{"id":11579743,"date":"2025-07-25T16:30:30","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T20:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/?p=11579743&preview=true&preview_id=11579743"},"modified":"2025-07-25T17:05:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T21:05:16","slug":"navy-football-welcomes-high-expectations-entering-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/2025\/07\/25\/navy-football-welcomes-high-expectations-entering-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy football welcomes high expectations entering 2025 season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Expectations for Navy football have changed dramatically over the course of one year.<\/p>\n

At this time a year ago, Navy was picked 11th in the American Conference preseason poll. That was the result of the Midshipmen suffering four straight losing seasons.<\/p>\n

Now Navy is considered one of the top contenders in the recently rebranded American Conference by most national publications. Lindy\u2019s College Football Magazine predicts that Navy will capture the conference championship. Meanwhile, Athlon Sports has the Midshipmen placing second behind Tulane in its preseason publication.<\/p>\n

Navy changed the perception of its program by posting a 10-3 record, capturing the Commander-in-Chief\u2019s Trophy<\/a> and upsetting Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl<\/a> during the 2024 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere has been a little bit of a paradigm shift in our program as far as what our expectations are. There is a different level of confidence based off what we did last year,\u201d coach Brian Newberry said. \u201cThere is a different level of confidence with our team right now. It\u2019s not arrogance or overconfidence, but it\u2019s a little bit of a different feeling. There is a higher expectation within our program right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the first time in its history, the American Conference did not release its own preseason poll during the annual football media event, which this year was held Thursday and Friday in Charlotte, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

During remarks to kick off the American Conference \u201cmedia day,\u201d commissioner Tim Pernetti said tat it has become increasingly difficult to produce accurate preseason polls amid the current landscape of college football. Pernetti pointed out that in the transfer portal era, most programs undergo significant roster turnover from one season to the next.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, recognition that Navy is among the preseason favorites came when Newberry sat for an interview with the ESPN broadcasting crew. Host Maria Trivelpiece asked the third-year coach about the \u201chype\u201d surrounding the program.<\/p>\n

When Navy was picked to place 11th in the conference last year, Newberry used that perceived slight as a way to motivate the players. With the Mids now rated at the top of the American, Newberry wants his troops to not pay attention to such praise.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talk about drowning out the noise all the time \u2014 whether good, bad or indifferent,\u201d said Newberry, adding that he has never put much stock in preseason polls. \u201cObviously, I\u2019m excited about what we did last season and how we finished. That was great momentum going into the offseason. At the same time, our guys understand that last year\u2019s team has very little to do with this year\u2019s team.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Navy
Navy captains Landon Robinson, middle, and Blake Horvath, right talk with ESPN broadcaster Hannah Brady during the American Conference football media day event. (Ronnie Gillis\/Navy Athletics)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Quarterback Blake Horvath and nose guard Landon Robinson, the team captains, represented Navy at the American Conference football media event. While welcoming the higher expectations placed on the Midshipmen, they said players don’t care what outsiders think of the program.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only opinions that matter are the ones that are in the room, the people that are making it happen. The noise is just distracting. It can create turmoil, create egos. We just have to block all that out,\u201d Horvath said.<\/p>\n

Robinson said the Navy players have adopted Newberry\u2019s mantra to not \u201cchoke on the sugar\u201d and are \u201cmaking sure to stay humble and hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Navy returns seven starters on offense, including every one of the skill positions. That total does not include right guard Hoke Smith II, who started the last three games a year ago. The Midshipmen bring back five starters on defense along with several experienced backups.<\/p>\n

Newberry believes the four straight losing seasons from 2020 to 2023 left a psychological impact on the program. Based on that recent history, there was uncertainty about whether the Midshipmen could turn things around.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year at this time we were a wishful and hopeful football team that did all the right things, but wasn\u2019t sure who we were going to be,\u201d Newberry said. \u201cNow we\u2019re a team that expects to win and it\u2019s not based on hope, but on concrete accomplishments. After having success last season, we are hungry to keep it going.\u201d<\/p>\n