What Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said about future of Navy series

November 2, 2026

Notre Dame’s 35–13 victory over Navy on Saturday came at a physical cost, with multiple Irish players sidelined by injuries that could impact their upcoming matchup against top-ranked Miami. The most serious setback was suffered by defensive lineman Drayk Bowen, who was hurt on a goal-line block in the first half and will miss long-term play.

Coach Marcus Freeman addressed the incident afterward, emphasizing that while he had warned officials about the dangers of high-low blocks, he did not believe the contact was intentional, expressing respect for Navy’s coaching staff. Freeman also noted that injuries like Bowen’s can occur in any game, though he acknowledged the need for heightened awareness during such plays.

Beyond Bowen, linebacker Franci Brewu and defensive end Jason Onye are now questionable for the Miami game after suffering lower-leg injuries during the contest. Notre Dame, which leads the all-time series against Navy 83–13–1 and has won nine consecutive meetings, took a 14–13 lead late in the first half before dominating the second half.

The Irish will look to build on this win as they prepare to host Miami this weekend, though their depleted roster raises concerns ahead of the challenge.