Why Navy's AutoZone Liberty Bowl win was extra special for QB Blake Horvath
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Two and a half years ago, Blake Horvath walked off the field at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium with his head down, his hoodie pulled over his head.
Navy's part-time quarterback hadn't done much to earn the job he was sharing with Tai Lavatai. He'd fumbled twice in the fourth quarter (losing one) as Navy lost to Memphis 28-24. It was only Horvath's second career game.
"Probably one of the lowest moments of my life, football-wise, in that game here," he said.
It's serendipitous, then, that Horvath finished his collegiate career on the same field. This time, though, he went out as the MVP of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, capping a remarkable collegiate career by leading the Midshipmen to their second straight double-digit win season for the first time in program history with a 35-13 win over Cincinnati on Jan. 2.
"Every single person in that program could've given up on me two years ago here in Memphis," Horvath said. "And they didn't. They bought in and believed in me and what I can do and what this team can do. And we showed it for the past two years."
Horvath's career has plenty of connections to Memphis, of course. Tigers fans might not remember him from that 2023 game, but his breakout came in 2024 when he put up more than 400 total yards to stun a Memphis team that had College Football Playoff aspirations in an early-season upset.
Horvath and the Midshipmen beat Memphis again in 2025, taking down the Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Thanksgiving. After beating Army, Navy came back to the stadium and beat a power conference team in Horvath's final game.
Navy senior class ends historic run with historic win
Without transfers, Navy has to rely on internal development to compete in this era of college football. That was a lot easier with a senior class that included a litany of key contributors on both sides of the ball, including All-American defensive tackle Landon Robinson.
Alex Tecza, Eli Heidenreich and Brandon Chatman have been fixtures in the Navy backfield for years (Tecza rushed for 163 yards and touchdown in that 2023 game in Memphis). That group played its final game against Cincinnati.
Navy's seniors went 4-8 during their freshman year in 2022, and coach Ken Niumatalolo was fired after that season. Brian Newberry was promoted from defensive coordinator to replace him, but the Midshipmen only went 5-7 in his first season.
Then it flipped — first to 10-3 in 2024, then to 11-2 in 2025. Both included bowl wins over power conference teams.
"They talked about leaving a legacy," coach Brian Newberry said. "They've obviously done that."
Cincinnati hurt by opt-outs
Group of Five teams are usually the underdogs when the face power conference opposition, but that was not the case in this edition of the Liberty Bowl. Navy entered the game favored by more than a touchdown, and that was partly because Cincinnati was not at full strength.
The Bearcats were missing starting quarterback Brendan Sorsby after he elected to enter the transfer portal. Cincinnati's top two running backs were gone, too. Teams playing without their full rosters has been a theme throughout bowl season, and it can create games like the Liberty Bowl that end up as blowouts.
It's led to calls to move the portal window and find other ways to protect bowl games.
“We have to change that," Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield said. "We have to change when the portal is and when all these things are happening with the calendar in college football. Because these bowls, man, these are special. And what’s happening to them here lately, with all the talk, it’s toning off kilter.”
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why Memphis was fitting place for Navy QB Blake Horvath's final collegiate game
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