This is the Depth Dossier: the Navy Midshipmen, Week 7.

Navy had the better offense on paper and still found a way to lose, falling 38 to 34 to U.T.S.A. in a game where tight end Jordan Collins broke the school record for longest touchdown catch, and it still wasn't enough.

Before we get to any of that, it's worth mentioning that a U.S. Air Force service member died after falling during a pregame rappelling demonstration. That pushed kickoff back about ten minutes and left both sidelines shaken. It doesn't explain anything about the football, but it's part of the day and worth knowing.

As for the game, Navy jumped out to a 14 to nothing lead, got four total touchdowns from quarterback Jackson Gutierrez, and watched Collins haul in a 92-yard touchdown, the longest in program history. Then U.T.S.A. ripped off 21 unanswered points in the second quarter. The fourth quarter alone saw four lead changes, and the Roadrunners scored the go-ahead touchdown with two minutes and 24 seconds left. Navy put up 477 total yards and 294 yards on the ground, matching U.T.S.A. blow for blow, but it wasn't enough. The Midshipmen are now 2 and 4 overall, 1 and 3 in conference play.

A few moments really decided this one. Kicker Nolan Bartley missed an extra point after Collins' first touchdown, leaving Navy up only 20 to 21 at the half instead of tied. In a four-point loss with that many lead changes, that single point was the whole game. U.T.S.A. also recovered an onside kick while trailing 14 to nothing, which flipped field position and sparked that 21-point second-quarter run. And Navy went scoreless in the third quarter after having led earlier, a dead stretch that let U.T.S.A. stay in striking distance.

What's strange is how Navy got its offense moving. Gutierrez completed just three of seven passes for 120 yards, and two of those completions went to Collins for 117 yards and two touchdowns by themselves. That's about as explosive and inefficient-looking a stat line as you'll find. It tells you this Navy offense lives and dies on backbreaking big plays rather than long, sustained drives.

Backup quarterback Braxton Woodson, back from an ankle injury, added to that explosive profile too, picking up 73 rushing yards and a touchdown on just five carries, plus hitting Gutierrez for a 63-yard trick-play pass that set up a go-ahead score.

The bigger worry here is that this is Navy's fifth straight one-score game, and they're now 1 and 4 in those after going 5 and 0 in one-score games a year ago. The big plays are there. The ability to close games out isn't.

Now to the depth chart, where the tight end situation is the headline. Jake Norris didn't play because of a previously undisclosed injury, and he's questionable for next week against North Texas. That matters a lot, because after Collins' breakout day, Navy's passing game may now run through the tight end spot more than anyone expected. Whether or not Norris is healthy, Collins has established himself as Navy's top explosive-play threat through the air.

At quarterback, Woodson's return doesn't create a quarterback controversy. Gutierrez is firmly the starter after a four-touchdown performance. But Woodson now gives Navy a legitimate second dimension as a runner and trick-play weapon that defenses have to account for.

The clearest change happened on special teams. Bartley has officially been installed as Navy's number one kicker, with Welch and Gossett each moving down a spot. Given that his missed extra point was arguably the single costliest point of the game, how he responds will be watched closely.

Looking ahead to North Texas, the questions are simple. Does Norris get back on the field? Can Bartley clean up the kicking operation? And can a Navy defense that's now dropped four one-score games find a way to get one stop when it actually matters?

This was the depth dossier. For everything college football, be it depth charts, data or dossiers, head over to C F B Depth dot com. We will be back next week. This was an AI-generated podcast from content developed by real human beings passionate about college football.