Why isn't Navy QB Blake Horvath playing vs. Notre Dame?
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When Navy kicks off on the road against No. 10 Notre Dame on Saturday, the Midshipmen will reportedly be without a very key player: quarterback Blake Horvath.
Horvath was injured near the end of Navy’s Week 10 loss to North Texas, and, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Horvath playing in South Bend was a game-time decision.
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Thamel reported on Twitter/X on Saturday about an hour before the 7:30 p.m. ET scheduled kickoff: “Sources: Navy QB Blake Horvath is out for today’s game at Notre Dame with an upper body injury that he suffered toward the end of the North Texas game. Navy will start Braxton Woodson, who beat ECU last year in his only other career start.”
Horvath was considered a game-time decision today. The injury is not considered long-term, and there’s a chance he returns when Navy plays USF in Annapolis. Navy is likely to also give QB snaps to sophomore Jackson Gutierrez today.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 8, 2025
Through eight games this season, Horvath is both Navy’s top rusher, in addition to passer, of course. The senior quarterback has a 63.6 completion percentage on the season and has thrown for seven touchdowns and five interceptions. However, on the ground, Horvath has 926 rushing yards — the most of any quarterback so far this season and fifth overall in FBS play — and his 13 rushing touchdowns have him in a three-way tie for second-most in any position.
Woodson, a junior quarterback, has only started one game previously, and in 2025, he’s played in three games, completing half of his eight pass attempts for 49 yards and running for 210 yards on 11 carries for three touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why isn’t Navy QB Blake Horvath playing vs. Notre Dame?
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