CFW Week 16 Results/17 Forecast – Navy, Mendoza win
One comes to an end, as another begins
Saturday was an ending. Saturday was a beginning.
It was the ending to the 2025 college football regular season. It was the beginning of the 2025 college football bowl season. The regular season ended with the 126th Army-Navy game. The bowl season began with the 5th LA Bowl. And for icing on the cake, Saturday was the 91st presentation of the Heisman Trophy.
Anytime a game is decided by one point, it has to have been a thrilling and exciting game. The Army-Navy game was just that. With 6:37 remaining in the game and trailing Army, 16-10, Navy was faced with a fourth-and-goal on the Army 8-yard line. Should Navy kick a field goal? There was enough time left to get the ball back, assuming the defense holds Army. Or should Navy go for the touchdown. If the touchdown attempt fails, there was still enough time to get the ball back, and in good territory, assuming the defense holds Army. Both choices were risky, but Navy had to choose one.
Navy went for the touchdown. Quarterback Blake Horvath connected with slot back Eli Heidenreich in the end zone – an 8-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal. Navy went up 17-16. The Middies held Army on the Knights’ next possession. Navy beat the Black Knights for the 64th time and the 18th time in the last 23 meetings.
Army-Navy gave us an exciting ending to the 2025 regular season.
The beginning was not as thrilling as the ending. The LA Bowl was not nearly as exciting as the Army-Navy game. Not even close. Washington couldn’t do anything wrong. Boise State couldn’t do anything right. The Huskies beat the Broncos, 38-10. It was a great night for Washington quarterback Demond Williams. He threw four touchdown passes. It was an embarrassing night for two Boise State quarterbacks – Maddux Madsen and Max Cutforth. Between them, they threw five interceptions.
Let’s hope the remaining bowl games are more exciting than the LA Bowl.
A Hoosier was the icing on the cake. Everyone figured it was going to come down to Fernando Mendoza (Indiana quarterback) and Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt quarterback) for the Heisman Trophy. Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame running back) and Julian Sayin (Ohio State quarterback) were the other finalists, but they were considered long shots. As it turned out, everyone was right. Fernando Mendoza beat out Diego Pavia for the 91st Heisman Trophy. Jeremiyah Love and Julian Sayin were a distant 3rd and 4th.
Mendoza was the only quarterback to lead a FBS team to an undefeated season. Indiana finished the season at 13-0, culminating with a 13-10 Big Ten championship game win over Ohio State. At the Heisman ceremonies, Mendoza delivered an impressive and inspiring acceptance speech.
After the Heisman ceremony, Diego Pavia went on social media and posted “F all the voters.” So, now we know that Pavia is a jerk and a scumbag. He’s an embarrassment to Vanderbilt. Sunday evening, Pavia apologized for his reckless post. I suspect the consequences of his post began to sink in. And I’m sure his coach Clark Lea or someone similar got to Pavia and demanded he apologize.
The beginning continues tomorrow and Wednesday nights with the next three bowl games, all with a Sun Belt Conference flare. Troy takes on Jacksonville State in the Veterans Bowl. The Trojans and the Gamecocks were up-and-down teams this season. They were good when they were up; bad when they were down.
Wednesday night begins with Old Dominion vs. South Florida in the Cure Bowl. You might call this the Opt-Out Bowl. The quarterbacks, who got these teams here, have opted out. It’s probably going to hurt Old Dominion more than it hurts South Florida.
Also, Wednesday night, Louisiana takes on Delaware in the Ventures Bowl. The excitement here should be Delaware quarterback Nick Minicucci. He’s talented. Delaware is playing in a bowl game in its first season as a FBS team.
And the Sun Belt Conference flare – Troy, Old Dominion and Louisiana.
It was first announced as a retirement. A day later it was announced that Kyle Whittingham was stepping down, not retiring, from the head coaching job at Utah. Whittingham began coaching Utah in 2005. This past season was his 21st year coaching the Utes. In 21 seasons, he compiled a 177-88 record. He will coach the Utes, for the final time, against Nebraska in the upcoming Las Vegas bowl. Updated reports indicate that Whittingham may coach elsewhere. Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley was named the new coach of the Utes.
Elsewhere in the coaching carousel, Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore was named the new coach at Washington State. Southern Miss promoted its offensive coordinator Blake Anderson to be the Eagles new head coach. Coastal Carolina hired Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard as the Chanticleers new head coach.
The latest has 32 schools with new head coaches next season. Thirty schools have secured their new coach. Two schools – Michigan and Missouri State – are still searching.
Happy Holidays…..Merry Christmas…..Happy Hanukkah…..Season’s Greetings
Touchdown Tom
December 15, 2025
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
Weekend Recap
Give those Sailors a shot of rum – Navy 17, Army 16 (Touchdown Tom said: Navy 28, Army 21). Navy scored the first touchdown on its opening drive and went up 7-0. After that, the remainder of the first half belonged to Army. The Cadets scored 13 unanswered points in the second quarter. The Black Knights led the Middies at halftime, 13-7. Early in the third quarter, Army extended its lead over Navy to 16-7. After that, the remainder of the second half belonged to Navy. The Middies scored 10 unanswered points. Army quarterback Cale Hellums couldn’t do anything wrong in the first half. He couldn’t do anything right in the second half. In the second half, the Navy trio of quarterback Blake Horvath, slot back Eli Heidenreich and fullback Alex Tecza took charge. So did the Navy defense. Horvath finished the game with 82 passing yards (one touchdown) and 107 rushing yards (one touchdown). Heidenreich had six receptions for 72 yards (one touchdown). He also rushed for 28 yards. And Tecza had 50 yards rushing. Navy held Army to 202 total yards and only 11 first downs. The Middies had a 9-minute edge in time of possession. Both Navy (10-2) and Army (6-6) have upcoming bowl games. Attendance in Baltimore: 70,936
Week 16 Result: 1 winner, 0 fumbles (100 percent)
Final Season Results: 142winners, 65 fumbles (68.6 percent)
Review of the First Bowl Game
The Huskies were mushing (in the LA Bowl) – Washington 38, Boise State 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Washington 28, Boise State 24). After a 3-3 first quarter, Washington took charge in the second quarter and there was no doubt about who was going to win this football game. The Huskies led at halftime, 24-3. They built their lead up to 38-3 in the second half. Boise State got its lone touchdown with 1:18 remaining in the game. Washington quarterback Demond Williams passed for 215 yards and four touchdowns. Washington receiver Denzel Boston had 6 catches for 126 yards. Boise State suffered from 5 turnovers – all interceptions. The Broncos were limited to only 58 yards rushing. Washington finished its season at 9-4. Washington coach Jedd Fisch is a candidate for the opening at Michigan. Attendance in Inglewood: 23,269
First Bowl Game Pick: 1 winner, 0 fumbles (100 percent)
Superlatives
Impressive Passers:
Washington’s Demond Williams – 15-24-0 for 215 yards (4TDs)
Impressive Rushers:
Navy’s Blake Horvath – 107 yards (1TD)
Heisman Trophy Presentation
The Top-10 finishers in the Heisman Trophy balloting were 1. Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) 643 (first-place votes) – 2362 (total points), 2. Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) 189 – 1,435, 3. Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) 46 – 719, 4. Julian Sayin (Ohio State) 8 – 432, 5. Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech) 0 – 295, 6. Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) 0 – 84, 7. Gunner Stockton (Georgia) 0 – 43, 8. Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss) 0 – 23, 9. Caleb Downs (Ohio State) 0 – 22, 10. Haynes King (Georgia Tech) 0 – 18.
Three Ohio State players finished in the Top 10 in the balloting: Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs.
FCS (Division I) Quarterfinals
Montana State 44, Stephen F. Austin 28 – Attendance in Bozeman: 19,807
Villanova 26, Tarleton State 21 – Attendance in Tarleton: 19,126
Montana 52, South Dakota 22 – Attendance in Missoula: 22,725
Illinois State 42, UC Davis 31 – Attendance in Davis: 9,216
Celebration Bowl
South Carolina State 40, Prairie View 38 (4OT) – Attendance in Atlanta: 26,703
Division II Semifinals
Ferris State 49, Newberry 17 – Attendance in Big Rapids:1,089
Harding 49, Kutztown 27 – Attendance in Kutztown: 5,856
Division III Quarterfinals
John Carroll 21, Berry 13 – Attendance in Mount Berry: 2248
Johns Hopkins 40, Susquehanna 10 – Attendance in Baltimore: 1,168
North Central 35, Bethel (MN) 21 – Attendance in Naperville: 442
Wisconsin-River Falls 46, Wheaton 21 – Attendance in River Falls:1,849
Touchdown Tom’s Predictions for The Next Three Bowl Games
Troy (8-5) vs. Jacksonville State (8-5) – (Sun Belt vs. C-USA) – Veterans Bowl (Cramton Bowl – Montgomery, Alabama) – 9 pm ET, Tuesday, ESPN – Both teams lost in their conference championship games. In rushing yards, Troy is one of the weakest teams in the country. The Trojans averaged only 99 yards a game rushing. Their passing is better, but not a lot better. Somehow, Troy managed to win most of its games. But just barely. The Trojans can go with a couple of quarterbacks – Goose Crowder and/or Tucker Kilcrease. Jax State was 4th in the country in rushing yards per game – 258 yards. That is thanks to running back Cam Cook. Cook had 1,659 yards rushing. Jax State is almost as bad at passing as Troy is at running. It should be an interesting and close game. The Jax are lax – Troy 27, Jacksonville State 24.
Old Dominion (9-3) vs. South Florida (9-3) – (Sun Belt vs. AC) – Cure Bowl (Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Florida) – 5 pm ET, Wednesday, ESPN – The quarterbacks who got these two here won’t be playing. Both opted out. ODU quarterback Colton Joseph is entering the transfer portal. USF quarterback Byrum Browne has declared for the NFL draft. Joseph was ODU’s leading passer and rusher. Browne was USF’s leading passer and rusher. They were the offense. ODU enters on a 5-game winning streak. South Florida has an ace receiver in Keshaun Singleton. He had 50 catches for 877 yards. A lot of unknowns in this game. USF says “Bull” to the Monarchs – South Florida 31, Old Dominion 27.
Louisiana (6-6) vs. Delaware (6-6) – (Sun Belt vs. C-USA) – Ventures Bowl (Hancock Whitney Stadium – Mobile, Alabama) – 8:30 pm ET, Wednesday, ESPN – Louisiana is one of the worst passing teams in the country and has one of the worst defenses in the country. But the Ragin’ Cajuns enter the game on a 4-game winning streak. They got hot at the end of the season. Delaware has an amazing quarterback in Nick Minicucci. He passed for 3,505 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s definitely good. Delaware’s top receiver is Sean Wilson. He had 59 catches for 787 yards. The Blue Hens escape the chicken gumbo – Delaware 31, Louisiana 30.
Quotes of the Week
“So, just you know, saying goodbye,” Navy quarterback Blake Horvath to Army, after the Army-Navy game. (Horvath quarterbacked Navy to back-to-back wins over Army.)
Touchdown Tom
https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but during the pre-Christmas days of December, as college football fans were drinking eggnog and eating fruitcake, with visions of what ifs, bowl games and Santa Claus dancing in their heads, the number one song in the country…
…85 years ago, this week in 1940, was “Only Forever” by Bing Crosby
…80 years ago, this week in 1945, was “Chickery Chick” by Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye
…75 years ago, this week in 1950, was “The Thing” by Phil Harris, and “The Tennessee Waltz” by Patti Page
…70 years ago, this week in 1955, was “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford
…65 years ago, this week in 1960, was “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” by Elvis Presley
…60 years ago, this week in 1965, was “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by The Byrds
…55 years ago, this week in 1970, was “The Tears Of A Clown” by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
…50 years ago, this week in 1975, was “Fly, Robin, Fly” by Silver Convention, and “That’s The Way (I Like It)” by KC and The Sunshine Band
…45 years ago, this week in 1980, was “Lady” by Kenny Rogers
…40 years ago, this week in 1985, was “Broken Wings” by Mr. Mister
…35 years ago, this week in 1990, was “Because I Love You” by Stevie B
The next CFW – Week 17 Results/Forecast – will be posted Thursday morning, December 18.
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