mentioned above, Notre Dame is currently ranked No. 10 in the first 2025 College Football Playoff rankings.
That means they are in the mix for a playoff spot — but every game matters now. A slip in this one could cost them significantly in seeding and national perception.