Autozone Liberty Bowl Preview: Cincinnati v Navy
When Cincinnati and Navy meet in the 67th AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the matchup will showcase two contrasting identities: the Bearcats’ evolving offense and physical front against a Navy team defined by discipline, tempo control, and the nation’s top rushing attack. Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield made it clear during his media availability that this is a postseason opportunity his program both respects and embraces.
(Photo: Navy Athletics)
“We’re just excited to be able to play in the postseason, number one,” Satterfield said. “Being able to play in a bowl game and to be able to come to a city like Memphis… in a bowl that has such great tradition and history… it’s a great opportunity for us. A chance to go win eight games.”
Cincinnati’s return to the postseason comes with a formidable challenge. The Bearcats close the season Friday afternoon against No. 22/25 Navy at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Standing in their way is one of the most disciplined and physical teams in the country, fresh off a 10-win season and a dramatic 17–16 victory over Army that secured the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for the second straight year.
That success is built on an offense that relentlessly controls the football. Navy averages nearly 290 rushing yards per game at 5.8 yards per carry, ranking first nationally, while also winning the time-of-possession battle by more than five minutes per contest. Satterfield repeatedly emphasized how challenging that identity makes the Midshipmen.
“They’re an outstanding team… tons of respect for them,” Satterfield said. “Offensively, number one rushing offense in the country. It starts with their quarterback… everything just kind of goes through him. Running the football, occupying the football, but then also taking shots down the field and throwing the football.”
That quarterback is Blake Horvath, an Ohio native, and the engine behind Navy’s ability to shorten games and limit possessions. Horvath rushed for 1,147 yards and 15 touchdowns while also throwing for more than 1,400 yards and 10 scores, forcing defenses to defend every inch of the field.
(Photo: Navy Athletics)
“He’s very tough-minded, very physical runner,” Satterfield said. “I thought he was getting hit and he just kept getting up and going for more… anytime you can get a quarterback that’s rushed for over a thousand, throwing for over a thousand, that’s obviously a great year.”
While Navy’s reputation is rooted in the option, this year’s offense is more multiple and adaptable than in the past. The Midshipmen blend traditional concepts with shotgun and spread looks, using motion and play-action to keep defenses off balance.
“They’re not just the conventional under-center wing-T type offense,” Satterfield explained. “They’re going to shift up into the shotgun… spread you out… utilize motions… and these guys can throw the football. They just put the ultimate amount of pressure on defenses.”
That pressure is amplified by depth throughout the backfield. Alex Tecza, Braxton Woodson, Brandon Chatman, and Eli Heidenreich all contribute, with Woodson averaging an eye-popping 9.6 yards per carry and Heidenreich emerging as a dangerous vertical threat, averaging more than 19 yards per catch. Navy complements its offense with efficient situational football, converting 51% on third down and committing relatively few turnovers.
Preparing for that style is notoriously difficult, even with weeks of bowl practice. Satterfield acknowledged that some elements simply can’t be replicated.
“I don’t think you can fully replicate how physical Navy’s offensive line comes off the ball,” he said. “The physicality of what the game’s going to be like is hard to replicate in practice.”
Defensively, Navy brings its own set of challenges. Senior nose guard Landon Robinson, a First-Team All-American and the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, anchors the middle with disruptive power, while the unit as a whole thrives on discipline and timely takeaways. Special teams also provide consistent field-position advantages, reinforcing Navy’s ability to dictate tempo over four quarters.
(Photo: Navy Athletics)
For Cincinnati, the Liberty Bowl represents both a reward and a transition point. After missing postseason play the previous two seasons, the Bearcats view this game as a chance to build momentum heading into the offseason. With Brady Lichtenberg set to start at quarterback and Samaj Jones expected to play early as well, efficiency will be paramount against a Navy team designed to limit possessions.
“You have to be able to move it. You have to be able to score when you get your opportunities. We know there’s going to be limited possessions,” Satterfield said. “Our offensive line needs to play well… and we need to finish these drives with points.”
Cincinnati will lean on a strong returning offensive line and a mix of veterans and young players motivated to make the bowl a launching pad for what comes next.
“The last game of a season, you want to win. It propels you into the offseason,” Satterfield said. “For us, a chance to go win eight games… there’s a lot riding on it.”
Ultimately, the Liberty Bowl sets up as a classic postseason contrast. Navy aims to control the ball, dictate tempo, and turn the game into a four-quarter test of discipline. Cincinnati must match that physicality, capitalize on limited chances, and close the season with momentum. As Satterfield summed up, it’s exactly the type of challenge postseason football is meant to provide.
“It’s a team that’s used to winning… it takes all three phases,” he said. “And for us, it’s an opportunity to go out and play one last time with this group.”
Cincinnati Depth
The Bearcats will be without several key contributors in the Liberty Bowl, as quarterback Brendan Sorsby, running backs Tawee Walker and Evan Pryor, defensive tackles Dontay Corleone and Mikah Coleman, and defensive backs Christian Harrison, Jiquan Sanks, Ormanie Arnold, and Kye Stokes have either opted out or entered the transfer portal. All-Big 12 First Team linebacker Jake Golday traveled with the team but will not play as he continues to manage an injury while preparing for the NFL Draft.
Despite the roster turnover, senior tight end Joe Royer chose to suit up one final time for Cincinnati, a decision he said was rooted in personal significance rather than convenience.
“It was tough, and I don’t mean this in a bad way, but if I was from anywhere else in the world and not Cincinnati, I probably would not be playing in this game. I think about everybody I talked to said I shouldn’t play,” Royer said. “But my dad and I thought it was important for me to play one last time, represent Cincinnati and where I’m from, and play for these coaches and these guys one last time — they helped save my life. So I felt like I owed it to them to come out here one more time and play with them.”
Lichtenberg embracing challenge of QB1
Senior Brady Lichtenberg will make his first career start at quarterback for Cincinnati in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Navy, closing his Bearcats career as the offensive leader after spending most of his time in a reserve role. In limited action over five seasons, Lichtenberg has completed 26 of 45 passes (57.8%) for 333 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, while also adding 94 rushing yards and a rushing score on 21 carries.
The bowl experience carries a very different weight for Lichtenberg this time around. As a younger player, postseason games came with the comfort of knowing there were more opportunities ahead. Now, with his career coming to an end, the moment feels more final — and more meaningful.
“Last one was a lot different,” Lichtenberg said. “As a young guy, I had three years of eligibility left. In this one, I know it’s my last game, which is kind of nice knowing that now it’s my last game and have some closure with it.”
That sense of closure has been paired with excitement, especially with the chance to lead the Bearcats one final time.
“It’s a lot of excitement for me to go out and play and represent Cincinnati one more time,” Lichtenberg said. “That’s a big deal for me and a big, big deal for the rest of the guys on the team.”
Lichtenberg said watching other quarterbacks around the country make the most of rare bowl-game starts has only added to his motivation.
“There’s definitely some motivation,” he said. “I think it just shows you how hard it is to play quarterback at the Division I level. Some of these guys play really well in their only start, and it’s definitely cool seeing some of those guys get the same opportunity — an opportunity I’m looking forward to.”
Preparation has been extensive, particularly with the unique challenge Navy presents. Lichtenberg said the Bearcats have spent weeks studying the Midshipmen and understand how critical each offensive possession will be.
“We’ve been watching them for almost a month now and [we’re] a little sick and tired of watching them, but they’re a good team, well coached,” Lichtenberg said. “They’re where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there, and it’ll be a challenge for us offensively. It’s weird — they run a triple option — so their offense is almost a challenge for our offense, knowing that we have limited possessions and we need to make the most of them.”
As he prepares for his final collegiate snap, Lichtenberg’s focus remains on the moment and the opportunity — one he’s waited years to earn.
“It’s an opportunity I’m looking forward to,” he said.
Final Thoughts:
Navy arrives in Memphis as one of the most consistent teams in the country, battle-tested by close games and fueled by a run-first identity that has frustrated opponents all season. Cincinnati counters with urgency, eager depth, and the chance to make a statement heading into the offseason.
“It’s a fun team to watch,” Satterfield said of Navy. “But it’s a huge challenge for us — and we’re excited about it.”
For the Bearcats, the Liberty Bowl is about more than one game. It’s about setting a tone, earning an eighth win, and proving they can go toe-to-toe with one of college football’s most disciplined programs on a national stage.
Watch: Scott Satterfield, Brady Lichtenberg, Marquaze Parker Preview Navy: