We had the privilege of speaking with Liberty Athletic Director Ian McCaw at length about Liberty’s announced move from FCS to FBS Independent football playing status. We will release the full context of this discussion by way of a 3 part Q&A series.

Part 1, released on Friday, focused on the finances behind the move to FBS, LFSN’s impact, the scholarship increase for the football team and on the women’s side, could hockey be going NCAA, and we took a look at future conference affiliation possibilities.

In Part 2, we focused on enhancements made at Williams Stadium from a game day environment standpoint, and discussed the likelihood and timeline of the next phase of stadium expansion.

In our Part 3 conclusion, we go in depth on what Liberty’s scheduling philosophy will be during the transition phase and after we’re a full fledged FBS member.

Jon Manson: You mentioned in the press conference that you had already begun working on the scheduling and had a schedule model in mind. What can you share with us regarding some of the more important scheduling factors? In the near future and over the next several years.

Ian McCaw: We announced the 2017 schedule a couple weeks ago, so that is set. We’re working on 2018 and 2019 right now. We’ll build out a FBS schedule those 2 years so they will be 12 game schedules. We need 3 home games, FBS home games, in 2018. 5 FBS home games in 2019. So, those are the parameters that are required from an NCAA standpoint. Obviously, that is going to be a tremendous task. It’s a little bit daunting, quite honestly, right now, but we’re working very hard on it now and will continue to do that in the coming weeks. Once we get to 2020, we can be a little more strategic in terms of how we build the schedule, but really for ’18 and ’19, it’s going to be, honestly, a little bit of a scramble just to get the required number of home games and have a schedule that works for our program.

JM: What is your model schedule for the next 3 years – 2018, 2019, & 2020? Will we continue to play FCS opponents? How many Power 5 opponents? How many Group of 5?

IM: We’re going to be transitioning up. So, I want us to build our schedule slowly. Certainly ’17 is set. ’18 I would expect we’re going to have somewhere in the neighborhood, we need to have at least 3, maybe 4 home FBS games. Probably a similar number on the road, maybe a little more, and then probably 2, possibly 3 FCS games. A lot of that is depending on what we’re able to accomplish in ’18, and we’re very late in that process. 2019, probably a little bit fewer FCS, if possible, a little more of a FBS schedule. Then, once we get to 2020 and beyond, I think you will see us playing most likely just 1 FCS opponent, and really a full blown FBS schedule. The majority being Group of 5 schools, but we’ll certainly sprinkle in a couple of Power 5, as well.

JM: You say a couple Power 5, is that a couple per season?

IM: It will vary a little bit, and will depend a little bit on what we’re able to accomplish. Some schools are going to, perhaps, consider doing a home and home with us. Others may want a 2-for-1, so it will depend a little on what we’re able to negotiate.

JM: The current FBS games that are under contract, I believe we have Wake Forest in 2018 and Virginia Tech in 2020. Since we’re now an FBS team, can we go and renegotiate those contracts and hopefully get a larger payday?

IM: We will certainly want to have discussions with those schools. We may be able to translate those into 2-for-1s or home and homes, but we certainly will visit with those schools about what the options are because, you’re right, the original agreement based on an FCS game has changed dramatically.

Thanks so much to Mr. McCaw for his time, and be sure you’ve read all three parts of our Q&A! Stay tuned to ASeaofRed.com as we continue to bring you coverage of Liberty’s move to FBS.