Navy-Notre Dame Capsule

Navy (4-0) at No. 15 Notre Dame (4-1), 3:30 p.m. (NBC)

Line: Notre Dame by 14 1/2.

Series Record: 75-12-1.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The Fighting Irish already need help to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive and can't afford another defeat. The Midshipmen are seeking to be ranked during the regular season for the first time since being No. 17 at 6-0 in 1979.

KEY MATCHUP

Navy QB Keenan Reynolds vs. Notre Dame LB Joe Schmidt. Reynolds triggers the triple-option offense for the team ranked third in the nation in rushing offense at 340 yards a game. Reynolds has rushed for 73 career touchdowns, four shy of the NCAA record set by Wisconsin's Montee Ball in 2012. Schmidt calls the plays and gets the Notre Dame defense aligned. He also was the leading tackler three weeks ago when the Irish held Georgia Tech's triple option to 216 yards rushing.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Navy: DE Will Anthony. Anthony forced two fumbles last week against Air Force, had a tackle for loss and helped stop Falcons running back Shayne Davern for no gain on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with Navy leading 7-0. For the season Williams has 23 tackles, three for loss, 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups.

Notre Dame: RB C.J. Prosise was held to a season-low 50 yards on 15 carries in a loss to Clemson in a game where he frequently was hit behind the line of scrimmage, but had 100 yards receiving. He is averaging 130 yards a game rushing and 7.3 yards a carry.

FACTS & FIGURES

The last time Navy and Notre Dame played and had one or fewer combined losses, not counting the season-opener in 2012, was in 1957, when the fifth-ranked Irish were 4-0 and the No. 16 Mids were 5-1. Navy won 20-6. ... Notre Dame punted against Navy just once last year and didn't punt the season before. ... Notre Dame is ranked third nationally in holding opponents to three-and-outs on 37.44 percent of their possessions. ... Navy has won eight straight, their longest winning streak since winning nine in a row in 1959-60.