Notre Dame will look to return to winning form when the Fighting Irish take on Navy in a highly anticipated college football matchup on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish enter the contest with a 6-1 record after suffering their first defeat of the season against BYU. Navy, meanwhile, comes into the matchup with a 2-5 record and will attempt to produce an upset against one of the top-ranked teams in the country.
The Notre Dame vs Navy game is scheduled to kick off at 9:30 p.m. ET, with ABC providing television coverage. Notre Dame will aim to use the neutral-site matchup as an opportunity to regain momentum and strengthen its position heading into the remaining games of the season.
Notre Dame vs Navy: Game Details
| Matchup Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Game | Notre Dame vs Navy |
| Date | Saturday, October 31, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| Venue | Gillette Stadium |
| Location | Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| TV Channel | ABC |
| Notre Dame Record | 6-1 |
| Navy Record | 2-5 |
Notre Dame Looks to Respond After BYU Defeat
Notre Dame enters this game following a disappointing 28-24 loss to BYU on October 18. The Fighting Irish had won five consecutive games before that defeat and will be eager to get their season back on track.
The Irish previously demonstrated their offensive potential with convincing victories over Stanford, North Carolina, Purdue and Michigan State.
Their 58-7 victory against Stanford was particularly impressive, highlighting the team’s ability to produce points while controlling the game defensively.
Quarterback CJ Carr has been an important part of Notre Dame’s offensive production. He has recorded 1,639 passing yards, 16 touchdown passes and just one interception across 129 completions on 193 attempts.
Running back Jonaz Walton has contributed 426 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while wide receiver Jordan Faison leads the team’s receiving production with 451 yards and four touchdowns.
Notre Dame will need strong performances from its offensive leaders to avoid another difficult afternoon against an opponent capable of creating problems with an unconventional offensive system.
Navy Faces a Major Challenge Against No. 5 Notre Dame
Navy enters the matchup with a 2-5 overall record and will face a difficult challenge against the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish.
The Midshipmen have struggled to maintain consistency this season, but their triple-option offense could present a different type of test for Notre Dame’s defense.
Quarterback Jackson Gutierrez has been particularly important to Navy’s offensive approach. He has accumulated 869 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 150 carries.
Gutierrez has also recorded 692 passing yards, seven touchdown passes and one interception.
His ability to make plays with his legs will be one of the major factors to watch. Navy could look to control possession, establish its rushing attack and limit the number of opportunities available to Notre Dame’s offense.
Tight end Jordan Collins has been a receiving contributor for the Midshipmen, recording 212 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Notre Dame Injury Update: Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Out Against Navy
Notre Dame will be without linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa for the Navy matchup because of a left wrist and thumb injury.
The junior reserve previously played 35 snaps against BYU on October 17, recording four combined tackles. However, the injury has forced him to miss another game.
The Fighting Irish are also without starting cornerback DJ McKinney, who is expected to miss an extended period because of a right foot injury, according to head coach Marcus Freeman.
Meanwhile, three players who were listed as questionable during the week have been cleared to play.
Sophomore linebacker Madden Faraimo could receive additional playing time in Viliamu-Asa’s absence. His experience against Navy’s triple-option offense could become particularly valuable.
Freeman indicated that Faraimo has continued improving after undergoing offseason wrist surgery.
Notre Dame will need its defensive players to remain disciplined, especially when defending Navy’s option-based rushing attack.
Notre Dame vs Navy Prediction
Notre Dame enters the matchup with a significant advantage based on its ranking, overall record and offensive production.
ESPN Analytics gives the Fighting Irish a 98.7% chance of winning, compared with just 1.3% for Navy. The betting market also lists Notre Dame as a substantial favorite, with the spread around 30.5 points.
The biggest challenge for Navy will be finding a way to slow down Notre Dame’s offense while maintaining possession through its rushing attack.
CJ Carr’s passing ability gives the Fighting Irish another offensive dimension, while Jonaz Walton provides an additional option on the ground.
Navy’s best opportunity will likely depend on Gutierrez’s rushing production and the defense’s ability to create turnovers or force difficult situations.
Prediction: Notre Dame to win.
The Fighting Irish have the stronger statistical profile entering the contest, although Navy’s triple-option offense could create some challenging moments.
Where to Watch Notre Dame vs Navy
Fans looking to watch Notre Dame vs Navy can follow the game on ABC.
The matchup will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Saturday, October 31.
- TV Channel: ABC
- Kickoff: 9:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Gillette Stadium
- Location: Foxborough, Massachusetts
Fans can also follow live scores, game updates, player statistics and highlights through ESPN’s coverage.
Notre Dame vs Navy: Key Players to Watch
Several players could have a major impact on the outcome.
Notre Dame
- CJ Carr (Quarterback): 1,639 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.
- Jonaz Walton (Running Back): 426 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
- Jordan Faison (Wide Receiver): 451 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
- Boubacar Traore (Defensive Lineman): 3.5 sacks.
- Drayk Bowen (Linebacker): 38 tackles.
Navy
- Jackson Gutierrez (Quarterback): 869 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.
- Jordan Collins (Tight End): 212 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
- MarcAnthony Parker (Linebacker): Four sacks.
- Coleman Cauley (Linebacker): 58 tackles.
Final Thoughts
The Notre Dame vs Navy matchup gives the Fighting Irish an opportunity to respond after their first loss of the season. With a 6-1 record and a No. 5 national ranking, Notre Dame will enter Gillette Stadium looking to deliver a strong performance.
Navy faces a considerably tougher assignment but will hope its triple-option offense can disrupt the Irish defense and keep the game competitive.
With CJ Carr leading the Notre Dame offense and Jackson Gutierrez serving as Navy’s primary rushing threat, the matchup features two contrasting offensive approaches.
The result will be important for Notre Dame as it looks to regain momentum during the 2026 college football season.
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