FACING A TEAM FOR A SECOND TIME IN SAME SEASON

Liberty and New Mexico State will meet on Friday for the second time this season. Of course, Liberty defeated the Aggies in the first meeting way back on September 9, 33-17, in a game also played at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia.

This isn’t the first time the Flames and Aggies have met twice in one season. The two programs, former FBS Independents, played each other twice in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons. In 2018, the teams split their in-season home and home series while Liberty won both meetings in 2019.

Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell has played a team twice in the same season previously, as well. In 2011, as the head coach of North Greenville, Chadwell faced Mars Hill both in the regular season and in the second round of the Division II playoffs. North Greenville lost to Mars Hill, 38-28, in the regular season before rebounding to win in the playoffs, 58-32. Additionally, in 2015 while the head coach at Charleston Southern, Chadwell faced the Citadel both in the regular season and in the second round of the FCS Playoffs. Chadwell and Charleston Southern won both meetings that season, something Chadwell and Liberty will look to accomplish this year against the Aggies.

“It is challenging. It is unique,” Chadwell said of facing the same team twice in one season. “I’ve actually done it previously between Division II and FCS Playoffs. So, I have experience with it before, I don’t know if it’s a great experience, but I’ve had experience with it. Obviously, you know each other. The thing about this game is it was 10, 11 weeks ago, the first one. That was September (9th), they are obviously a completely different ball club than they were back then and we are too. Obviously, you have an understanding of each other, but I do think there is a lot of differences because it’s been so long since we’ve played. It’s more like an NFL model when you play each other in your division twice.”

FIRST YEAR SUCCESS IN CUSA

Liberty and New Mexico State are first year additions to Conference USA, and they have clearly had some success as they compete for the conference championship on Friday. Jacksonville State, another first year member, also saw plenty of success in their first campaign not only in CUSA but also at the FBS level. Those three teams are a combined 30-7 overall and 21-3 in conference play. Quite the additions to the league.

“I didn’t know a lot about the teams in Conference USA,” said New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill. “Then, when I went to the coaches meeting and seen all the good coaches, I thought we might be in trouble here. I’ve got great respect for all the teams in the conference. Liberty has come in with a tremendous resume, I think their program speaks for itself and what they do. Coach has done a great job coming in. Then Rich Rod at Jacksonville, he’s done a great job and has a physical team. My hats off to all three of them.”

INJURY REPORT

Liberty is close to being back to full strength. Wide receiver Treon Sibley, tight end Bentley Hanshaw, and running back Vaughn Blue were all back in action for the Flames on Saturday against UTEP.

Safety Brylan Green suffered a lower body injury against UMass and missed much of the game as well as this past week against UTEP. Also the Flames’ punt returner, it is a soft tissue injury to Green and there’s a possibility he could be back for the conference championship game.