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The Liberty Flames completed the most successful season in school history in 2023 by going 13-1 and reaching the Fiesta Bowl. The Flames are the favorites to repeat as Conference USA champions in 2024 and have some of the best odds of any Group of 5 team to make the College Football Playoff.
Light 'Em Up
The Flames were an exciting and explosive team in the first year of the Jamey Chadwell era in Lynchburg, Va. After leading Coastal Carolina to a 31-6 record over his final three seasons, Chadwell was hired by Liberty in December 2022. He led the Flames to a conference title in their first season in CUSA and has created even bigger expectations for Liberty in 2024.
The Flames were outmatched in their New Year's Six Bowl appearance against the Oregon Ducks, but it should not overshadow what the team accomplished in 2023, particularly on offense. Quarterback Kaidon Salter ranked in the top 10 nationally among quarterbacks in seven different statistical categories, including passing efficiency and passing touchdowns. Salter was named as the CUSA Regular Season MVP and a Maxwell Award semifinalist in 2023.
Offensive Preview
The Flames will once again rely on Salter and running back Quinton Cooley to carry the offense. Liberty led the country in rushing in 2023, averaging 293 yards per game. They scored 39 rushing touchdowns—only Georgia and Michigan had more. The Flames were also top 5 nationally in total offense, averaging nearly 500 yards per game.
The Flames lost star wide receiver CJ Daniels to LSU, but return sixth-year senior Treon Sibley, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound wideout from Akron, Ohio. Sibley was Liberty's second-leading receiver in 2023 with 23 receptions for 467 yards and 4 TDs.
Defensive Preview
Liberty should be able to score on every conference opponent at will, but if the Flames want to make the College Football Playoff and have any prayer of advancing, the defense will need to make some improvements. Last season, the Flames were solid against the run, giving up just 116 rushing yards per game. They were torched through the air, however, ranking 119th in passing yards allowed.
In July, the Flames had two defenders named to the Bronco Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Safety Brylan Green and defensive end CJ Bazile Jr. are impact veterans that will be expected to step up. The Flames led the country last year with 21 interceptions. They will need to create takeaways to combat their deficiencies among the rest of this unit. The Flames brought in linebacker Teylor Jackson from East Carolina to help shore up the front seven.
Week 1: Campbell Camels
Liberty opens their season at home on Aug. 31 against Campbell. The Flames defeated the Camels 48-7 in their only meeting in 2021. The Flames will score early and often to put this game away early.
Record: 1-0
Week 2: at New Mexico State Aggies
On Sept. 7, Liberty begins CUSA play with a road trip to Las Cruces, N.M. The Flames beat their fellow CUSA newcomers twice last season, 33-17 in the regular season and 49-35 in the conference title game. Liberty leads the all-time series against the Aggies 5-2.
The Aggies have replaced coach Jerry Kill and QB Diego Pavia, who are now both with the Vanderbilt Commodores. The Flames will get it done on the road against a New Mexico State team that will still be trying to find an identity.
Record: 2-0
Week 3: UTEP Miners
The Flames won the first-ever meeting between the two schools last season, 42-28. On Sept. 14, the Miners will visit Lynchburg. UTEP parted ways with coach Dana Dimel after finishing 3-9 in 2023. Liberty takes care of business in their first home conference game.
Record: 3-0
Week 4: East Carolina Pirates
The Flames will play the Pirates for the first time on Sept. 21. East Carolina limped to a 2-10 record last season under coach Mike Houston. The Pirates were allergic to the end zone in 2023, scoring more than 17 points only four times against FBS opponents last year. The Pirates were decent against the run last year, allowing 122 yards rushing per game. The Flames will eclipse that mark easily and get the home victory.
Record: 4-0
Week 5: at Appalachian State Mountaineers
On Sept. 28, the Flames will take on Appalachian State, the Sun Belt Conference runners-up in 2023. The trip to Boone, N.C., will be Liberty's toughest test in the regular season. The Mountaineers lead the all-time series 7-3, but Liberty won the last matchup between the two squads in a 55-48 shootout in 2014.
The Mountaineers have the most returning production in the Sun Belt and are stout against the run. They bring back linebacker Nate Johnson, who tallied 7.5 sacks on his way to being named a Freshman All-American in 2023. The Flames drop this one in Boone.
Record: 4-1
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: FIU Panthers
Liberty returns home to Lynchburg for a matchup against FIU on Oct. 8. The Flames lead the all-time series 2-0, including a 38-6 win last season. The Panthers have made improvements as a program the last few years, but they won’t have the luxury of playing in Pitbull Stadium for this one. The Flames light up the scoreboard on their way to a big win.
Record: 5-1
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: at Kennesaw State Owls
On Oct. 23, the Flames will take on CUSA newcomer Kennesaw State. The Owls are entering their first season in the FBS. Liberty has won two out of three all-time against Kennesaw State, but the Owls won the last matchup 42-28 in 2017. The crowd at Fifth Third Bank Stadium will be fired up, but the Flames handle business and win this one handily.
Record: 6-1
Week 10: Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Last season, the Gamecocks posted a 9-4 record and finished third in the CUSA. Liberty won the 2023 matchup 31-13, but Jacksonville State has a 2-1 advantage in the overall series. The Gamecocks are a formidable CUSA foe and brought in former Georgia RB Andrew Paul to carry the rock. Chadwell and the Liberty offense outduel Jacksonville State and the Flames win a close one.
Record: 7-1
Week 11: at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Liberty leads 2-1 all-time against the Blue Raiders, escaping with a 42-35 win last year. They will travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., for this year's matchup. The Blue Raiders hired Derek Mason to replace Rick Stockstill, who spent 18 years as the Middle Tennessee coach.
The Blue Raiders finished 4-8 last season, with early losses to Alabama and Missouri in non-conference play. Middle Tennessee gave up almost 400 total yards per game in 2023 and will have a tough time stopping the Flames. Liberty wins big on the road Nov. 9 in Tennessee.
Record: 8-1
Week 12: at UMass Minutemen
On Nov. 16, Liberty will travel to the Northeast to take on UMass, who they lead 5-1 all-time. The Flames won last year 49-25. Expect Salter and company to run all over the Minutemen, who gave up 220 rushing yards per game in 2023.
Record: 9-1
Week 13: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
The Hilltoppers will be one of the biggest challengers to Liberty in conference play when the teams face off on Nov. 23. Western Kentucky averaged almost 300 yards through the air in 2023, and Liberty has had trouble defending the pass.
Liberty has won all four matchups against Western Kentucky, including a 42-29 victory last season. The Hilltoppers are susceptible to giving up yards on the ground, ranking near the bottom of FBS in 2023 allowing 190 yards rushing per game. This will be a high-scoring matchup, but the Flames survive at home.
Record: 10-1
Week 14: at Sam Houston Bearkats
The Flames beat the Bearkats last season 21-16 in their first-ever meeting. Sam Houston was 3-9 in 2023 and are led by coach KC Keeler. The Flames are susceptible to a letdown or a look ahead considering the outcome of the Western Kentucky game but should handle the Bearkats in their regular season finale on the road.
Record: 11-1
Week 15: CUSA Championship Game
Liberty is the favorite to win the CUSA, while Western Kentucky was the media's pick to finish as the conference runners-up. The CUSA Championship Game will most likely be a rematch of the Flames and the Hilltoppers. The second act, like the regular season contest, will feature plenty of scoring. Liberty's offense tops the boys from the Bluegrass State and the Flames win their second consecutive conference title.
Record: 12-1
Liberty Flames Overview
By all accounts, a 12-1 record and conference championship would be a resounding success for Chadwell and Liberty in 2024. The lone loss, however, would likely derail the Flames hopes of making the College Football Playoff. A premium bowl game would certainly be an acceptable consolation prize, but the squad in Lynchburg expects more.
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