Navy Returns From Bye Week Looking to Get Back on Track Against UAB
The Navy Midshipmen return to action Friday night with an important American Conference road matchup against the UAB Blazers at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. Navy enters the game 1-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while UAB is 1-2 and will play its first American Conference game of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
For Navy, the matchup provides an opportunity to respond after a disappointing 38-30 loss at Florida Atlantic on Sept. 12. The Midshipmen had a bye last weekend, giving head coach Brian Newberry and his staff nearly two weeks to evaluate what went wrong against the Owls and prepare for UAB.
Navy’s biggest objective will be turning its impressive rushing production into a more complete performance. The Midshipmen enter Friday’s game averaging 376 rushing yards per game, which Navy Athletics reported as the second-highest total in the country entering this week’s preparation.
Navy Looks to Rebound From FAU Loss
Navy opened its season with an impressive 42-15 victory over Towson before running into trouble at Florida Atlantic. The Midshipmen fell behind by 31 points against the Owls before mounting a furious comeback that made the final score considerably closer.
Backup quarterback Jackson Gutierrez helped spark that rally. Navy continued to generate significant production on the ground, but the early deficit forced the Midshipmen into a much different style of game than they generally want to play.
The loss was particularly costly because it came in Navy’s American Conference opener. At 0-1 in conference play, another loss Friday would put the Midshipmen at 0-2 in the league before October arrives.
That makes this an important early-season opportunity for Navy. The Midshipmen have demonstrated that their offense can generate explosive rushing plays, but Friday’s game will test whether Navy can combine that production with a better defensive start and more consistent execution for four quarters.
Quarterback Situation Worth Watching
One of the biggest storylines entering Friday is Navy’s quarterback situation. Braxton Woodson entered the season as an important piece of Navy’s offense, while Gutierrez showed against Florida Atlantic that he can provide a spark when called upon.
Gutierrez’s performance against FAU gave Navy another legitimate option within offensive coordinator Drew Cronic’s system. The Midshipmen do not necessarily need huge passing numbers to succeed, but quarterback decision-making is critical because of how much Navy asks the position to do in its option-based rushing attack.
Whether Navy uses one quarterback extensively or incorporates multiple players, protecting the football will be critical. UAB knows Navy wants to establish its rushing attack, meaning the Blazers will likely commit defenders toward the line of scrimmage and force the Midshipmen to prove they can punish that approach.
That could create opportunities for Navy’s passing game. Senior wide receiver Luke Hutchison remains one of the players capable of making UAB pay if its defensive backs become overly aggressive against the run. Hutchison entered the season on the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list.
Navy’s Ground Game Could Decide the Night
There is little mystery surrounding Navy’s offensive identity. The Midshipmen want to run the football, control possession and force defenses to remain disciplined against an offense capable of attacking several different gaps.
Through its first two games, that approach has produced enormous rushing numbers. Navy’s reported 376 rushing yards per game entering the week illustrates just how difficult the Midshipmen can be to contain when the option game operates efficiently.
UAB’s challenge will be maintaining assignment discipline for an entire game. Defending Navy is different from preparing for a conventional rushing offense because one missed responsibility can turn what appears to be a short gain into an explosive play.
The Blazers have also shown some vulnerability against opposing rushing attacks. That creates a potentially favorable matchup for Navy if the Midshipmen can avoid negative plays and stay ahead of the chains.
Navy should want to establish that advantage immediately. A productive opening drive would allow the Midshipmen to dictate tempo while keeping UAB’s offense on the sideline.
UAB Starts New Era Under Alex Mortensen
UAB is playing its first full season under head coach Alex Mortensen, and the Blazers enter Friday at 1-2. UAB opened with a 42-23 road loss at Illinois before defeating ULM 26-20 at Protective Stadium. The Blazers then lost 21-14 at Louisiana last Saturday.
Friday therefore represents UAB’s second home game and its American Conference opener. It is also a significant showcase for the program, with the matchup airing nationally on ESPN as part of UAB’s Salute to Service night.
Mortensen’s team showed defensive improvement against Louisiana despite the loss. UAB held Louisiana to 21 points, but the Blazers struggled to generate enough offense to capitalize. UAB Athletics said Monday that the team was attempting to carry that defensive progress into its short-week preparation for Navy.
The short turnaround creates another interesting element. UAB played Saturday and now has to prepare for Navy’s unconventional offense in less than a full week, while Navy had an open date following the FAU game.
That preparation advantage could become significant.
Navy Has Controlled the Series
History strongly favors Navy in this matchup.
The Midshipmen are 3-0 all-time against UAB and have won each meeting by double digits. Navy defeated UAB 31-6 in 2023, followed with a 41-18 victory in 2024 and won 38-24 last season.
Last year’s matchup was closer than the final score suggests. UAB produced 24 first-half points and went into halftime tied with Navy at 24 before the Midshipmen took control after halftime. Navy eventually pulled away for the 14-point victory.
That game provides a useful warning for the Midshipmen. Navy cannot assume its rushing attack will automatically overwhelm UAB from the opening possession. The Blazers demonstrated last season that they can create problems offensively, particularly when Navy gives up explosive plays.
Key No. 1: Navy Must Start Faster
The most obvious lesson from the Florida Atlantic game is that Navy cannot afford another disastrous start.
The Midshipmen eventually made the FAU game competitive, but falling behind by 31 points fundamentally changed the contest. Navy’s offense is most dangerous when it can remain patient and repeatedly force a defense to deal with the option.
Playing from a huge deficit removes some of that advantage.
Against UAB, Navy needs to establish the run, sustain drives and prevent the Blazers from gaining early momentum in front of their home crowd. Even a relatively uneventful first quarter would favor Navy if the Midshipmen are consistently winning the line of scrimmage.
Key No. 2: Finish Drives
Moving the football has not been Navy’s primary concern. Turning productive possessions into touchdowns will be more important.
Navy’s option offense can consume significant portions of the clock. That is an advantage only when those possessions end with points. A 12-play drive that produces no points can become particularly costly because it reduces the total number of possessions available.
The Midshipmen need touchdowns when they reach UAB territory. That becomes even more important on the road, where Navy would prefer to prevent the crowd from becoming a factor late in the game.
Key No. 3: Win First Down
First down could quietly determine much of Friday night’s outcome.
Navy becomes extremely difficult to defend when it consistently creates second-and-5 or second-and-4 situations. The entire playbook remains available, and defenders cannot aggressively anticipate whether the ball is going inside, outside or through the air.
UAB’s best defensive path is forcing Navy into obvious passing situations. Tackles for loss and penalties would create the type of second-and-long and third-and-long situations that take the Midshipmen away from their preferred offensive rhythm.
Navy’s offensive line therefore has a major responsibility Friday. Birmingham native Hoke Smith II will be one of the Midshipmen playing in familiar territory, and Navy highlighted the senior offensive guard’s return home during this week’s preparation.
Key No. 4: Navy’s Defense Needs a Complete Performance
The offensive comeback against Florida Atlantic received considerable attention, but Navy’s defense knows allowing 38 points makes winning difficult regardless of how productive the offense becomes.
FAU quarterback Caden Veltkamp threw five touchdown passes against Navy, while the Owls built the massive lead that ultimately proved too large for the Midshipmen to overcome.
Navy needs a better start defensively against UAB.
The Blazers scored only 14 points against Louisiana and finished with 218 total yards according to a recent preview of the matchup. Navy should try to keep UAB in uncomfortable down-and-distance situations and make the Blazers consistently execute long drives.
If Navy can prevent explosive plays, the Midshipmen should have opportunities to control possession with their rushing attack.
Key No. 5: Take Care of the Football
Turnovers become especially important in a game featuring Navy’s style of offense.
The Midshipmen want long possessions. A turnover not only eliminates a scoring opportunity but also gives UAB additional possessions that it might not otherwise receive.
Ball security will be especially important on option exchanges and pitches. UAB will undoubtedly attack the football whenever possible, particularly after seeing how damaging turnovers can become against a Navy offense designed around controlling the game.
Navy does not need to manufacture spectacular plays on every possession. The Midshipmen need to execute their system consistently and force UAB to stop it repeatedly.
The Scheduling Advantage
Navy’s bye week could be one of the biggest factors in Friday’s game.
The Midshipmen have not played since Sept. 12, while UAB played Louisiana on Sept. 19 and now faces Navy six days later. Preparing for Navy’s option attack on a short week is rarely ideal.
Newberry and his staff, meanwhile, had additional time to correct the defensive problems from the FAU loss and evaluate the quarterback position. That extra preparation should allow Navy to enter Birmingham with a detailed plan for attacking UAB.
There is also a motivational element. Navy has had nearly two weeks to think about the FAU loss.
Friday provides the first opportunity to respond.
What’s at Stake
It is still September, but Navy’s conference situation makes this game particularly important.
The Midshipmen are already 0-1 in American Conference play. Dropping to 0-2 would create significant pressure heading into the next portion of the schedule, particularly with Navy scheduled to travel to Air Force next.
A victory would restore Navy to .500 in conference play and send the Midshipmen into the Air Force rivalry game with momentum.
UAB has similar motivation. The Blazers are attempting to establish themselves under Mortensen and have an opportunity to earn their first conference victory of his first full season as head coach. A nationally televised home victory against Navy would provide an early signature result for the new staff.
Game Information
Navy and UAB kick off Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. Eastern and 6 p.m. Central from Protective Stadium in Birmingham. ESPN will televise the game with Anish Shroff, Andre Ware and Morgan Uber on the broadcast.
The Navy Football Radio Network will also carry the matchup. In the Baltimore area, the broadcast is available on WBAL 1090 AM and 101.5 FM, while additional Navy affiliates and satellite options are available nationally.
MSB Take
Navy’s loss to Florida Atlantic changed the complexion of this game. What might have looked like another early-season conference matchup now carries significantly more importance for a Midshipmen team trying to avoid an 0-2 start in American Conference play.
The matchup itself gives Navy a clear path to success. The Midshipmen are producing tremendous rushing numbers, have extra preparation time coming off the bye and face a UAB team playing on a short week. Navy has also won all three previous meetings between the programs, including a 38-24 victory last season.
None of that guarantees an easy night in Birmingham. UAB is playing its conference opener at home on national television, and last year’s game showed that the Blazers can challenge Navy when they execute offensively.
For the Midshipmen, the formula remains familiar: start faster than they did against Florida Atlantic, protect the football, dominate first down and allow the rushing attack to control the game. If Navy does those things, the Midshipmen will give themselves an opportunity to leave Birmingham with an important conference road victory and some momentum before turning their attention toward Air Force.
