Navy's offense came alive when it mattered most, as the Midshipmen secured at least a share of the American Athletic Conference regular-season title with a convincing 28-17 victory over Memphis on Thursday night. The win keeps Navy's playoff hopes alive heading into the final weekend of the regular season, while the Tigers' disappointing loss marks the end of their 2025 campaign.
A Balanced Attack Powers Navy to Victory
Alex Tecza was the driving force behind Navy's ground game, rushing for 103 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Tecza's performance exemplified Navy's commitment to their traditional triple-option offense, with his 12-yard touchdown run in the third quarter giving the Midshipmen a 21-17 lead that they would never relinquish.
Blake Horvath added another dimension to Navy's attack, accounting for two touchdowns through both passing and rushing. The versatile quarterback completed 5 of 9 passes for 100 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to Kendall Evans, while also contributing 54 yards on the ground with a crucial 2-yard touchdown run that sealed the game with 4:53 remaining.
Memphis Fights Back but Falls Short
Memphis (6-4, 4-4) kept pace early, with quarterback
Brendon Lewis orchestrating an efficient offensive performance. Lewis completed 19 of 36 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with
Matt Adcock for a 1-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter and finding
Cortez Braham Jr. for a 38-yard score that gave the Tigers a 17-14 halftime lead.
However, Memphis couldn't maintain their momentum in the second half. Navy's defense tightened up, and the Midshipmen's ground game proved too difficult to contain, ultimately deciding the contest.
Navy's Path to the AAC Title
With the victory, Navy (9-2, 7-1) clinched at least a share of the AAC regular-season title. However, the Midshipmen hold only a half-game lead over both
North Texas and
No. 24 Tulane, both of which complete their regular seasons this weekend. North Texas hosts Temple on Friday, while Tulane faces Charlotte at home on Saturday, meaning Navy's title could be outright or shared depending on those results.
The Midshipmen's strong finish positions them well for bowl consideration and potentially a higher seed in the AAC Championship Game.
What's Next
For Memphis, the focus now shifts to the future under head coach
Ryan Silverfield, as the Tigers conclude their regular season with questions about the program's direction heading into the offseason.
Navy, meanwhile, awaits the results of this weekend's games to determine their exact standing in the conference before preparing for postseason play.
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1.
Navy Midshipmen vs Memphis Tigers Live Score and Stats - CBS Sports2.
Navy vs. Memphis Game Recap - ESPN3.
Navy vs Memphis Football Game Summary - NCAA.com
Sources
1. Memphis drops regular season finale to Navy 28-17
2. Navy Midshipmen vs. Memphis Tigers Live Score and Stats
3. Memphis vs Navy live score & H2H
4. Navy vs Memphis Football Game Summary
5. What Ryan Silverfield said about his future after Memphis' ...
6. Navy vs Memphis Match Player Stats - Nov 27, 2025
7. Navy vs. Memphis (Nov 27, 2025) Live Score
8. Navy 28-17 Memphis (Nov 27, 2025) Game Recap
