Temple vs. Navy 2025 Preview: Owls and Midshipmen Set to Light up Scoreboard

In a very underrated matchup, the Temple Owls are set to host the Navy Midshipmen on Saturday afternoon in an American Conference showdown. Temple is coming off of a thrilling win over UTSA, which bumped their record to 3-2 and a conference record of 1-0. Navy, coming off a thrilling victory over Air Force, is 5-0 and one of the main contenders for the conference title. With that in mind, let’s dive into this Temple vs. Navy 2025 game preview!

Temple Owls vs. Navy Midshipmen: Game History

In the history of both programs, Navy and Temple have had a very back-and-forth set of games with each other, dating back to 1988.

Navy currently holds a narrow 10-9 lead in the historical series, with its last win coming back last year by a score of 38-11. They also have won four of the last five matchups, with their last loss coming in 2023 by a score of 32-18.

Temple vs. Navy 2025 Preview: Keys to the Game

Key Players: Temple

On offense, it would be a mistake not to mention quarterback Evan Simon for the Owls. On the season, Simon has 804 yards, 12 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He only has one turnover-worthy play, five big-time throws, and an ADOT of 8.4. Under the direction of head coach KC Keeler, Simon has been efficient as a passer for Temple all season. To stay in this game against Navy, the offense will need to be clicking at a high level and take advantage of their possessions. Based on his season so far, it looks like the Owls’ signal caller will be up to the task.

Along with Simon, tight end Peter Clarke has been a revelation for Temple. Despite only having 12 receptions, he has 229 yards, three touchdowns, and four contested catches. Clarke is a smooth route runner, has great hands, and has been constantly improving for the Owls this season.

On defense, the pass-rushing duo of Cam’Ron Stewart and Sekou Kromah will be key. Stewart has burst onto the scene in 2025, notching 24 pressures and four sacks in five games played. Kromah, in five games, has 15 pressures and three sacks. Add in some impressive run defense from both players, and this duo could help shut down the Navy offense on Saturday.

Key Players: Navy

For Navy, their two key players are arguably the leaders on both sides of the ball: Blake Horvath and Landon Robinson.

Horvath, the standout quarterback for the Midshipmen, has been a force both on the ground and through the air in 2025. The quarterback has 839 passing yards and six passing touchdowns, while also having 485 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. He has seven big-time throws, 11 missed tackles forced, and 297 yards after contact. Horvath also has 16 runs of 10 yards or more through five games.

Despite having three interceptions and six fumbles this year, Horvath has been the ultimate weapon for Navy once again in 2025. The offense will once again flow through the quarterback on Saturday, and if he plays at a high level, the team will be in a great position to win the game.

On defense, Landon Robinson has been as advertised.

The defensive lineman has been a FORCE through the first five games of the season for Navy. As a pass rusher, Robinson has seven sacks and 20 total pressures on 145 pass-rushing snaps. As a run defender, he has 11 tackles and 16 defensive stops, earning him a 75.6 PFF run defense grade.

Robinson has driven the production for not just the Navy defensive line, but the overall defense. He sets the tone against the run and causes havoc for quarterbacks as a pass rusher, which is an amazing combination for any team to have in the trenches. If he continues to wreak havoc and produce at a high level, the Midshipmen will be in a great spot on Saturday.

Keys to Victory

Keys to Victory: Temple

Be Efficient on Offense

Navy is going to eat up the game clock on offense, regardless of whether they have success or not. As a result, Temple needs to be efficient and consistent on offense. If they score points on a consistent basis, I truly like Temple’s chances in this game. If not, it could be a long day for the Owls.

Finish Tackles

Temple cannot give Navy extra chances in this game. Having 62 total missed tackles this season, the Owls need to clean up this area to have a true chance to win on Saturday. If they wrap up and limit any chances for big plays, the Owls will be able to go toe-to-toe with Navy.

Emphasize Discipline

Any service academy team will be disciplined beyond belief. Temple needs to not commit stupid penalties, have miscommunications, or commit unforced errors on either side of the ball. If they do, Navy will clean their clock on Saturday; this is arguably the most important aspect of Saturday’s game.

Keys to Victory: Navy

Lean on Strengths

One of the more unique teams in college football, Navy has strengths on offense, and even defense, that most teams cannot match. They can shorten games at will, create havoc on defense, and hit big plays when needed. Temple will try to push the pace and make things difficult for Navy, forcing them to play outside of their comfort zone. As a result, Navy needs to lean on their strengths and look to drag Temple into the mud with them. If they achieve this, I like Navy’s chances.

Continue to Adjust as Necessary

The most impressive thing Navy has shown this year is their ability to adjust when needed. This specifically applies to the offense, as they have shown an ability to gain chunk yardage through the air to pair with their normally ground-based offense. It’ll be fascinating to see how real these counters and adjustments are for the Midshipmen, as they could be a key factor in keeping pace with what could be a high-scoring Temple offense.