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 October and the beginning of four straight midweek contests as the Flames host FBS and Conference USA newcomer Sam Houston.
Previous:
Bowling Green
New Mexico State
at Buffalo
at FIU
When
Week 6, Oct. 5, 7 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
Location
Williams Stadium – Lynchburg, VA
Last year’s record
5-4, 3-2 WAC (3rd)
Coach
KC Keeler, 85-27 in nine years
Returning starters
16 (seven on offense, nine on defense)
Post-Spring SP+ Ranking
They are 121st in Bill Connelly’s SP+ rankings after the spring. They’re 131st on offense and 70th on defense.
Sam Houston story line
The Bearkats could be a sleeper team in Conference USA this season. They are coming off a 5-4 season in FCS play, but that record is an anomaly as the team redshirted several key contributors as they prepared for the jump to CUSA and the FBS. KC Keeler is a terrific coach, having won an FCS National Championshp at Delaware and Sam Houston. The Bearkats were 21-1 in the two seasons prior to 2022 and return a lot of production as they begin their FBS tenure.
A Liberty win would mean
A win for the Flames in this game would be expected, but it won’t be easy. The Bearkats have a winning tradition and have been one of the best FCS teams in recent seasons. Liberty needs a win in this game to remain in the hunt for a conference championship and kick off a very important month of October.
A Liberty loss would mean
A loss, especially at home, would hurt the prospects of the 2023 season for the Flames. Sam Houston, who could be a surprise team in the CUSA this year, is still not expected to compete for the conference championship this season while Liberty is.
Up next
at Jacksonville State
