Liberty is currently on a bye week and enjoying some down time this weekend before the stretch run of the 2020 season. With the strong play of the team through the first half of the year, the Flames have set themselves up to make a tremendous statement over the next few weeks following the open date.
For just the third time in program history and first in Liberty’s short time as an FBS member, the Flames are 6-0 and have won eight straight games dating back to last season, the second longest active winning streak in FBS football, trailing only Notre Dame’s current win streak of 11.
Over those eight games, the Flames have become bowl eligible for the first time in school history with a win over New Mexico State in last year’s regular season finale, won the program’s first ever bowl game by knocking off Georgia Southern in the 2019 Cure Bowl, and defeated an ACC team for the first time in school history when the Flames toppled Syracuse in the Carrier Dome two weeks ago. It has Liberty knocking on the door of both the AP and Coaches Top 25 polls, receiving enough votes to be second among the teams not ranked in both major polls.
“As we all know, Coach Freeze is an incredible blessing to Liberty,” Liberty Athletic Director Ian McCaw said. “We are grateful for his leadership, and I think him and his staff are doing an extraordinary job in elevating the program. In many ways, I think we are ahead of schedule, but it is exciting to be where we are right now, sitting at 6-0 and getting the national attention that we are.”
Junior quarterback Malik Willis has led the way, dazzling with his legs and surprising with his arms as he’s making a push to be included in the national conversation for major college football awards. In five games played this season, Willis has completed 99 of 145 passes (68.3%) for 1,191 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He also leads the team in rushing with 495 yards and 6 touchdowns on 71 attempts.
Due in part to the on field success, Liberty continues to recruit at a high level. The Flames’ Class of 2021, with 17 current commitments, is on pace to be the best recruiting class in school history, which would be the third consecutive year Freeze and Liberty has accomplished that feat. Just this week, Liberty received a commitment from the highest rated recruit in school history in 4-star defensive end Khristian Zachary. The Carrollton, Georgia native chose Liberty over offers from a who’s who list of college football programs, including offers from 18 Power Five programs. If he signs with the Flames, Zachary will be the first ESPN 300 recruit to join the program.
“What I’m most encouraged about is all aspects of the program are on the rise,” McCaw said of the football program under Freeze. “Certainly on field performance is what most people are focused on, but recruiting is going extremely well, all of the infrastructure within the program is developing, and I think we’re on track, as we had hoped, to become an elite Group of Five program. With the University’s commitment to facilities and resources, I think all signs are pointing in the right direction.”
Despite the strong start and all the positive accolades coming their way, the biggest opportunities for Liberty this season come after the bye, beginning with the biggest game in school history on Nov. 7 at Virginia Tech. The Hokies have established themselves as the best football program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. They currently have the longest bowl game streak in the country, having made 26 straight bowl appearances. Entering their game Saturday at Louisville, Virginia Tech is 3-2 on the season and were ranked in the Top 25 before falling at Wake Forest last week.
“The game plan will be to keep it close and give our kids a chance, hopefully, in the fourth quarter,” said Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze. “What a talented team that is. I did watch them some early in the year. I think they’re super talented. That running back and quarterback, we’ll have our hands full with them. We’ll go to work on it and be excited about that challenge when it comes.”
The game against Virginia Tech is the first of five scheduled games for Liberty to round out the 2020 slate. The Flames also have home games against Western Carolina (Nov. 14) and UMass (Nov. 27) and marquee road games at NC State (Nov. 21) and #20 Coastal Carolina (Dec. 5).
Regardless of what happens over the next several weeks, beginning next Saturday in Blacksburg, the Flames have already had a successful season, arguably the most successful in school history, and nothing that happens throughout the remainder of the season will take away what this team has already accomplished. But Liberty has his eyes set on more. This program has laid claim to its goal of becoming one of the best Group of Five programs in the country. A win over an in-state, perennial top 25 program in their stadium to move to 7-0 and catapult into the top 20 in early November will put the rest of the college football world on notice that the Liberty Flames are here and here to stay.
