After a 13-1 season which came to an end on January 1st in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl with a loss to Oregon, Liberty has finished the 2023 college football season ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. This marks just the second time Liberty has ever finish a season ranked in the AP Top 25 poll, as the Flames were ranked No. 17 following the 2020 season.
Liberty was No. 18 in the previous poll which was released prior to bowl season. The Flames are only one of two Group of Five programs to be ranked in the final AP poll, with SMU checking in at No. 22. The Mustangs have concluded their time in the G5 as they make the transition to the ACC for the 2024 season.
Tulane, James Madison, Memphis, Troy, Air Force, Toledo, Miami Ohio, UTSA, Wyoming, and Ohio all were G5 teams among the others receiving votes list.
The Flames began the season unranked, but entered the poll as the calendar turned to November and the team remained unbeaten. Liberty has been ranked in the AP poll for six straight weeks to close out the season.
Under first year head coach Jamey Chadwell, the Flames sprinted out to a 13-0 record, winning the Conference USA championship in a game played Dec. 1 at Williams Stadium against New Mexico State. Liberty set the program mark for wins in a season with 13 and was the highest ranked Group of Five Conference champion, therefore earning a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game.
Oregon moved up to No. 6 in the final AP Top 25 poll, finishing with a 12-2 record and their two losses both coming to national runner-up Washington.
