Notre Dame-Navy Preview Capsule

The Associated Press

No. 6 Notre Dame (6-1) at Navy (4-4), 8 p.m. (CBS)

Line: Notre Dame by 14

Series Record: Notre Dame leads 74-12-1

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Notre Dame needs a victory to keep alive its hopes of getting into the College Football Playoff. The Irish are currently ranked 10th in that poll. Navy has won two in a row and needs two victories to become bowl eligible. This marks the 88th consecutive year these teams have met in what has been dubbed “the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in the country.”

KEY MATCHUP

Notre Dame’s front seven against Navy’s triple-option attack led by quarterback Keenan Reynolds, who last week ran for a career-high 251 yards and three TDs in a 41-31 win over San Jose State. Reynolds, a junior, scored three touchdowns against the Irish last year in a 38-34 defeat, anchoring an offense that generated 28 first downs and 331 yards rushing.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Notre Dame: RB Tarean Folston had a breakout game against the Midshipmen last season, rushing for 144 yards on 18 carries and scoring the game-winning touchdown with 3:47 left. He’s rushed for 218 yards on 39 carries the past two games and had five catches for 71 yards against North Carolina.

Navy: If Notre Dame manages to stuff Navy’s offense, the Midshipmen have senior P Pablo Beltran to turn around the field position. Beltran is averaging 44.5 yards on his 25 kicks, one of which traveled 62 yards.

FACTS & FIGURES

Navy has 13 turnovers in eight games, including nine fumbles, compared to 10 turnovers in 13 games last year. … QB Everett Golson needs one more touchdown throw to pass Joe Theismann and move up to No. 7 on Notre Dame’s career touchdown list. He’s thrown for 31 so far. … … Notre Dame hasn’t had to punt in five of its last nine games against Navy and has only seven total punts in those games. … The Midshipmen have been outscored 79-47 in the fourth quarter. … Notre Dame is 16-2 after off weeks under Brian Kelly. … The Irish have allowed 74 points in its last two games after allowing 60 points through their first five. … Navy has allowed only five first-quarter touchdowns in the last 21 games.

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Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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