Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Navy vs. Oklahoma
The Navy Midshipmen (9-3) and the Oklahoma Sooners (6-6) will face off in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Friday at 11 a.m. CST on ESPN, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. This matchup marks a historic occasion, as the last time these two teams played was October 2, 1965, a 10-0 victory for Navy.
Oklahoma’s Offense: Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins has thrown for 536 yards, completing 48 of 77 passes, with one touchdown and two interceptions this season across six games. Star quarterback Jackson Arnold (12 TD passes, 1421 yards in 2024) is transferring to Auburn.
Navy’s History Against SEC Opponents: This bowl game will be Navy’s first against an SEC opponent since a 2011 loss to South Carolina. Their last victory against an SEC team was a 29-26 win over Vanderbilt in 2004. Navy holds a 7-11-2 all-time record against SEC opponents; their previous bowl game against an SEC team was a 21-0 Sugar Bowl win over Ole Miss in 1955.
Key Statistical Insights: Notably, neither Navy nor Oklahoma has played a one-score game this season (final margin of eight points or fewer). The closest game for Navy was a 56-44 win over Memphis. Previous Armed Forces Bowl appearances by SEC teams include Mississippi State’s 2021 win over Tulsa and Missouri’s 2022 loss to Army. American Athletic Conference teams have a 2-3 record in the bowl game.
Defensive Highlights: Both Navy cornerback Dashaun Peele (four interceptions, two returned for touchdowns) and Oklahoma linebacker Kip Lewis (two interceptions, two returned for touchdowns) have made significant defensive contributions this season, each ranking among the top five players with multiple pick-sixes in 2024.
Team Records and Bowl History: Navy has appeared in the Armed Forces Bowl twice before, winning against Middle Tennessee in 2013 and losing to Louisiana Tech in 2016. Oklahoma boasts a 26-year bowl game streak, last missing a bowl appearance in 1998. The Sooners have a 15-2 record against American Athletic Conference opponents, including wins over Temple and Tulane in 2024. Navy is one win away from their sixth season with at least 10 victories. Their last bowl appearance was the 2019 Liberty Bowl win over Kansas State.
Individual Player Performances: Navy’s Eli Heidenreich is tied for the school’s single-season record with six touchdown receptions. Blake Horvath, Navy’s quarterback, has tied the school’s single-season record with 13 touchdown passes, adding 15 rushing touchdowns, 1,091 rushing yards, and 1,084 passing yards – the first Navy player to surpass 1,000 yards in both categories since 2019.
Turnover Statistics: Oklahoma boasts the nation’s highest fumble recovery rate (70.6%), recovering 12 of their opponents’ 17 fumbles. Conversely, Oklahoma has lost a nation-leading 14 fumbles. Navy has fumbled 19 times, losing eight.
Other Notable Statistics: 30 Navy players are from Texas, making it the most represented state on their roster. Oklahoma’s opponents had the lowest extra-point conversion rate (88.9%), while Navy missed four extra points this season. Oklahoma holds a 90-game winning streak when holding opponents to 22 points or fewer. Navy has been outscored significantly after turnovers in their losses, while Oklahoma has shown a mixed record in this area. Oklahoma’s rushing yards per game increased significantly in the latter half of the season. Navy averages 249 rushing yards per game, significantly more than the 106 rushing yards per game allowed by Oklahoma’s defense.
(Note: The final paragraphs referencing AL.com and Mark Inabinett have been removed as they are unrelated to the game information.)