Notre Dame’s defense gets a clean chance to reset Saturday, and Navy is the kind of opponent that will expose whether the Irish have actually fixed anything.
After the letdown against BYU on October 17, the focus inside the defense has shifted to getting back to the standard it showed during its dominant four-game run to open the season. That work starts against a Navy offense that has been rolling with more confidence in recent weeks.
In its last three games, Navy scored 34 points in a win over Tulsa, 30 points in a road loss to UTSA and 39 points in a home loss to North Texas. Offensive coordinator Drew Cronic is settling in with the group he has, and Notre Dame’s defense will need to win individual battles if it wants to slow down the Midshipmen’s option game.
It’s also Chris Ash’s second crack at Navy as defensive coordinator, and the Irish will need a disciplined afternoon from the middle of the field outward. The matchup up front is a big one for Tionne Gray, who has been steady enough through seven games but still hasn’t delivered that breakout showing some expected.
He has played 137 snaps and logged six run stops, with part of that tied to the role the scheme has asked him to play. At 6-5 and 320 pounds, Gray has had snaps where he gets knocked off the ball and others where he controls the line of scrimmage.
Saturday gives him a real chance to make his presence felt.
That task gets tougher because Navy’s offensive line has been one of the most experienced units Notre Dame will see all season. The Midshipmen rank 3rd in the country in rushing yards per game, 8th in yards per rush and 5th in 20-yard runs, and left guard Cam Nichols has been a major reason why.
Nichols has started all seven games this season and entered 2026 with 18 career starts. The 6-1, 305-pound guard has lined up all over the interior and is set to see plenty of Gray.
At linebacker, Drayk Bowen has been exactly what Notre Dame expected in terms of production. The captain leads the team with 38 tackles and 22 solo stops, and he already has his first career defensive touchdown.
But he still needs to become a more disruptive player, and the numbers show it: through seven games, Bowen has just 1.0 tackle for loss. Ash needs his linebackers playing downhill and with more aggression, and Bowen is the starting point for that.
Against Navy, that means staying on top of the quarterback responsibilities that come with the option. Jackson Gutierrez has become the primary QB1, though Braxton Woodson will also be part of the plan.
If the Irish sit back and let Navy dictate terms, the runs can pile up fast. Bowen’s job is to keep the defense organized and handle the quarterback element of the attack while also meeting the game’s physical demands head-on.
The veteran leadership in the secondary matters just as much, and Adon Shuler enters this one as another player who could use a clean performance. The safety and captain has started every game, and the bye week likely came at a good time for him and the rest of the program.
It has been an uneven season for the New Jersey native, and he has made some mistakes that haven’t been part of his game since his first year as a starter. Given what he has dealt with off the field, he gets the benefit of the doubt, and Saturday offers a chance to turn the page.
Shuler’s most important assignment will be Navy slot back Michael Barrow, who has filled the “Eli Heidenreich” role in Cronic’s offense. Barrow has 81 carries for 442 yards and one touchdown, and he’s added seven receptions for 58 yards and another score.
Shuler should have chances to deliver the kind of heavy hit he’s known for, but the bigger job is keeping Barrow from breaking loose on pitch plays and chunk gains. That’s priority No. 1 for Shuler and the Notre Dame secondary.
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Notre Dame Could Add A Veteran Defensive Voice Fans Will Debate
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What makes the idea worth watching is the connection to defensive coordinator Chris Ash, who previously worked with Doeren. If Notre Dame were to consider him for a part-time defensive analyst spot, it would bring in a veteran voice with plenty of background and, given his mixed track record as a head coach, plenty of room for fans to debate whether he is the right fit for the job. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Commit Abraham Sesay Just Added More National Buzz
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Sesay is also scheduled to take part in the annual East vs. West All-American Bowl game on January 9, 2027, in San Antonio, Texas, another marker of how quickly his national reputation has grown. For Notre Dame, it is the kind of off-field momentum that comes with landing a recruit whose name is starting to carry weight well beyond the usual prep recruiting circles. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames Offense Has One Big Chance To Regain Momentum
Notre Dame heads into its game with Navy looking for a cleaner offensive rhythm, and the matchup gives the Irish a chance to reset in a few key spots. Navys pass defense has been a vulnerable area, which puts added attention on how Notre Dame uses its receivers and protects the quarterback, especially with Micah Gilbert and Anthonie Knapp in the spotlight as the unit tries to find more consistency.
CJ Carr is part of that equation too, because Notre Dames passing game still needs sharper execution to turn the opportunity into something meaningful. The setup is there for the Irish to regain some momentum, but it will take better individual play and a more dependable offensive structure to make the most of a defense that has shown it can be attacked through the air. [Read more 🡒]