Navy hopes to extend win streak against Army

Navy is the No. 13 in the nation, for instance, in Football Outsiders’ F/+ ratings to Army’s No. 114. At 2-9, the Black Knights do not appear to be the best matchup against the dynamic Navy offense, but ending their season with a win over their biggest rivals would certainly salvage the season for the team.

As Brigham Young University searches for a replacement for Head Football Coach Bronco Mendenhall, there are reports indicating Navy football coach Ken Niumatalolo is traveling to Provo Monday to meet with school officials.

And, of course, this is Navy-Army.

All rivalries suffer when they become lopsided, which is the case between the two service academies, but at least Army-Navy remains mostly uncluttered by the excessive commercialism that artificially elevates everything from Yankees vs. Red Sox to Ohio State vs. MI.

The Midshipmen (10-2) can hook an anchor to the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy. Navy has won the CIC Trophy in nine of the last 12 years. The Cadets used 18 true freshman in the season opener, the second-most in the country, and are slated to start 10 freshmen or sophomores against Navy. The Midshipmen are 22-point favorites over the Black Knights because of that.

The series stuffed with pageantry, ceremonies and tradition – and Navy’s “May The 14th Be With You” Star Wars parody video – will now have an unnecessary distraction for Navy.

Navy (9-2) is coming off a 52-31 loss to the Houston Cougars on November 27.

Navy has been ranked in both polls for the last five weeks, which is the most consecutive weeks it has been ranked since 1963 when the Mids were ranked all 12 weeks. “What if (Navy quarterback) Keenan Reynolds has an off day?” This year Reynolds stands on the threshold of tying Georgia Southern’s Adrian Peterson and Towson’s Terrance West for the Division I touchdown title at 84. Two more rushing scores will break the all-time FBS and FCS records.

At one point, ESPN removed Reynolds’s name from the splash page of its sponsored Heisman House website, generating a backlash on social media among his advocates.

Reynolds rushed for 136 yards and two scores and completed 6 of 14 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown.

Reynolds responded on the next drive with a 58-yard scamper into the end zone leaving most in the stadium expecting another Navy blowout. He is 10 yards behind fourth-place Brad Smith of Missouri and 64 yards behind Jordan Lynch of Northern Illinois for third.

“USAA’s commitment to the academies through the Army-Navy Game ensures that we will be supporting college football’s greatest rivalry for the foreseeable future”, said Wayne Peacock, executive vice president of enterprise strategy and marketing at USAA.