ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy football team is ranked No. 20 in the country by
Phil Steele's College Football Magazine. The Midshipmen are picked to win the American Conference and represent the Group of 6 in the College Football Playoff.
Navy's offensive line is ranked as the nation's 12th-best unit.
Navy's position rankings within the American Conference (14 teams) include quarterback (third), running back (11th), wide receiver (14th), offensive line (second), defensive line (ninth), linebacker (fourth), defensive back (sixth), special teams (seventh) and coaching staff (second).
Despite being picked to finish first, the Midshipmen did not have an offensive player named to the preseason first team. Senior guard
Cam Nichols and sophomore offensive tackle
Malcolm Johnson were named to the second team, while senior quarterback
Braxton Woodson and senior running back
Vic Listorti earned third-team honors.
The Navy defense also did not have a player named to the first team. Junior linebacker
MarcAnthony Parker and senior cornerback Ira Oniha were named to the second team, senior defensive tackle
Griffen Willis and junior safety
Phillip Hamilton earned third-team honors, while senior linebacker
Coleman Cauley and senior safety
Giuseppe Sessi were selected to the fourth team.
Among the specialists, senior long snapper
Rayne Fry was named to the first team, junior punter
Jacob Carlson to the third team and senior kick returner
Isaiah Bryant to the fourth team.
Steele ranked the American Conference as the fifth-best conference in the Football Bowl Subdivision and the top conference among the Group of 6 leagues.
Navy opens the 2026 season Sept. 5 at home against Towson before traveling to Florida Atlantic on Sept. 12 for its American Conference opener.
Navy football season and single-game tickets are available at
https://navysports.evenue.net/list/F.
Phil Steele's American Conference Standings Prediction
- Navy
- UTSA
- Tulane
- ECU
- Army
- Memphis
- USF
- Tulsa
- FAU
- Temple
- North Texas
- Rice
- UAB
- Charlotte
