Navy Faces USF in Key AAC Clash on Senior Day

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The American Athletic Conference (AAC) has seen a competitive race in 2025, with several teams vying for the top spot. Currently, the Naval Academy Midshipmen (5-1) lead the pack, closely followed by South Florida, Tulane, East Carolina, and North Texas, all sitting at 4-1.

This week, Navy will host South Florida (7-2, 4-1) in a pivotal matchup that could determine who will advance to the conference title game. The stakes are high, as the winner of this game will be in a strong position to potentially claim a spot in the Group of 5’s bowl bid, should James Madison falter.

Navy’s season took a turn after their loss to North Texas, where they fell 31-17. The Midshipmen entered that game riding a wave of momentum but struggled against the Mean Green. A subsequent outing without star quarterback Blake Horvath against Notre Dame exacerbated their challenges.

As Navy prepares for the Bulls, they face a sizable betting line of 10.5 points against them. This line suggests a 16.5-point spread on neutral ground, which some analysts believe is exaggerated, especially with Horvath expected to return to action. Despite vulnerabilities in South Florida’s defense, they have demonstrated an ability to score quickly, making this a daunting challenge for Navy.

Fans of the Midshipmen are hopeful as Navy’s triple-option offense has proven effective in controlling time of possession this season. An efficient offense will be crucial for Navy, particularly as the game is on their home turf on Senior Day.

South Florida’s two losses this season came against Miami and Memphis, exposing flaws in their defense as they have allowed nearly 26 points per game in their last four outings. If Navy can manage to score in that range, they may cover the spread effectively.

Michael Leboff, a seasoned sports bettor, predicts the Midshipmen could hold their own against the Bulls, emphasizing the strategic advantage of Navy’s clock-eating style.