This is a series taking a look at the teams on Liberty’s 2023 schedule. It will be run over the next month, and we move to the mid-part of the season as the Flames take on Middle Tennessee.
Previous:
Bowling Green
New Mexico State
at Buffalo
at FIU
Sam Houston
at Jacksonville State
When
Week 8, Oct. 17, 7:00 p.m. (CBSSN)
Location
Williams Stadium – Lynchburg, VA
Last year’s record
8-5, 4-4 CUSA (t-4th)
Coach
Rick Stockstill, 109-103 in 17 years
Returning starters
13 (five on offense, eight on defense)
Post-Spring SP+ Ranking
They are 104th in Bill Connelly’s SP+ rankings after the spring. They’re 104th on offense and 98th on defense.
Middle Tennessee story line
The Blue Raiders have one thing that most in the revamped CUSA don’t – continuity. MTSU is one of the holdover conference teams and have been led by one of the longest tenured head coaches in the country in Rick Stockstill. Middle Tennessee returns eight starters on defense from a team that picked up an upset at Miami (FL). They began the season 3-1 following that win before losing three straight but would rebound to finish 8-5. The offense has some questions, particularly at quarterback and receiver.
A Liberty win would mean
Middle Tennessee is a sneaky team in the CUSA. Most won’t pick them near the top of the conference standings, but they have the potential to compete late into the season. The Flames must take care of business on their home turf to compete for a conference championship and have the type of season many expect them to have.
A Liberty loss would mean
This game is sandwiched between two of the tougher challenges on the schedule – following the short rest game at Jacksonville State and before a trip to WKU. The Flames cannot overlook the Blue Raiders or they will take advantage. A loss could be crippling to the team’s conference championship hopes.
Up next
at Western Kentucky
