Midshipmen sink Bearcats in Autozone Liberty Bowl, 35-13

Cincinnati wraps up the 2025 season 7-6 after falling to Navy 35-13 in the Autozone Liberty Bowl. 

Despite the Bearcats being extremely shorthanded as nearly twenty players either opted out or have begun training for the NFL, they still found a way to contain the nation’s number one rushing attack. Cincinnati held Navy to just 251 yards on 51 carries, averaging just 4.7 yards per carry. While the Midshipmen entered the game averaging nearly 300 rushing yards a game. 

Cincinnati redshirt sophomore Manny Covey anchored the Bearcats offense, racking up 159 all-purpose yards in the loss. Covey flashed in the rushing attack but also displayed his ability to be a weapon out of the backfield as a receiver. The Florida native also shined on special teams, racking up 53 yards on two punt returns where he was named Cincinnati’s offensive player of the game. Covey is expected to have an increased role in the Bearcats offense heading into the 2026 season after announcing he will return to Cincinnati in 2026. 

 “This is very motivating. I'm not going anywhere.” Covey told reporters. "I am looking forward to getting back out there in 2026 with this team. This was just a glimpse of what next year is going to be.

Cincinnati played two quarterbacks in this matchup with Redshirt Senior Brady Lichtenberg playing majority of the snaps. Lichtenberg went on to finish the day 10-15 for 78 yards and a touchdown in his final game of his career.  

“Cincinnati is such a special place,” said Brady Lichtenberg. “We have a special group of guys in that locker room. I don't know what it's like at other programs, but I know it's not like Cincinnati has in that locker room with every player and coach. It was an honor to wear Cincinnati across my chest for the last five years. I wouldn't want to do it anywhere else."

Senior wide receiver Cyrus Allen caught his 13th touchdown of the season, tying a single season record. He now joins Marcus Bennett at the top of the record books, both with 13 touchdown catches on the season. Allen wore the number 13 jersey for the last four weeks throughout bowl preparation as motivation in hopes of tying the scoring record.  

How It Happened. 

Navy took an early 7-0 lead over the Bearcats following a two-yard touchdown run from Blake Horvath. After five consecutive three-and-outs to start the game, the Midshipman broke down the Bearcats defense to get the scoring started. A drive that was highlighted by a 34-yard run from Alec Tecza, for the teams longest play of the game. 

The Midshipman controlled a seven-point lead over the Bearcats after the first quarter. Meanwhile, the Bearcats offense was starting to find some rhythm on the offensive side of the ball with the rushing attack of Manny Covey and Samaj Jones. 

Cincinnati followed up with a seventeen-play drive stemming the course of eight minutes. A drive that Cincinnati relied on the rushing attack of Jones and Covey for majority of it. Which was something they were going to depend on with the slippery weather conditions. Just like Navy, Cincinnati was showcasing that they can utilize and rely on the shorthanded rushing attack. Ten of those 17 plays featured designed runs for Jones before the redshirt freshman found the endzone for the first time of his career. 

Navy took a 14-7 lead with :40 left in the second quarter following a 30-yard strike from Horvath to wide receiver Luke Hutchinson. A drive that was extended after a crucial fifteen-yard penalty on Cincinnati sophomore defensive back Marquavious Saboor, who laid a big hit that was later ruled targeting. Two plays later, the Midshipman cashed in on the penalty. 

Navy controlled a 14-7 lead over Cincinnati heading into Halftime. Although, Cincinnati anchored the time of possession in the first half, 15:49- 13:31, which was a big question heading into this contest due to the triple-option. 

Meanwhile, Cincinnati racked up just 118 yards of total offense, with 93 of those coming on the ground. Both, Navy and Cincinnati, combined for just eleven total passes in the first half due to the sloppy weather conditions. However, for the majority of this one, Cincinnati’s defense has done a great job at slowing down the rushing attack and getting off the field vs the nation's number one rushing attack. 

The Midshipmen opened the second half with an eight play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Blake Horvath connected with wide receiver Eli Heidenreich for the 13-yard score. A drive that was a little different for the Midshipmen as they used the passing attack to move the chains on this drive. Navy now held a 21-7 lead over Cincinnati with 10:15 to go in the third quarter. 

The Bearcats offense then came out firing after a 38-yard rush from Manny Covey set the Bearcats up in Navy territory. Which was the longest play of the day for Cincinnati. However, they coughed it up two plays later on a double-reverse for the game's first turnover. 

Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s defense answered with one of their own, after Brian Simms forced the fumble on Horvath, which was then recovered by Jonathan Thompson at the Bearcats 34-yard line. 

Three plays later, Cincinnati hands it back to Navy after the Midshipmen rush eight and get home to Lichtenberg for the strip sack. However, the play didn’t count due to Navy being offside to keep the Bearcats drive alive. The drive resulted in no points after a turnover on downs after a drop from Noah Jennings on fourth and five. 

Navy extended their lead following a three-yard TD run from Alex Tecza to give the Midshipmen a 28-7 lead with 10 minutes to play. 

Cincinnati then made this a 28-13 game with 6;52 remaining after Lichtenberg connected with Cyrus Allen for his 13th touchdown of the season, tying the single season program record. 

Navy then pinned Cincinnati at their own one after going three-and-out late in the fourth quarter. That is when the Midshipmen brought the pressure, resulting in a pick six from Navy linebacker Coleman Cauley to give Navy a 35-13 lead with three minutes to go. 

Portal Season looming for Cincinnati. 

The transfer portal is officially open as of this morning and Cincinnati is wasting no time as they are set to host some transfer portal targets on campus as early as tomorrow. Cincinnati lost nearly 20 players to opt outs and or NFL preparation heading into this contest but now will quickly shift their focus to the transfer portal. 

“We are flying back to Cincinnati tonight and will be immediately hosting some players on campus starting tomorrow.” Satterfield told reporters. “We are looking for guys with character and going to show up and love to compete. We are looking for playmakers at every position and come in and mix with the guys we do have. We will utilize our players and help them pick out some of those guys who can help us win and compete. This year there is only one portal window so we have to hit on the guys we bring in.”