Notre Dame vs. Navy score: No. 12 Irish remain on playoff track with blowout win over No. 24 Midshipmen

A full comedy of errors 

Mid 4Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 51, No. 14 Navy 14 

Make that six turnovers for Navy now. The Midshipmen just muffed a punt and Notre Dame was able to hop on it, putting the Fighting Irish in the red zone immediately. Six turnovers in a single game is the most for Navy since 2022 against Boston College. This from a team that had two turnovers in its first six games. It's been a very sloppy showing for Brian Newberry's squad, to say the least. 

It should come as no surprise, then, that freshman running back Kedren Young was able to plunge into the end zone from four yards out to help Notre Dame break the half-century mark. Just over seven minutes are all that stand between the Irish and a big win for their College Football Playoff hopes. 

Another turnover for Navy 

Early 4Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 44, No. 24 Navy 14 

Navy went five straight games without a turnover entering the Notre Dame game. It now has five turnovers against the Fighting Irish. At least it wasn't a fumble this time. Quarterback Blake Horvath dropped back to pass on fourth-and-7 from Notre Dame's 17 yard line and lofted the ball towards the end zone. Irish defensive back Leonard Moore made a beautiful play on it, leaping into the air and snagging it while getting one foot down in bounds. 

That was the first career interception for Moore, who has seen his playing time increase as injuries mount in Notre Dame's secondary. At this point, the win is all but secured for Notre Dame. 

Notre Dame in full control 

End 3Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 44, Navy 14 

It's been a complete meltdown for Navy thus far. The Midshipmen have moved the ball well on offense -- when they're able to actually execute -- and have ripped off a couple of promising drives. They're averaging just under 6 yards per play, which is normally a winning pace. 

But they also have not stopped hurting themselves. Quarterback Blake Horvath, normally sure-handed and dynamic with the ball in his hands, fumbled a pass attempt late in the third quarter that Notre Dame was able to jump on in the end zone to expand its lead to 30 points. That was Navy's fourth fumble in the game, resulting in 20 points off of turnovers for the Fighting Irish. 

Credit to Notre Dame for capitalizing on its opportunities with some strong offensive efforts. Quarterback Riley Leonard has been efficient with 13 completions for 178 yards and two touchdowns. He's also rushed for another touchdown and used his legs to keep the chains moving on multiple occasions. 

Another blow for the Midshipmen 

Late 3Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 44, No. 24 Navy 14 

Well, that wasn't Blake Horvath's finest moment. Backed up against his own goal line, Horvath dropped back to pass. As he started the motion for his pass, he lost control of the ball. Notre Dame jumped on the ball in the end zone and scored its first defensive touchdown of the game, opening up what looks like an insurmountable lead. Horvath injured his right thumb in Navy's Week 8 win against Charlotte and that's clearly caused him some trouble today. 

Notre Dame answers 

Late 3Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 38, No. 24 Navy 14

It didn't take long for any momentum that Navy may have generated from an impressive second half-opening drive to completely evaporate. The Midshipmen had a chance to stop Notre Dame on third-and-8 deep in its own territory, but quarterback Riley Leonard took off for a 24-yard gain. Leonard made another huge play not long after that, uncorking a beautiful deep ball to wide receiver Beaux Collins for a 37-yard scoring connection. 

With under 21 minutes left in this game, it seems like this one is all but in the bag for the Fighting Irish.

Navy not going away 

Early 3Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 31, No. 24 Navy 14 

Plenty of work left to do, but Navy couldn't have asked for a better start to the second half. The Midshipmen almost committed another baffling mistake when quarterback Blake Horvath fumbled a snap exchange from his center, but he turned that into a 21-yard completion to Brandon Chatman. Navy was able to ride that momentum all the way to the goal line, where Eli Heidenreich took the handoff on a sweep play and plunged into the end zone from one yard out. Navy decided not to go for two and kicked the extra point instead, so it's still a three-score deficit as the clock wears on in the third quarter. 

Navy needs a clean second half 

Notre Dame deserves credit for its gameplan in the first half, but Navy's own struggles contributed plenty to the Fighting Irish's dominance. The Midshipmen turned the ball over three times -- all unforced fumbles -- and gave Notre Dame possession in Navy territory. The Irish were, in turn, able to score two touchdowns off of those mistakes. A 24-point hole is pretty deep to dig out of, especially for a triple-option offense, and anymore errors could bury Navy for good. 

Notre Dame dominant after one half

Half: No. 12 Notre Dame 31, No. 24 Navy 7

Notre Dame enters halftime of Saturday's pivotal clash against Navy with a comfortable 31-7 lead. The Fighting Irish were able to extend their advantage with a 32-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter, scoring for a third time in four drives to end the first half. 

While the Fighting Irish's offense has been firing on all cylinders, they've also been helped out by Navy's self-inflicted errors. The Midshipmen hadn't lost a single fumble all year entering Saturday's game, but the ball got away from them three times in the first half. Two of the fumbles were botched exchanges on an option play, while the third was a muffed punt. 

All three gave Notre Dame possession in Navy territory, and the Irish were able to cash in two touchdowns as a result. Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard had an efficient first half, completing 12 passes for 141 yards and one touchdown. He also used his legs well to extend plays and move the chains in some crucial situations. 

But running back Jeremiyah Love was the real story. He touched the ball just 10 times but turned in 92 yards and two touchdowns, including a 64-yard touchdown run in which he ripped through Navy's defensive line and sprinted into the end zone untouched. 

This is the first time all year that the Midshipmen failed to score at least 21 points over the first 30 minutes. Navy will get the ball to start the second half, but it obviously faces a steep climb to get back into this game. 

Prime scoring opportunity gets away from Navy 

Late 2Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 28, No. 24 Navy 7 

Things are starting to spiral out of control for Navy. The Midshipmen lost their third fumble of the day, which allowed Notre Dame to drive down the field and open a three-touchdown lead. Immediately after that, though, quarterback Blake Horvath sparked Navy with a huge 60-yard run, his second run of at least 45 yards Saturday. That put the Mids deep in Fighting Irish territory, but they were unable to capitalize. They were forced into a fourth-and-15, and kicker Nathan Kirkwood just barely missed a 40-yard field goal attempt. 

Notre Dame racing away 

Late 2Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 28, No. 24 Navy 7 

Notre Dame is quickly running away with this game. Quite literally. The Fighting Irish just scored their 14th point off of a turnover, courtesy of a 2-yard scamper from running back Jeremiyah Love. Love didn't have to work too hard for the touchdown either, as Notre Dame's shorthanded offensive line is opening holes wide enough to navigate an aircraft carrier through. 

Love is up to 92 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries, averaging a brisk 9.2 yards per carry. Navy will get the ball late in the first half, and the Midshipmen will receiver the opening kick in the second half, so there's still an opportunity to swing things a bit. They just need to cut out the crucial mistakes. 

Navy taking on water 

Another devastating mistake for Navy. The Midshipmen, which were forced to punt for the first time today, in turn forced Notre Dame to punt for the first time. Navy punt returner Isaiah Bryant apparently lost the ball and tried to dive for it. It went right through his hands though -- brushing off of his gloves in the process -- and Notre Dame was able to recover. This was Navy's third turnover of the day, and all three have given Notre Dame the ball in Midshipmen territory. 

Notre Dame strikes back 

Early 2Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 21, No. 24 Navy 7

Just as it looked like Navy was going to creep back into this one, Notre Dame decided to slam the door. Quickly. Irish running back Jeremiyah Love ripped off a huge 64-yard touchdown run, breaking through the line of scrimmage and racing untouched into the end zone. That came after two-straight rushes for 11 yards. Navy's offense is going to have keep it in this game, it appears. 

There's Blake Horvath 

Early 2Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 14, No. 24 Navy 7 

It felt like a matter of time before Navy was going to break off a huge play. Who else but Blake Horvath? Navy's dynamic quarterback just gave his team a huge injection of life with an impressive 47-yard rushing touchdown, outracing several Notre Dame's defenders and weaving through the secondary to finish the score. It's his 11th rushing touchdown of the season, and it couldn't have come at a better time -- especially after Navy's first two offensive drives ended in fumbles. 

This puts the pressure back on Notre Dame, which missed a field goal on its last drive, to answer offensively. The Irish have looked efficient so far, but they've also had some help from Navy's mistakes. 

Notre Dame holds comfortable lead after one

End 1Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 14, No. 24 Navy 0 

Credit to Navy's defense, it just kept this game from spiraling out of control. It looked as if Notre Dame was marching right down the field after another Midshipmen turnover, but on third-and-7 from Navy's 13-yard line, quarterback Riley Leonard was sacked. The Fighting Irish and backup kicker Zac Yoakam came on to attempt a 36-yard field goal, but it curved away from the goalposts late and went wide, keeping Notre Dame from extending its lead to three possessions. 

That could be a huge momentum play for Navy, which needs the help. The good news is that when the Midshipmen execute properly, they're moving the ball well. They're averaging 6.3 yards per play to Notre Dame's 5.9 and have both the option looks and passing plays working well. But Navy hasn't been able to avoid some back-breaking mistakes. The Mids committed their first two fumbles of the season -- both of which were entirely unforced -- to set Notre Dame up in prime scoring positions. The Fighting Irish were able to score a touchdown on one. 

Navy sinking itself 

Navy is now up to two lost fumbles in a single game, after not losing the ball all season entering Saturday's slate. Both were totally unforced errors, too. The latest came on a simple handoff exchange. It looked as if quarterback Blake Horvath wanted to keep the ball on an option look, but he wasn't in synch with his back and pulled the ball too late, causing him to lose control. Notre Dame's Junior Tuihalamaka was quick to knife through the line and jump on the ball, giving his team control on Navy's 44-yard line. The Fighting Irish have recovered both fumbles in Navy territory. 

Notre Dame opens commanding lead 

Mid 1Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 14, No. 24 Navy 0 

Complementary football is real, folks. After Notre Dame's defense jumped on a back-breaking Navy fumble and returned it all the way to the Midshipmen's 7-yard line, the Fighting Irish took just a few plays to cash in. Following a false start penalty that wiped a second Riley Leonard rushing touchdown off the board, Leonard dropped back to pass and hit a wide-open Kris Mitchell for a 6-yard scoring strike. 

This is the largest deficit Navy has faced all year. Though the Mids are more explosive than normal, trailing by two scores is never great news for a triple-option offense -- especially since Navy's defense, even when it wasn't put in a tough position, looks rather porous today. 

Disaster strikes for Navy 

Navy had five straight games without a turnover entering Saturday, and the Midshipmen hadn't lost a fumble all season. Well, they just broke those streaks with a disastrous mistake. Quarterback Blake Horvath tried to pitch the ball to Alex Tecza to continue a promising drive, but Tecza was unable to control the ball and lost possession. Notre Dame's defense jumped all over it and returned the fumble 28 yards to Navy's 7-yard line, putting them in prime position to take a two-score lead. 

Notre Dame strikes first 

Early 1Q: No. 12 Notre Dame 7, No. 24 Navy 0 

Notre Dame came out firing on all cylinders. The Fighting Irish capped an extremely efficient 9-play, 75-yard game-opening drive with a 1-yard touchdown run from quarterback Riley Leonard, who powered in on a quarterback sneak. Notre Dame kept the chains moving with an efficient passing game, utilizing underneath routes to get its athletes in space. The Irish did take one shot play to wide receiver Jaden Greathouse, who collected a 42-yard pass to move the ball deep into Navy territory. Leonard was 4-for-4 for 64 yards on that opening drive and was methodical in picking Navy's secondary apart. 

Notre Dame will get things started 

Navy won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half, which means that Notre Dame's offense will take the field first. The Fighting Irish have been hot lately, behind the legs of quarterback Riley Leonard, but they should have their hands full against a Navy defense that hasn't allowed an opponent to score more than 20 points since Sept. 21. Knowing that Navy likes to play for ball possession, it will be interesting to see how Notre Dame adjusts its offensive philosophy -- if at all -- to match the expected pace of the game. 

Notre Dame vs. Navy prediction

Notre Dame has been dominant lately, so it makes a little sense that the line would be inflated. But Navy might just be Notre Dame's biggest non-Mid-American Conference test since Week 1's road game against Texas A&M. The Midshipmen are for real. The offense steals a lot of the headlines, but their defense has also held each of their last three opponents under 10 points. Despite all the injuries, things seem to be coming together for Notre Dame on both sides of the ball. The betting-favorite Irish are a smart pick to win, but this one's going to be a lot closer than Vegas seems to think. Pick: Navy +12.5

Navy surging up Group of Five ranks

It's always important to monitor how the Group of Five stacks up, but even more so now that there is one auto-bid up for grabs among teams at that level. As things stand, it's shaping up to be a three-team race. Navy is right up there. So is Army, as both teams are amid their best starts to a season in a long time. Though the Army-Navy Game won't count towards the CFP selection process, it's still fascinating to see those two jockeying for position. Then there's Boise State, from the Mountain West Conference, which is led by a Heisman Trophy frontrunner in running back Ashton Jeanty. 

While those three teams are the favorites, it's still a loaded field at the top. Here's how Navy stacks up against other Group of Five programs ahead of its key clash against Notre Dame: 

Group of Five Power Rankings: Army bounces Boise State from No. 1 as ULM enters rankings

Emory Hunt

College football win quandrants 

The selection committee's charge, according to the CFP website, is to rank the teams "based on the members' evaluation of the teams' performance on the field, using conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and comparison of results against common opponents."

As the committee enters that task, perhaps its members could learn something from college basketball's NCAA Tournament selection process. While the hoops recipe is also imperfect, the college basketball folks have been at this for a few decades now.

Using this week's CBS Sports 134, we've grouped the wins and losses of every team in the top 25 into four quadrants, mirroring the college basketball system. They are as follows:

Quad 1
1-15 home
1-20 neutral
1-25 road

Quad 2
16-40 home
21-45 neutral
26-50 road

Quad 3
41-75 home
46-85 neutral
51-95 road

Quad 4
76-134 (or FCS) home
86-134 neutral
96-134 road

Here's how Navy and Notre Dame's wins -- and losses -- stack up against other College Football Playoff competitors: 

College Football Playoff race: Tiering wins, losses for top-25 teams into quadrants entering Week 9

David Cobb

Notre Dame, Navy on the bubble 

Speaking of opportunities, unbeaten Navy gets its spotlight moment in Week 9 against Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have won six straight in the series, but this Navy team is different, fueled by dual-threat Blake Horvath at quarterback. He is responsible for 20 touchdowns this season and only has one turnover. He accounted for six scores during the Midshipmen's victory over Memphis, one that opened eyes nationally and stamped Navy as a threat in the AAC.

College Football Playoff Bubble Watch: LSU vs. Texas A&M headlines, Navy gets golden opportunity

Brad Crawford

Plucking OC from FCS head coaching job buoys Navy

A year ago, as Navy limped to a 5-7 record in its first year under Brian Newberry, the Midshipmen featured an anemic offense that ranked third-worst in the AAC with an average of just 17.7 points per game.

A lot's changed since that point.

One year later, as Navy enters Saturday's Top 25 matchup against No. 12 Notre Dame, the Midshipmen are 6-0, averaging 27 more points per game than last season – the largest year-over-year FBS increase this CENTURY. 

The primary difference? First-year offensive coordinator Drew Cronic.

Under the 50-year-old Cronic, who left a head coaching job at FCS Mercer to take the job at Navy, the Midshipmen are performing at such a high level offensively that one AAC head coach mentioned unprompted earlier this week that "the best (coordinator) in this conference is the OC at Navy."

After being limited to 18 points or fewer in six of their final seven games last season, the Midshipmen have scored at least 34 points in all six games this year under Cronic.

"He is definitely the best coordinator in the conference," a second AAC coach said. "He has a mastery of his offense and knows how to adjust to whatever the defense gives him. It's pretty impressive."

As a head coach, Cronic was 23-11 his final three seasons at Mercer following a 5-6 finish to his first season. That includes a 9-4 mark last year and a top-20 finish in the FCS rankings.

Check out more here from this week's insider notebook. 

Insider notebook: Whether latest coach openings are good enough to pull a big name, secret to Navy's success

Matt Zenitz

Setting the stage for a huge rivalry clash 

 There's a lot more than rivalry pride on the line when Notre Dame and Navy take the field Saturday. At 12-1, the Midshipmen and Fighting Irish bring their best combined record into a meeting since 1945, when both teams were 5-0. That ended in a 6-6 tie. Navy is seeking its first 7-0 start since 1978, while Notre Dame has the chance to win six consecutive games for the first time under Marcus Freeman. Navy also hasn't beaten multiple ranked teams in the same season since 1958. 

Notre Dame vs. Navy live stream, where to watch, TV channel, odds, spread, prediction, pick

Will Backus