Navy, Houston regroup in shifting conference

Slumping teams, once near the top of the AAC, playing for second in West Division

Navy and Houston will be playing for second place in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference on Friday.

Most college football fans will still be digesting their Thanksgiving Day leftovers when the Midshipmen and Cougars play at noon at TEDCU Stadium.

Two years ago, this matchup had enormous meaning as Houston and Navy were playing for the right to represent the West in the AAC championship game. In a showdown of the conference’s best quarterbacks, Greg Ward Jr. outdueled Keenan Reynolds as the Cougars clinched the West crown with a 52-31 victory over the Mids, who were ranked 16th in the Associated Press poll at the time. Friday, noon TV: ESPN Radio: 1090 AM, 1430 AM Line: Houston by 41⁄

It is a much different scenario this season as Navy and Houston are just looking to finish strong after going through a rough patch down the stretch. The Mids have lost four of their past five after starting 5-0, while the Cougars have dropped three of their past five after starting 4-1.

Speaking during the American Athletic Conference weekly teleconference Monday, both coaches lamented the near misses that have defined their seasons. All four of Navy’s losses have come by 10 points or fewer with a 24-17 defeat at No. 8 Notre Dame last Saturday being the latest.

“In three of our four losses, we’ve had the ball at the end with a chance to tie or take the lead,” Navy coach Ken Niumat-