Navy 2026 Preview
The College Football Experience (@TCEonSGPN) on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network continues its 138 college football team preview series with the Navy Midshipmen 2026 Season Preview. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) break down the 2026 Navy Midshipmen roster and what to expect in the American Athletic Conference this season. Can Brian Newberry build on an 11-2 season in year four in Annapolis? And is senior Braxton Woodson ready to run Drew Cronic’s option attack after rushing for 103 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-38 upset of USF?
Can the nation’s No. 1 rushing offense keep humming with Woodson under center and four returning starters up front? Does a defense that ranked 64th in total defense take a step forward under co-coordinators Eric Lewis and Ricky Brown? How does Navy navigate a schedule that runs through Notre Dame in Week 10 before the Army-Navy finale? Can the Midshipmen stay perfect in one-score games after going 6-0 in contests decided by 10 points or less a year ago? And where’s the betting value on the Navy Midshipmen win total, AAC odds and College Football Playoff chances? We talk it all and more on this episode of The College Football Experience.
Brian Newberry And A Navy Program On The Rise
This Navy 2026 preview starts with a coach who is trending up. Brian Newberry enters year four with a 26-12 record in Annapolis. First, Navy went 11-2 a season ago. Then the Midshipmen went a perfect 6-0 in games decided by 10 points or less. Also, the deck rates his seat a cool 1 out of 10, one of the safest marks on the board. Because of that knack for close games, the deck grades the state of the program an 8 out of 10 and on the rise.
Braxton Woodson Takes Over The Nation’s Top Rushing Attack
Navy owned the best rushing offense in the country in 2025, ranking first nationally on the ground. Drew Cronic runs that attack as offensive coordinator, so the system carries over into 2026. First, senior Braxton Woodson steps in at quarterback after rushing for 103 yards and two scores in a 41-38 upset of USF. Then he inherits a line that returns four starters, led by Sean Crowley and Cam Nichols. Also, the total offense ranked 33rd while the passing game sat 133rd. Because the option leans on the run, Woodson’s legs set the tone for the whole group.
The Defense Resets Under Eric Lewis And Ricky Brown
Navy hands the defense to co-coordinators Eric Lewis and Ricky Brown for 2026. First, the unit ranked 64th nationally in total defense a season ago. Then the passing defense finished 91st, the softest number on that side of the ball. Meanwhile the run defense held up better at 54th, and the scoring defense landed 69th. Also, Griffen Willis anchors the front while Coleman Cauley and Marcanthony Parker lead a linebacker group that returns five starters. Because that core is largely intact, the co-coordinators have real pieces to build around in the American.
The Schedule, Notre Dame And The Win Total
Navy opens at home against Towson before Florida Atlantic and a Week 4 trip to UAB. First, Air Force and Tulsa bring the early conference tests. Then North Texas, Notre Dame and Temple headline the middle of the slate. From there, Memphis and Charlotte lead into the Army-Navy finale in Week 15. What does a Saturday feel like at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium when the brigade fills the stands? The deck sets the Navy win total at 7.5, with the Midshipmen at plus 365 to win the AAC and plus 850 to make the College Football Playoff. So the hosts weigh the over against that Notre Dame date and the rivalry closer.
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Podcast Chapters
00:00 Download the SGPN App Today!
02:38 Meet The Hosts
04:45 Baseball Detour And Omaha Plans
08:52 Back To The Navy Preview
09:17 2025 Recap And Close Games
12:33 The Newberry Era And Program History
18:23 Offense Breakdown And New Quarterback
24:17 Defense Changes And Starters
27:51 Tradition, Legends And Program Stock
29:59 Annapolis Bar Spotlight
32:13 Nachos And Fan Culture
34:05 Electric Football And Merch
35:56 Stadium Talk And Navy Memorial
36:56 Navy Memorial Stadium Tour
38:32 Tailgates And Iconic Helmets
42:42 Early Schedule Picks
48:21 Midseason Road Tests
51:48 Notre Dame And Temple Swing
54:25 Second Bye And Late Push
56:47 Army-Navy Rivalry Pick
58:35 Win Total And Regression Talk
1:04:58 Who Should Navy Play
1:07:35 Slideshow And Sign Off
