Midshipmen look to sail to sixth straight bowl game

But the Midshipmen have a challenging slate in front of them this autumn.

Aug. 30 vs. TOWSON TIGERS

• Coach: Gordy Combs
• Last year: 3-8 overall, 1-7 CAA
• Returning offensive/defensive starters: 7/7
• We’d pay to watch: QB Sean Schaefer, Sr. The four-year starter is primed to break every school passing record. Schaefer has completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 8,358 yards with 51 touchdowns against 45 interceptions and rushed for five scores during his career.
• Prediction: 5-7

Sept. 5 at BALL STATE CARDINALS

• Coach: Brady Hoke (6th season, 22-37)
• Last year: 7-6, lost International Bowl, 52-30 to Rutgers
• Returning offensive/defensive starters: 1/7
• We’d pay to watch: WR Dante Love, Sr.: The 5-foot-10, 179-pounder made 87 catches for 1,229 yards with nine touchdowns, but was a factor on trick plays as well, carrying the ball 35 times for 192 yards with a score.
• Prediction: 9-4

Sept. 13 at DUKE BLUE DEVILS

• Coach: David Cutcliffe (first year at Duke)
• Last year: 1-11
• Returning offensive/defensive starters: 7/10
• We’d pay to watch: QB Thaddeus Lewis, Jr.: The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder completed 55.3 percent of his passes last season for 2,430 yards and 21 touchdowns against 10 interceptions and ran for two more touchdowns.
• Prediction: 3-9

Sept. 20 vs. RUTGERS SCARLETT KNIGHTS

• Coach: Greg Schiano (8th season, 38-46)
• Last year: 8-5, won International Bowl, 52-30 over Ball State
• Returning offensive/defensive starters: 7/8
• We’d pay to watch: WR Tiquan Underwood, Sr.: The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder caught 65 passes for 1,100 yards with seven touchdowns last season, averaging nearly 17 yards per catch.
• Prediction: 7-5

Sept. 27 at WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS

• Coach: Jim Grobe (8th season, 46-39)
• Last year: 9-4, won Meineke Car Care Bowl, 24-10 over Connecticut
• Returning offensive/defensive starters: 5/9
• We’d pay to watch: LB Aaron Curry, Sr.: The 6-foot-3, 247-pounder made 99 tackles — 13.5 for a loss — to go with three sacks and three interceptions returned for touchdowns.
• Prediction: 8-5

Oct. 4 at AIR FORCE FALCONS

• Coach: Troy Calhoun (2nd season, 9-4)
• Last year: 9-4, lost Armed Forces Bowl, 42-36 to Cal
• Returning offensive/defensive starters: 3/5
• We’d pay to watch: TE Travis Dekker, Sr. The top returning offensive player on the Falcons made 25 catches for 382 yards with two touchdowns, averaging 15.3 yards per catch.
• Prediction: 5-7

Oct. 18 vs. PITTSBURGH PANTHERS

• Coach: Dave Wannstedt (5th season, 16-19)
• Last year: 5-7
• Returning offensive/defensive starters: 8/7
• We’d pay to watch: RB LeSean McCoy, Soph.: The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder carried the ball 276 times for 1,328 yards with 14 touchdowns and made 33 catches for 244 yards and another score.
• Prediction: 8-5

Oct. 25 vs. SMU MUSTANGS

• Coach: June Jones (first season)
• Last year: 1-11
• Returning offensive/defensive starters: 7/7
• We’d pay to watch: WR Emmanuel Sanders, Jr.: The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder made 74 catches for 889 yards with nine touchdowns last season, and should be the focal point of a revamped offense under Jones.
• Prediction: 4-8

Nov. 1 vs. TEMPLE OWLS

• Coach: Al Golden (3rd season, 5-19)
• Last year: 4-8
• Returning offensive/defensive starters: 10/11
• We’d pay to watch: QB Adam DiMichele, Sr. The third-year starter completed 61.9 percent of his passes last season for 1,595 yards with 12 touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
• Prediction: 5-7

Nov. 8 vs. NOTRE DAME at M&T BANK STADIUM

• Coach: Charlie Weis (4th season, 22-15)
• Last year: 3-9
• Returning offensive/defensive starters: 9/7
• We’d pay to watch: QB Jimmy Clausen, Soph.: The 6-foot-3, 212-pounder is the key to the team’s success and must improve on his 1,254 yards and seven touchdowns against six interceptions he posted last fall.
• Prediction: 6-6

Nov. 25 at NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES

• Coach: Jerry Kill (15th season, 104-57)
• Last year: 2-10
• Returning offensive/defensive starters: 9/9
• We’d pay to watch: DE Larry English, Sr.: The Mid-American Conference’s reigning Defense Player of the Year posted 67 tackles and 10.5 sacks last season, including 17.5 tackles for a loss.
• Prediction: 4-8

Dec. 6 at ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS