Navy (2-7, 2-4 AAC) vs. East Carolina (6-4, 4-2 AAC)
When	Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021 | 3:30 pm (ET)
Location	Annapolis, Md. | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium | Parking & Fan Guide | Clear Bag Policy
Television	CBS Sports Network (John Sadak, Randy Cross, Sheehan Stanwick Burch)
Live Video Stream	CBS Sports Network
Listen	Navy Football Radio Network (Pete Medhurst, Joe Miller, Keith Mills, Scott Wykoff) WBAL 1090 AM / 101.5 FM (Baltimore) | WFED 820 AM, 94.3 FM (Frederick, Md.) | WFED 1500 AM (Washington, D.C.) | WFED 104.5 FM (Western Fairfax / Loudon, Va.) | WNAV 1430 AM, 99.9 FM (Annapolis) | WBQH 93.5 FM (Washington, D.C.) | WJBT 100.3 FM (Jacksonville) | WGH 1310 AM / 100.9 FM / 97.3 HD2-3 (Norfolk, Va.) | Satellite: Sirius 119, XM 204, SXM App 967
Live Stats	Navy Athletics
Game Notes	Navy | East Carolina | AAC
Season Statistics	Navy | East Carolina | AAC
Social Media	@NavyAthletics | @NavyFB | Facebook | Instagram

Opening Kick
•    Navy and East Carolina meet for the ninth time in series history and for the fifth time as conference foes when the two square off on Saturday afternoon (3:30 pm ET) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (34,000) in Annapolis. Saturday's game is presented by First Command.
•    Navy is 7-1 all-time against East Carolina and 4-0 in American Athletic Conference games. Last year, the Mids won in Greenville 27-23.
•    Saturday marks the final home game for Navy's 25 seniors, who will be honored, along with their families, in a pregame ceremony .
•     This year's seniors were a big part of a team that had the second-biggest turnaround in FBS history, going from 3-10 in 2018 to a school-record tying 11 wins against two losses in 2019 which included winning the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy and the Liberty Bowl. Navy finished the 2019 season ranked 20th in the country.
•    Navy has won 17-consecutive games on Senior Day with fans in the stands (2003-2019). The Mids lost to Tulsa 19-6 a year ago (Dec. 5) on Senior Day in a cold and empty Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
•     Navy's nine opponents it has faced to date (does not include games against Navy) are a combined 57-24 (.704), which is the toughest schedule in the country based on opponent winning percentage.
•     If you include Navy's entire 12-game slate, the combined record is 72-38 (.655), which is the sixth-most difficult schedule in the country based on opponent winning percentage.
•     The ELO computer rankings has Navy's schedule to date as the toughest in the country.
•     The Mids have faced three teams currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, including two in the top 6 - Houston (#17), Cincinnati (#3) and Notre Dame (#6). A fourth, SMU, was also ranked in the top 25 for part of the year and is currently receiving votes.
•     Nine of Navy's opponents are bowl eligible, while Tulsa (2 wins away) and Memphis (1 win away) are on the verge of becoming eligible. The 9 bowl eligible opponents are tied with Boise State, Indiana and LSU for the most in the country.
•    Navy is 32-21 (.604) in the American Athletic Conference since joining in 2015, which is tied with Temple for the fifth-best mark in the conference during that time. Navy has defeated every team in the conference at least once.
•    Navy defeated Tulsa on Oct. 29 without completing a pass (0-4). It was the seventh time in the Niumatalolo era and the first time since 2018 against UCF that Navy went an entire game without completing a pass.
•     Not completing a pass in a game is not necessarily a bad thing for the Mids, as they are 6-1 under Niumatalolo in games they don't complete a pass. In two of those games, 2009 vs. Wake Forest and 2008 against SMU, the Mids did not attempt a pass. Both of those games were played in torrential downpours with Navy beating Wake Forest 13-10 and SMU 34-7.
•    Navy is fielding one of its youngest teams in recent memory. The Mids are starting 5 sophomores on offense and 3 sophomores and a freshman on defense. Navy has 1 freshman and 12 sophomores on the offensive depth chart and 9 freshmen and 8 sophomores on the defensive depth chart (10 freshmen and 20 sophomores combined). Those numbers do not include a sophomore kickoff specialist, a freshman long snapper, a freshman punter and a freshman kickoff return specialist.
•    Niumatalolo is the eighth-longest tenured coach in the FBS.
•    Senior safety Kevin Brennan, senior wide receiver Mychal Cooper, senior linebacker Diego Fagot and senior slot back Chance Warren were selected as team captains for the 2021 season by their teammates. Being selected team captain is the greatest honor a Navy athlete can receive, to be chosen the leader of a group of leaders.
•    Cooper was also chosen to serve as the Captain of the Captains by a vote of the team captains of all 33 of Navy's varsity sports. It's the second time in three years that a football player has been selected. Ford Higgins was the Captain of the Captains for the 2019-20 academic year.
•    Fagot is on the "Watch Lists" for the 2021 Chuck Bednarik Award (Maxwell Football Club) and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Football Writers Association of America) which are presented to the top defensive player in college football.
•    Fagot was named a Third-Team Preseason All-American by Phil Steele's College Football Magazine, while Fagot (first team), senior corner Michael McMorris (third team), sophomore nose guard Donald Berniard Jr. (fourth team), senior safety Kevin Brennan (fourth team) and junior kicker Bijan Nichols (fourth team) were named to Steele's All-AAC team. Fagot is a two-time All-AAC performer, garnering second-team honors by the league's coaches as a junior and first-team recognition as a sophomore.
•    Niumatalolo earned his 100th-career victory last fall (Oct. 10) when the Mids defeated Temple in Annapolis. He is the 24th active coach with 100-career wins and just the sixth active coach to achieve it all at one school.
•    Navy is 44-31 (.587) in the Niumatalolo era (2008-present) in one-score games (8 points or less).

Broadcast Coverage
•    Saturday's game will be televised by CBS Sports Network with John Sadak, Randy Cross and Sheehan Stanwick-Burch on the call.
•    The Navy Football Insider Show with Joe Miller will air on Thursday night from 7:00-8:00 pm on WBAL Radio (1090 AM, 101.5 FM). Pete Medhurst, Keith Mills and Scott Wykoff will also contribute to the show.
•    The Navy Football Tailgate Show on WNAV Radio 1430 AM / 99.9 FM will air from 1:30 pm-2:30 pm on Saturday with Wylie Baker and Bill Lusby serving as the hosts.
•    The Navy Football Insider Show with Wykoff will air on Saturday afternoon from 2:00-2:30 pm on WBAL Radio (1090 AM, 101.5 FM). Medhurst, Miller and Mills will also contribute to the show.
•    The Navy Football Pregame Show with Medhurst, Miller, Mills and Wykoff and special commentary from John Feinstein will get underway at 2:30 pm on the Navy Radio Network, followed by game action beginning at 3:30 pm with Medhurst, Miller and Mills on the call.
•    Following the contest, Medhurst, Miller, Mills and Wykoff will recap the day's events in a 30-minute postgame show.

Game Day Festivities
•    The Navy football team will arrive at the Blue Angel on the West (Blue) side of the stadium at approximately 1:00 pm. The team will walk down the sidewalk and through NavyFest before walking to the tunnel. Fans are invited to stand on both sides of the sidewalk to cheer on the players.
•    The March-On of the Brigade of Midshipmen will begin at 3:06 pm.
•    The National Anthem will take place at 3:16:30 pm, followed by a flyover.
•     Saturday's flyover will feature 4 McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harriers from the "Ace of Spades" of Marine Attack Squadron 231 based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Piloting the lead aircraft will be Capt Michael "LAF" Sheehan, USNA Class of 2012. The wing aircraft will be piloted by Capt William "Dahmer" Joiner, USNA Class of 2010. The -3 aircraft will be piloted by Capt Earl "Strut" Ehrhart USNA Class of 2014. The -4 aircraft will be piloted by Capt. Jon "Butch" Roman, West Point Class of 2014. Providing ground control will be Major Daniel "B.O." Ford, USNA Class of 2007. The Ace of Spades report operationally to Commander, Marine Aircraft Group 14. They fly the AV-8B Harrier, a battle proven, single seat, Vertical Takeoff and Land Attack aircraft. The AV-8B was designed for traditional Close Air Support, Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance, Escort, Forward Air Control (Airborne), and day/night precision Strike. Additionally, the AV-8B increases the Amphibious Ready Group's survivability by providing Active Air Defense.
•    A salute to Navy's seniors will take place at 3:20 pm.
•    Kickoff on Saturday is slated for 3:32 pm.
•    Please note that all times, starting with the March-On, could be pushed back by 5 minutes if the first game on CBS Sports Network runs long. That decision will be made by 2:30 pm.
•    Navy's Intercollegiate Sailing team will be honored between the first and second quarters.
•    The pilots from the pregame flyover will be recognized between the third and fourth quarters.  
•    Following the game, Navy's alma mater, Navy Blue & Gold, will be played as the team stands at attention in front of the Brigade of Midshipmen. It is one of the best traditions in all of sports.
   
Scouting East Carolina
6-4 Overall  |  4-2 AAC
Head Coach: Mike Houston

•    East Carolina comes to Annapolis red-hot, having won three-straight and six of its last eight games. The Pirates are bowl eligible for the first time since 2014.
•    ECU started the year 0-2, losing to Appalachian State (33-19) and South Carolina (20-17).
•    Since then, the Pirates have gone 6-2 with wins over Marshall (42-38), Charleston Southern (31-28), Tulane (52-29), USF (29-14), Temple (45-3) and Memphis (30-29 OT).  The only two losses over the last 8 games came at the hands of UCF (20-16) and Houston (31-24 OT).
•    The Pirates are still alive in the chase for a spot in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game opposite Houston.
•    East Carolina has 28 transfers on its roster, including 11 from the Autonomy Five.
•    East Carolina ranks among the top 25 nationally in the following offensive statistics: fourth down conversions (11th, .704) and time of possession (13th, 32:34)
•    East Carolina ranks among the top 25 nationally in the following defensive statistics: third down defense (10th, .308), interceptions (11th, 13), defensive touchdowns (15th, 2) and turnovers gained (21st, 18).
•    Individuals on the East Carolina offense rank among the nation's top 25 in the following statistics: junior quarterback Holton Ahlers (completions per game - 23rd, 21.0); freshman running back Keaton Mitchell (rushing yards per carry - 4th, 7.07, rushing yards per game - 23rd, 98.3).
•    Individuals on the East Carolina defense rank among the top 25 nationally in the following statistics: sophomore corner Ja'Quan McMillan (passes defended per game - 1st, 2.0; interceptions - 2nd, 5), freshman safety Teagan Wilk (forced fumbles per game - 16th, 0.30).
•    Last week at Memphis, ECU won 30-29 in overtime after stopping a two-point conversion that would have given Memphis the win.
•    Ahlers threw for 313 yards and rushed for 46 yards and a touchdown, while Mitchell and Rahjai Harris combined for 150 yards on the ground and 2 touchdowns on 37 carries. Tyler Snead had an incredible 13 catches for 113 yards. ECU held the ball for 42:47 against Memphis.
•    McMillan had his fifth interception of the year and Aaron Ramseur added 6 tackles to lead the Pirate defense.
•    Ahlers has contributed 20 touchdowns on the season, throwing for 14 and running for 6 more.

Senior Day
•    Saturday marks the final home game for Navy's 25 senior players. Navy will honor its seniors and their familes in a pregame ceremony .
•     This year's seniors were a big part of a team that had the second-biggest turnaround in FBS history going from 3-10 in 2018 to a school-record tying 11 wins against two losses in 2019, which included winning the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy and the Liberty Bowl. Navy finished the 2019 season ranked 20th in the country.
•    The following players will be playing their final game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Carlinos Acie: SB / McKeesport, Pa.
Pierce Banbury: OG/C / Aldie, Va.
Nick Bernacchi: OG / Fairfax, Va.
Kevin Brennan: FS / Westfield, N.J.
Mattie Conlon: OG / Bronx, N.Y.
Mychal Cooper: WR / San Antonio, Texas
Diego Fagot: LB / Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Ben Fee: P / Commerce Township, Mich.
Marcell Gleaton: WR / Ellenwood, Ga.
Jamal Glenn: CB / Laurel, Md.
Tyger Goslin: SB / Moorpark, Calif.
James Harris II: FB / Mobile, Ala.
Mitchell Johns: LB / Leesburg, Va.
John Kelly III: Raider / Staten Island, N.Y.
Cal Long: WR / Austin, Texas
Michael McMorris: CB / Buford, Ga.
Chike Otaluka: SB / Johns Creek, Ga.
Isaac Ruoss: FB / Mohnton, Pa.
Michael Salisbury: WR / Shelbyville, Tenn.
Daniel Taylor: SB / Franklin, Tenn.
Bryce Texeira: OT / Waukesha, Wis.
Chance Warren: SB / Enterprise, Ala.
J'arius Warren: DT / Long Beach, Miss.
Mitchell West: Bandit / Naperville, Ill.
Deondrae Williams: DE / Phenix City, Ala.

Playing Against The Home State
•    Navy has 7 players on its roster from the state of North Carolina, including freshman kick returner Maquel Haywood (Wake Forest), second team freshman defensive end Justin Reed (Apex) and third team sophomore wide receiver Camari Williams (Fayetteville).

Toughest Schedules
•    Navy's 9 opponents it has faced to date (does not include games against Navy) are a combined 57-24 (.704) on the year, which is the toughest schedule in the country based on opponent winning percentage.
•     If you include Navy's entire 12-game slate, the combined record is 72-38 (.655), which is the sixth-most difficult schedule in the country based on opponent winning percentage.
•     Navy's schedule is also ranked the toughest in the country by Warren Nolan's ELO computer metric.
•     The Mids have faced three teams currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, including 2 in the top 6: Houston (#17), Cincinnati (#3) and Notre Dame (#6).
•     Nine of Navy's opponents are bowl eligible, while Tulsa (2 wins away) and Memphis (1 win away) are on the verge of becoming eligible. The 9 bowl eligible opponents are tied with Boise State and Indiana for the most in the country.