Some cool game notes.
When these two teams meeting Saturday continue the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in the country.
A win would lead Navy head coach
Ken Niumatalolo to become the first coach in school history to beat Notre Dame three-consecutive times. He would also join Wayne Hardin as the only Navy coach to beat Notre Dame three times total (Hardin beat Notre Dame in 1960, 1961 and 1963). This is, however, is not likely.
Navy enters Saturday with the country’s third-best rushing attack, averaging 325.1 yards per game. Notre Dame is 58th in the country in rush defense (148.3 yards per game).
Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd is ninth in the country in receptions per game (8.1) and 23rd in receiving yards per game (95.3). Notre Dame’s George Atkinson III is ninth in the country in punt returns (30.4) and Manti Te’o is tied for 21st in the country in tackles.
Notre Dame sports the 46th-best rushing offense (172.1), is ranked 32nd in passing offense (266.7) and 29th in total offense (438.9). The Irish are averaging 30.1 points per game (50th in the country).
The mark of a good team is having the ability to win away from home. Navy is 38-24 (.613) in games played away from Annapolis over the last nine years, which is the 13th-best mark in the country.
Navy has made 28 trips inside the red zone in its seven games this season, scoring 20 times (.714), including 15 touchdowns (.536).
The Mids have struggled mightily in the red zone over the last four games, scoring on just 13 of their 20 trips (.650) including only nine touchdowns in those 20 trips (.450). This has been one of their biggest problems this year!
Navy is 108th in the country in red zone offense, while Notre Dame is 110th.
The Mids are tied for 48th in the country in red zone defense. Notre Dame is also tied for 48th. Hmmmmm.
The Mids have outscored the opposition 134-101 in the second half (including overtime).
Since 2003, Navy owns an 18-23 (.439) record against schools from a BCS conference. The 18 wins against BCS schools during that time period are the most by a non-BCS school.
Navy head coach
Ken Niumatalolo is 7-10 (.412) against teams from a BCS conference.
Navy has beaten at least one BCS opponent in eight-consecutive years, which is the second-longest active streak in the country by a non-BCS school. TCU has had at least one BCS win in nine-consecutive seasons.
Navy is No. 1 in the country in fewest penalties per game (2.3) and penalty yards per game (20.7).