For the past two years, it has become increasingly difficult for opposing teams to come to Lynchburg facing the Liberty Flames and escape with a win. This hasn’t been isolated to one sport, but the Flames have become dominant at home in numerous sports.
During the 2020-21 athletic, Liberty is undefeated at home in football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball. The Flames are 23-0 at home across those sports this athletic year. The only other FBS school that can make the same claim is Colorado State who only played one home football game in 2020. The Rams are 14-0 at home.
Since September 1, 2019, Liberty football and men’s basketball are a combined 36-0 at home. The Flames are the only FBS school to be unbeaten in both football and men’s basketball during that time.
LIBERTY MEN’S BASKETBALL
This home dominance began with the men’s basketball team as head coach Ritchie McKay has been building a mid-major stalwart over the past six seasons. McKay and the Flames have posted a winning record at home each of the past six seasons, going 35-18 at home during McKay’s first three seasons back at Liberty. Things went to the next level during the 2018-19 season, as the Flames were 16-1 at home that year, with the only loss coming on Jan. 29 to Lipscomb, 79-59. That’s Liberty’s last loss at home, as the Flames were 17-0 last season and are 8-0 at home so far this season.
Under McKay, the men’s basketball program is 41-1 at home over the past three seasons and have won 31 straight between the Vines Center and Liberty Arena. The Flames’ streak ranks 2nd nationally, trailing only Gonzaga who has the nation’s longest active home winning streak with 47 straight. Prairie View A&M and South Dakota State are just behind Liberty with 29 straight home wins.
LIBERTY FOOTBALL
Meanwhile, across campus, Liberty head football coach Hugh Freeze has been building the Flames into one of the top non-Power Five programs in the country. Since taking over as head coach prior to the 2019 season, the Flames have won 11 straight games at Williams Stadium and are 11-1 under Freeze in games played at home. The Flames’ only loss at home was Freeze’s first ever game as Liberty’s head coach against Syracuse on August, 31, 2019. The current 11-game home win streak is tied for the longest in school history as the Flames also won 11 games from Nov. 4, 2006 – Oct. 11, 2008.
LIBERTY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The Lady Flames have opened Liberty Arena a perfect 7-0 at home to begin this season. This comes on the heels of Liberty winning five straight at home to end last season as the Lady Flames have won 12 straight at home. The last home loss for the Lady Flames came on Feb. 1, 2020 to Florida Gulf Coast, 74-65.
