We have begun our series of an early look ahead to the teams on Liberty’s 2024 schedule. We will give a quick preview of all 12 teams that stand in the Flames’ way of a second straight unbeaten season as second-year head coach Jamey Chadwell prepares his team to defend its 2023 CUSA title.

The Flames will step out of conference play one final time in mid-November as the team heads to New England to take on UMass. This is likely the final game in the foreseeable future between these two former FBS Independent programs as the Minutemen make the transition to the MAC.

UMass

  • When: Saturday, Nov. 16 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst, Massachusetts (Time & TV TBA)
  • Last year’s record: 3-9 as FBS Independent
  • Coach: Don Brown, 4-20 in two years at UMass
  • 2024 SP+ ranking: 118th
  • Series History: Liberty leads, 5-1

Last Meeting: Nov. 18 2023: Liberty set a new program record with its 11th victory on the season in a 49-25 triumph over UMass on senior day. The Flames jumped out to a 28-0 lead midway through the second quarter and never looked back. Liberty rushed for 324 yards while Kaidon Salter and Quinton Cooley both eclipsed the 100 yard rushing mark.

Program History:

National Championships: 1 (FCS)

Conference Championships: 22

Bowl Record: 0-0

Last Bowl Appearance: N/A

UMass is 24-112 since moving to the FBS with their best seasons being at 4-8 in 2017 and 2018. Don Brown was 1-11 in his first year and then helped the team improve to 3 wins last year, the most they have had in 5 seasons.

The team looks to be on an upward trend as they prepare to enter the MAC next season, but they have a tough schedule in which they will likely only be favored twice. Their schedule includes three games against SEC opponents in Missouri, Mississippi State, and Georgia.

Shane Montgomery begins his stint as offensive coordinator for the Minutemen and he will turn to veteran QB Taisun Phommachanh.

Phommachanh was a four star prospect out of high school and rated as high as the No. 3 quarterback in the nation. He began his career at Clemson before transferring to Georgia Tech and eventually making his way to Amherst. Last year, Phommachanh appeared in 9 games, completing 139 passes on 227 attempts for 1,507 yards and six touchdowns.

What’s at Stake?

By game 10 on the calendar, Liberty will likely already be bowl eligible. With this game being non-conference, it will have no impact on the CUSA championship race. Other than bragging rights and not dropping a game the Flames should win, the only bearing this game will have on the Flames is if the team is still undefeated and vying for the College Football Playoff as the top ranked G5 conference champ. If that is still in play, then Liberty absolutely must win this game and likely needs to win with some style points to impress the CFP committee.

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