Navy Football Rallies to Defeat Temple 42-35 After Squandering 28-Point Lead

Navy Holds Off Temple 42-35 After Squandering 28-Point Lead

The Navy Midshipmen nearly let a comfortable afternoon turn into a disaster, squandering a 28-point lead before rallying to defeat the Temple Owls 42-35 in an NCAA football game on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

Playing before a crowd of 31,132 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the Midshipmen ultimately secured the victory when quarterback Jackson Gutierrez punched in a four-yard touchdown run with just 1:14 remaining on the clock.

Navy jumped out to a dominant 28-0 advantage before the momentum shifted dramatically just before halftime. Temple’s comeback ignited with a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown right before the break. The Owls kept chipping away at the deficit over the next two quarters until they finally knotted the score at 35 with 5:35 left in the fourth quarter.

Temple vs. Navy College Football Highlights | Week 10 Condensed Game

An Individual Performance

Jackson Gutierrez carried the Navy offense through the wild swings of the contest. He finished the afternoon with 180 rushing yards and 178 passing yards, accounting for six total touchdowns with five on the ground and one through the air. One of his key aerial connections came in the third quarter when he hit tight end Jordan Collins for a 49-yard touchdown strike.

Temple mounted its furious second-half rally behind steady play, including a touchdown catch by wide receiver Jayce Freeman that helped pull the visitors even in the final period. Yet Navy’s defense managed to make a stand when it mattered most.

Linebacker Coleman Cauley pressured Temple quarterback Jaxon Smolik into a bad pass attempt on fourth and nine, giving the ball back to the Midshipmen late in the game to set up the game-winning drive.

Temple vs. Navy Football Highlights | November 7, 2026

Notable Figures Visited Annapolis Before Navy Snapped Losing Streak

The matchup drew notable figures to Annapolis. The Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps handled the ceremonial coin toss. Meanwhile, U.S. Naval Academy Superintendent Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte and FOX NFL Terry Bradshaw took to the skies in helicopters before kickoff to film aerial footage for Sunday’s live broadcast of FOX NFL Sunday from the academy grounds.

The hard-fought victory snaps a three-game losing streak for Navy. The team now enters a bye week to regroup before returning to action at home against Memphis on Saturday, November 21, at noon for the final home game of the season.