The Navy Midshipmen capped their 2025 season with an 11th victory, defeating Cincinnati 35-13 in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on January 2, 2026. Played in steady rain at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, the win tied the program’s single-season record for victories and marked the first time Navy achieved back-to-back seasons with 10 or more wins.
Quarterback Blake Horvath led the offense with three total touchdowns, including two passing and one rushing, while accumulating over 160 total yards in slippery conditions. Receivers and runners like Eli Heidenreich contributed key scores, and fullback Alex Tecza added a rushing touchdown. Navy’s triple-option ground game, combined with effective passing, controlled the clock and built a commanding lead.
On defense, linebacker Coleman Cauley returned an interception for a touchdown—the first pick-six in a bowl game in program history—and the unit limited a short-handed Cincinnati team throughout.
Under third-year head coach Brian Newberry, Navy finished 11-2. The Midshipmen also retained the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy with wins over service academy rivals.
Navy Football on X (formerly Twitter): “It’s been a HISTORIC two years!21 wins – the most over a two-year span in Navy Football history, and the most by any G5 program.#GoNavy | #RollGoats pic.twitter.com/IPulcJfiX1 / X”
It’s been a HISTORIC two years!21 wins – the most over a two-year span in Navy Football history, and the most by any G5 program.#GoNavy | #RollGoats pic.twitter.com/IPulcJfiX1
Over the past two seasons, Navy compiled 21 wins—the most in any two-year span in program history and the highest among Group of Five teams. This placed them ninth in FBS winning percentage during that period.
parker fleming on X (formerly Twitter): “📊🏈DID WE REALLY GET BEAT THAT BADNet Success Rate in Bowl Games 2025 pic.twitter.com/PAUt8xxi4V / X”
📊🏈DID WE REALLY GET BEAT THAT BADNet Success Rate in Bowl Games 2025 pic.twitter.com/PAUt8xxi4V
