Last year, Navy football had a tremendous season. They finished the year with a 9-4 record and a victory over Middle Tennessee in the Armed Forces Bowl. Even though the Midshipmen are an Independent team and not affiliated with a conference, they still managed to play three teams from Big 5 conferences, as well as Notre Dame. They went 2-2 in those games, nearly beating Notre Dame in a 38-34 thriller.

Ohio State was Navy's opponent in the 2014 opening game, and even though they looked a bit less menacing on the schedule after Braxton Miller went down with injury, they are still one of the best programs in the country. The Ohio State roster is still loaded with elite talent and NFL prospects.

Despite being heavily overmatched physically, Navy still gave the Buckeyes more than they wanted. They led most of the game, but in the end they could not keep the Buckeyes from staying undefeated in the regular season under Urban Meyer. Nonetheless, Navy's triple-option attack battered the Ohio State defense for 370 yards on the ground.

The way this game unfolded seems to be a recurring theme for the Midshipmen. At the beginning of the game, Navy played the favorite very tight. They ran the ball effectively and played strong defense. However, after halftime and as the game went on, the tide started to slowly but surely go the way of the Buckeyes.

Once again, the underlying factor is that Navy does not recruit well enough to be able to match their top-tier opponents man-for-man. Ken Niumatalolo has done a phenomenal job of keeping the Midshipmen competitive, but he does not have quite the necessary resources to keep up with the elite programs.

Niumatalolo has formed a very good roster, one that fits precisely with the team's wishbone offensive attack. The offense is led by quarterback Keenan Reynolds, and he is flanked by a slew of small, quick running backs that work well in Navy's scheme.

Even though Navy came out on the short end of the scoreboard, they still put on a solid showing and should win most of their remaining games. Notre Dame is the only team left on the schedule that is even close to as talented as Ohio State, and there is no reason Navy cannot match and even exceed last year's nine victories.

Keenan Reynolds was one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the country in 2013, reaching the 1,000 yard plateau both through the air and on the ground. He also led the nation with 31 rushing touchdowns, and repeatedly took the team on his back in several high-scoring affairs. 

In last year's opening game, Reynolds rushed for three touchdowns in a 41-35 win over Indiana. A few weeks later, Reynolds scored three more touchdowns in a 45-44 loss to Toledo in overtime. Reynolds' career year culminated in the eleventh game of the season against San Jose State. In that contest, Reynolds rushed for 240 yards and SEVEN touchdowns in a 58-52 triple-overtime victory.

He has big-time running ability and this author is expecting him to have another monster year in 2014. As far as competing with big-time schools, Navy might never be able to reach that level of success. Still, the Midshipmen have found a way to stay competitive when the other service academies have not.

That has to be worth something. They have played Ohio State too close for the Buckeyes' comfort twice in the past five years, as well as premier programs Notre Dame on multiple occasions and South Carolina in 2011. It is Navy's style of play that makes the Power 5 conference teams sweat because those schools rarely see that kind of offense, but the better team can usually wear Navy down later in the game.

This author still admires Navy for their accomplishments and ability to repeatedly challenge more talented teams and thinks they are poised for a terrific 2014 season. 

They may never get over the hump, but they will stay germane in the college football world, as long as they run the wishbone offense in a way that would make Darrell Royal proud while pulling occasional upsets along the way.