The calendar has turned to May and that means we are only getting closer to the upcoming football season. The Liberty Flames have begun preparation for the 2024 season under second year head coach Jamey Chadwell as the Flames seek to repeat as Conference USA champions.

It is also time to start previewing and looking ahead to Liberty’s 2024 schedule. Remember, it’s not just about who you play and where you play them but it is also about when you play them as well.

Some teams are a lot easier to beat at certain weeks or points of the season for various reasons – especially if Liberty is well-rested. Let’s dive in – August 31st can’t come soon enough!

August/September

  • Game 1 August 31st: Campbell
  • Game 2 September 7th: @ New Mexico State*
  • Game 3 September 14th: UTEP*
  • Game 4 September 21st: East Carolina
  • Game 5 September 28th: @ Appalachian State

What a terrific schedule to start off the season. The Flames open with a warmup game against FCS member Campbell (don’t let the coaching staff see that sentence). I’ve always enjoyed opening the season with a game against an opponent where you are a heavy favorite. It gives you a chance to work the kinks out while being able to notch a win in the win column.

After that, the Flames head west on a long road trip to New Mexico State. Yes, the Aggies advanced to the CUSA championship game last year and gave the Flames everything they wanted in that contest, but this is a much different team. The coaching staff is gone as are most of the significant contributors from last year’s NMSU team. We don’t know how good they will be, but the Flames should have the upper hand, even on the road, this early in the season.

I like what I’ve seen out of El Paso under their first year head coach Scotty Walden, but they are likely at least a year away from competing at the top of CUSA. With the Flames playing at home, it should be a great opportunity to pick up a win for the home team.

Yes, ECU was 2-10 last year but don’t get blinded by that record. This will be one of the most talented teams on Liberty’s schedule this year. Also, the Pirates lost four games by one score in 2023. They will come to Lynchburg looking for a win to help turn around their program. It will not be an easy game for the Flames.

All eyes in the G5 world will descend upon Boone, North Carolina on September 28th when the Flames stroll into town. This game, featuring the CUSA and Sun Belt favorites, could end up being a play-in game for the expanded 12-team CFP this year as the highest ranked G5 conference champion gets an auto bid.

October

  • Game 6 October 8th: FIU*
  • Game 7 October 23rd: @ Kennesaw State*
  • Game 8 October 30th: Jacksonville State*

The Flames have just three midweek games this year, has an open date in the middle of the month, and extended breaks both at the beginning and end of the month. That’s a stark contrast from last year when Liberty had one of its toughest challenges on the road and just a five day break.

Getting the Panthers at home with longer than a week to rest and prepare should put the Flames in a good position on October 9th. Then, an open date before heading towards Atlanta to take on CUSA and FBS newbie Kennesaw State. The Owls will put up a strong fight and shouldn’t be overlooked, but Liberty is a few years ahead of them in their transition to the FBS.

The last game of the month could be the biggest game in CUSA this season. The Gamecocks think they have what it takes to challenge Liberty for the conference title and the game on October 30th.

November

  • Game 9 November 9th: @ Middle Tennessee*
  • Game 10 November 16th: @ UMass
  • Game 11 November 23rd: Western Kentucky*
  • Game 12 November 30th: @ Sam Houston*

As the calendar flips to November, it will be the stretch run and the conference chase will begin to come into focus. Liberty opens the month with a trip to Murfreesboro, Tennessee to take on the Blue Raiders and another first year head coach in Derek Mason. Liberty then steps out of conference for the final time in the regular season, traveling north to take on UMass as the Minutemen prepare to join the MAC.

After a two game road trip, the Flames return home to take on WKU. The Hilltoppers have the talent to be considered one of the top teams in the league once again, it will be interesting to see if they can put it all together this year to compete for the conference championship. If they do, the game on November 23rd at Williams Stadium could go a long way in determining who plays for the conference championship in early December.

In the regular season finale, Liberty heads to Texas to play at Sam Houston for the first time. The Bearkats gave the Flames all it could handle and nearly pulled the upset on the road last October. With a year of recruiting and competing at the FBS level, Sam Houston should be even better this fall. This game won’t be an easy one for the Flames.

What will December have in store for Liberty this year? Perhaps playing for a 2nd straight CUSA title? Maybe a chance at the College Football Playoff? It will certainly be a fun ride along the way.