Notre Dame vs Navy: Live Game Blog as Irish Continue CFP Push

Notre Dame (6-2) looks to move one step closer to the College Football Playoff on Saturday when it takes on Navy (7-1) at Notre Dame Stadium.

The Fighting Irish have won six straight games after dropping a pair of heartbreakers to start the season, but are coming off a rather ho hum performance at Boston College a week ago.

Navy presents a unique test for Notre Dame, as the Midshipmen have had great success again this season, winning their first seven games. The Midshipmen lost last week at North Texas, but in what will be a cold and wet atmosphere in South Bend, they should be well prepared to handle the elements.

Surround sound ☘️#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/czhoO5tate
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) November 8, 2025

Keep it locked right here throughout the night as we continue to update with in-game thoughts, reaction to key plays, and anything that might happen throughout the evening. We will also have all of your regular postgame coverage at Notre Dame On SI.

11:27 Left in 3rd Quarter: Notre Dame 35, Navy 10

Defense steps up and makes a stop. Props to Navy for playing to win, not to try and keep the score close. However it ends with a fourth down stop and a CJ Carr deep ball to KK Smith to extend the lead.

Rout is on as this thing is about to get real ugly...

13:27 Left in 3rd Quarter: Notre Dame 28, Navy 10

Navy bottles up Notre Dame's run game yet again, then Jeremiyah Love makes a ridiculously athletic play look routine as he rolls over a defender and dashes 48 yards for a touchdown. A three-score lead against Navy makes this next drive make-or-break in terms of the rest of this game being compelling whatsoever.

Halftime: Notre Dame 21, Navy 10

Woodson breaks a run and makes Notre Dame pay, getting Navy another three points before halftime.

Why, though if you're Notre Dame do you not run Fields deep and Love out of the backfield and simply try to get a big play and into field goal range before halftime?

Percipitation picking up as the teams enter the locker rooms, could be some interesting weather hitting the stadium in the second half.

1:42 Left in 2nd Quarter: Notre Dame 21, Navy 7

Navy seems to be doing everything it can to keep Notre Dame from breaking a big run. That has left a lot of individual coverage as CJ Carr is picking apart the Navy secondary. Malachi Fields is exploding on the night and could be headed towards a 150-plus yard showing.

Navy has next to no pass rush this evening and Carr is going to carve them up as long as that's the case.

8:34 Left in 2nd Quarter: Notre Dame 14, Navy 7

Short yardage remains an issue for Notre Dame, as it has all year, but it's not exactly running into favorable number matchups offensively. That said, as long as Malachi Fields is in uniform tonight, Notre Dame will have a bailout option on pretty much any throwing down.

11:32 Left in 2nd Quarter: Notre Dame 7, Navy 7

Blake Horvath might be out for Navy but so far that hasn't meant anything for its offense. As Marcus Freeman mentioned before the game, it's the scheme more than it is any single player, and so far Navy has held the ball nearly eight minutes longer than the Irish.

Concern meter is still relatively low, but annoyance meter is spiking. Stay tuned.

End of 1st Quarter: Notre Dame 7, Navy 0

The first quarter was a perfect example of just how things can go against Navy. Notre Dame gets a couple of stops, but Navy controls the clock. Despite dominating its opening drive and keeping Navy out of fourth-down territory, the first quarter is over, and it's still a one-score game with Navy getting in Notre Dame territory.

My concern level isn't very high, but my annoyance level is.

7:31 Left in 1st Quarter: Notre Dame 7, Navy 0

After one decent Navy run on the first possession, Notre Dame quickly stopped the Midshipmen offense. On the other side, Jeremiyah Love is bottled up for two straight runs deep in his own territory before he was found through the air to convert a third and long.

CJ Carr then connected with Malachi Fields to for over 50 yards and Love capped the drive on the ground a few plays later. If Navy loads the box against Notre Dame to stop the run, Carr might throw for 450 yards. Notre Dame's receivers against Navy's defensive backs in man coverage is an absurd mismatch.

PS: Holy *removed expletive*, an actual made extra point.

Pregame Update: Navy to be Without Starting Quarterback

An injury update before Saturday night's contest and it's a huge one. Navy will be without regular starting quarterback Blake Horvath, who suffered an upper body injury late last week against North Texas.

In his place will start Braxton Woodson. In his only career start, he led Navy to a victory over East Carolina a year ago.

Obviously, Navy's offense is more than just a dynamic quarterback, but this loss for the Midshipmen can't be overstated.