QB
BHorvath at QB (90, senior, stamina 99). Top-3 of 82.5.
**Dynasty-start roster (CFB 26)**DC Rating 6.2 / 10
Navy
Scheme Guru Newberry with the Option behind a 9-of-10 senior cliff and a top-3 trio (Horvath QB Sr 90, Tecza FB Sr 88, Heidenreich HB Sr 88) at 2 prestige.
The Dynasty Verdict
If you want a Brian Newberry program where the Option offense meets a senior triple-threat backfield and a 9-of-10 senior cliff at 2 prestige, Navy is the American Conference service academy built for one Year 1 sprint. Horvath runs the show at QB 90 with stamina 99 and ball carrier vision 97, the highest-rated player on the roster. Tecza punishes contact at FB 88 with toughness 97 and carrying 95. Heidenreich rotates at HB 88 with stamina 97 and acceleration 92. Robinson anchors the front at DT 87 with toughness 95 and awareness 91. The home pipeline is a North Texas Tier-2 with no Tier-3 home, which caps recruiting volume at the floor for a 2-prestige program.
What makes Navy different from the other service academy running an option-tradition offense is the company it keeps. Air Force under Calhoun asks you to ride the pure Option with A+ stability and a similar 9-senior cliff. Army under Monken asks you to ride a Triple Option attack with a heavier senior bias. Navy asks you to ride the Option with an A- RB grade, a 90-overall senior QB, and D coach stability that Air Force's A+ doesn't share. Same scheme family, deepest skill talent, shakiest coaching floor.
The 6.2 lands on the senior backfield's depth and Horvath's individual ceiling. An A- RB grade with three top-10 backs (Tecza, Heidenreich, Chatman) plus Bryant at junior gives the Option attack the volume the scheme demands. The catch is the 69 overall, the D coach stability that puts Newberry on a short clock, and the 9-senior cliff that drains the launch roster after Year 1. Don't pick Navy for a four-year build. Pick Navy for the one-year service-academy save where Horvath's 90-overall arm and the senior backfield ride the Option to American bowl eligibility before the rebuild starts.
Head Coach
Brian Newberry
Scheme GuruNewberry is a Scheme Guru with B coach prestige and D coach stability. The launch hands him a 90-overall senior QB, an A- RB room headlined by Tecza and Heidenreich, and Robinson at DT senior 87 anchoring the front. The catch is the D stability mark and the 9-senior cliff: Newberry can scheme around the Year 1 roster, but the recruiting tier and stability grade put the rebuild on a short clock.
Team at a Glance
| Conference | The American |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Brian Newberry · Scheme Guru |
| Team Prestige | 2 stars |
| Team Overall (in-game) | 69 |
| Top Position Group | Running Back · A- · top-3 avg 86.3 |
| Weakest Position Group | Tight End · C- · top-3 avg 63.5 |
| Stadium Atmosphere | D+ |
| Brand Exposure | D+ |
| Coach Prestige | B |
| Coach Stability | D |
| Top-10 Senior Departures After Year 1 | 9 of 10 |
Top 10 Players
By overall rating at dynasty start
| # | Player | Pos | Yr | OVR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Blake Horvath | QB | Sr | 90 | Stamina 99 |
| 02 | Alex Tecza | FB | Sr | 88 | Toughness 97 |
| 03 | Eli Heidenreich | HB | Sr | 88 | Stamina 97 |
| 04 | Landon Robinson | DT | Sr | 87 | Toughness 95 |
| 05 | Ben Purvis | LG | Sr | 84 | Toughness 94 |
| 06 | Brandon Chatman | HB | Sr | 83 | Acceleration 93 |
| 07 | Jaxson Campbell | SAM | Sr | 83 | Acceleration 91 |
| 08 | Luke Pirris | REDG | Sr | 82 | Pursuit 93 |
| 09 | Nathan Kent | WR | Sr | 80 | Toughness 94 |
| 10 | Isaiah Bryant | HB | Jr | 79 | Acceleration 90 |
Position Group Grades
RB
A-Tecza at FB (88, senior, toughness 97), Heidenreich at HB (88, senior, stamina 97), Chatman at HB (83, senior, acceleration 93) and Bryant at HB (79, junior, acceleration 90). Top-3 of 86.3.
WR
C+Kent at WR (80, senior, toughness 94). Top-3 of 74.0.
TE
C-Top-3 of 63.5.
OL
B-Purvis at LG (84, senior, toughness 94). Top-3 of 77.7.
DL
BRobinson at DT (87, senior, toughness 95) and Pirris at REDG (82, senior, pursuit 93). Top-3 of 81.7.
LB
C+Campbell at SAM (83, senior, acceleration 91). Top-3 of 74.3.
DB
C+Top-3 of 76.3.
ST
C-Top-3 of 64.5.
Recommended Playbooks
Offense
Option (Navy Default)
Run Option because the senior triple-threat backfield is the design's whole point. Horvath runs the read at QB stamina 99 and ball carrier vision 97. Tecza punishes contact at FB toughness 97 and carrying 95. Heidenreich rotates at HB stamina 97 and acceleration 92. Chatman bursts at HB acceleration 93. Purvis pulls at LG lead block 90.
Why this fits
An A- RB grade and four top-10 backs (Tecza, Heidenreich, Chatman, Bryant) give the Option the volume the scheme demands. Bryant's junior eligibility carries the multi-year backfield bridge into Year 2.
Defense
3-4 Multiple (Navy Default)
Run the 3-4 Multiple because Robinson and Pirris anchor the design. Robinson plays the nose at toughness 95 and awareness 91. Pirris hunts off the edge at pursuit 93 and play recognition 90. Campbell sets the SAM at acceleration 91 and toughness 90.
Why this fits
Three top-10 senior front-seven defenders carry Year 1. The 3-4 Multiple's flexibility lets Newberry mask the C+ DB grade with extra hats near the line.
Recruiting Outlook
Pipeline regions
- North TexasTier 2
- East TexasTier 1
- TidewaterTier 1
- Big AppleTier 1
- TennesseeTier 1
- Southern CaliforniaTier 1
- AlabamaTier 1
- Metro AtlantaTier 1
- South GeorgiaTier 1
- North CarolinaTier 1
You'll recruit broadly without a true home anchor. The North Texas Tier-2 is the only above-Tier-1 reach on the entire board, which puts recruiting volume at the floor for a 2-prestige program. Newberry at B coach prestige can land specific recruits the bigger American schools also want, but the recruiting math doesn't compound.
Position priorities for Year 1 are dictated by the 9-senior cliff. Quarterback is critical; the Year 1 QB recruit becomes Year 2's identity behind a single returning HB. After QB, replacement HB1 behind the senior backfield, replacement DT depth behind Robinson, replacement OL behind Purvis.
Avoid the deep South and West Coast beyond a single targeted player. The Tier-1 cluster (East Texas, Tidewater, Big Apple, Tennessee, Southern California, Alabama, Metro Atlanta, South Georgia, North Carolina) is for filling specific position gaps with single-player targets only.
Your Year-by-Year Path with Navy
Year 1
The Senior Option Sprint
You're inheriting a 2-prestige roster with a 69 overall and the rare Option offense. Don't experiment. Run Option, ride the Horvath-Tecza-Heidenreich rotation, let Robinson and Pirris anchor the front. Year 1 is bowl eligibility and a 7-8 win baseline where the senior anchors carry the offense. While you're winning, sign the Year 1 QB and HB classes that backfill the 9-senior cliff.
Goal
American bowl eligibility, 7-8 wins, top-100 recruiting class.
Years 2-3
The Rebuild
Nine senior anchors graduate. Bryant at HB junior is the only multi-year top-10 bridge. The Year 1 QB recruit becomes Year 2 starter. Newberry's Scheme Guru tactical edge stretches the rebuild while the recruits develop. D coach stability is the structural risk on the back half of the cycle.
Goal
5-6 wins, Bryant at 84+ as a senior, top-150 recruiting class maintained.
Year 4+
The Floor
By Year 4, the dynasty depends on whether Newberry survives the stability hit and whether the Year 1-2 classes closed enough multi-year talent to backfill the cliff. Realistically, sustained 5-6 wins in the American under stable coaching, or a coach search if the D stability mark trips.
Goal
Stable 5-6 win American program with the Option attack intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Navy good for dynasty mode in CFB 26?
Yes for a Newberry one-year service-academy save with a 90-overall senior QB, with caveats. Navy enters CFB 26 with a 69-overall roster, B coach prestige and D coach stability Newberry under a Scheme Guru archetype, and an A- RB grade anchored by Tecza at FB senior 88 and Heidenreich at HB senior 88. The 2-prestige floor and 9-of-10 senior cliff are the structural caps.
What's Navy's prestige in CFB 26?
Navy enters CFB 26 with a 2-star prestige rating, paired with B coach prestige and D coach stability. The North Texas Tier-2 is the only above-Tier-1 reach on the recruiting board, putting Navy's recruiting volume at the floor for the prestige tier.
What playbook does Navy use in CFB 26?
Brian Newberry's Navy runs the Option offense and a 3-4 Multiple defense. The Option fits Horvath at QB, Tecza at FB, and the Heidenreich-Chatman-Bryant HB rotation. The 3-4 Multiple deploys Robinson at DT (87, senior, toughness 95), Pirris at REDG (82, senior, pursuit 93), and Campbell at SAM (83, senior, acceleration 91).
Who is Navy's best player in College Football 26?
Blake Horvath at 90 OVR, senior quarterback, with stamina 99, toughness 98, and ball carrier vision 97. Horvath is the highest-rated player on the roster and the central read in Newberry's Option attack. Alex Tecza at FB (88, senior, toughness 97) and Eli Heidenreich at HB (88, senior, stamina 97) round out a senior top three.
Should I rebuild Navy or take an easier team?
Navy is a one-year service-academy save, not a four-year build. The Year 1 ceiling is American bowl eligibility plus the senior backfield rotation; the Year 2-3 floor depends on Newberry surviving the stability hit. Take Navy if you want a 90-overall senior QB inside an Option offense with senior backfield depth. If you want a similar service-academy profile with stronger coach stability, look at Air Force.