Nobody thought the Navy was going to beat the Army in their rivalry game. Not gonna lie, Navy played the way we thought Army’s gonna ball. Anyway, that’s done in the past. Now, this Armed Forces Bowl has some serious energy buzzing around it. Navy’s out here flexing a 9-3 season, riding high after spanking Army 31-13, while Oklahoma, sitting at a shaky 6-6, is out here trying not to fumble the bag entirely after a rough SEC debut. And you know what’s crazy? The Sooners opened as nine-point favorites, but the line flipped faster than your grandma’s pancakes once everyone started dipping out—transfers, opt-outs, you name it. Now, it’s feeling more like a coin toss. But before we dive into all the predictions and spicy takes, let’s talk about who’s calling the shots on TV because ESPN really brought out their A-team for this one.

Courtney Lyle, Rene Ingoglia, and Morgan Uber are the voices behind the mic, and they’ve got the receipts to back it up. Courtney Lyle is no rookie—she’s been all over college sports for ESPN and the SEC Network. Football, volleyball, softball—she’s called it all. And let us tell you, Courtney’s voice has that smooth, confident vibe that makes you sit up and listen to her play-by-play.

Then you got Rene Ingoglia, the analyst with a résumé that hits harder than an SEC linebacker. Rene was an All-American running back at UMass, played in the NFL, won a World Bowl in Europe, and, oh, just casually retired as a senior detective after 20+ years with the Orlando PD. That’s one diabolical resume. That’s the type of man you trust when he says, “Let me break it down for you.” And don’t sleep on Morgan Uber—she’s got that sideline swag, always digging up stories that hit right in the feels.

With these three holding it down, you know the commentary’s gonna be top-tier. But the real tea? It’s happening on that field at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The Navy Midshipmen are walking into their element here. This ain’t just a bowl game for them—it’s the Armed Forces Bowl.

Look let’s talk history today real quick. The last (and only) time these 2 met? 1965. Navy shut Oklahoma out, 10-0. Ancient history, sure, but honestly, who cares? The Sooners are coming off a season they’d probably rather forget, with an offense and defense both looking like Swiss cheese, thanks to all the departures. Meanwhile, Navy’s out here like, “We don’t need flash, we’ve got the smash,” with one of the top rushing attacks in the nation.

Navy Midshipmen vs Oklahoma Sooners prediction

Now, let’s get into the meat of this thing. Oklahoma’s walking into this game with a roster that’s looking more like a skeleton crew. Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. is getting the start, but let’s not pretend this is ideal. He’s shown flashes, sure, but with most of his top receivers gone—Farooq, Thompson, Hester, Sharp—it’s like handing a chef a box of ramen and asking for a five-star meal. Hawkins is a dual-threat QB, but Navy’s defense just shut down Army’s triple option run game where they barely gave up any big plays. We doubt Michael Hawkins Jr. is going to make the Navy drown. Hawkins played 6 games this season, threw over 536 yards, and 1 TD, along with 2 picks. Safe to say, this is a team built to stop guys like him.

And Navy? Blake Horvath is out here living his best life. He is fresh off a monster game against the Army where he passed, ran, and basically owned the field. The Midshipmen’s offense is all about that grind—249 rushing yards per game, fifth in the nation. Passing? Nah, they don’t need it. And Oklahoma’s defense? Missing key pieces like linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman, they might as well bring some popcorn to watch Navy run the ball all day.

When it’s all said and done, we ain’t saying Navy’s walking out with a guaranteed dub. We just saying people are sleeping on Navy. But if we are talkin’ about betting, we’d take Navy 7/10 times. The Sooners are shaky against teams with strong running games  & lost Jackson Arnold to Portal. And Navy’s gonna pound that ball like their season depends on it and then get back to their real training.