Navy and Notre Dame face off in Jacksonville on Saturday morning, and it’s a game that Brian Kelly could badly use to keep a possible turnaround going for the Irish. A win over Navy would give Notre Dame consecutive wins for the first time this season, and keep hopes alive for a late-season run toward bowl eligibility.
Navy vs. Notre Dame 2016: Start time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know
These two old rivals get together once again, but this time it seems the Midshipmen have the upper hand.
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Even with a late-season surge, this season has been an abject failure for Notre Dame. They entered ranked in the top 10, but have racked up losses to a whole host of teams also trudging through lackluster campaigns, like Texas, Michigan State, and Stanford. The temperature of Brian Kelly’s seat varies depending on who you ask, but he can do himself a big favor here with a win in Jacksonville.
Navy, meanwhile, has kept on doing its thing under head coach Ken Niumatalolo, despite losing quarterback Keenan Reynolds, one of the best players in program history. They control their own destiny at the top of the AAC West standings by virtue of their win over Houston, and while this game won't count in those standings, it would be another prestige win for the program.
How to watch, stream, and listen
TV: 11:30 a.m. ET, CBS
Radio: Navy | Notre Dame
Online streaming: CBSSports.com
Spread: Notre Dame is favored by 6.5 points.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Underdog Dynasty for Navy fans and One Foot Down for Notre Dame fans.
Three big things to know
1. Navy has traditionally served as one of Notre Dame’s bogey teams, and the chances of an “upset” are higher than normal this year considering the Irish’s current plight. Notre Dame is still rated over 20 spots higher in S&P+ rankings, but considering how poorly just about everything has gone for them this year, that may not mean much.
2. The Irish got off to a fast start against Miami last week, and they can do themselves a huge favor by getting out to an early lead against Navy. Option offenses are generally not built to play from behind, so they can force the Midshipmen into uncomfortable passing situations by repeating their quick scoring.
3. Navy has already claimed one major win this season, knocking Houston from their seemingly pre-ordained undefeated path. A win against a Notre Dame team having their worst season in years is certainly something they’re capable of doing, but as we know, these things are generally not as easy as they look.
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