TRYING TO REACH 9 WINS

Liberty has recorded six straight years with at least 8 wins, as the Flames have seen tremendous success in its early tenure at the FBS level. This is the longest such streak in program history, and the Flames are trying to reach the 9-win plateau in the Bahamas Bowl against Buffalo.

Only five times in the history of the program, regardless of level, has Liberty won 9 games in a season. the Flames are also looking for its second every 9-win season at the FBS level. A second straight 9-win season would mark the first time the Flames have ever accomplished that feat, regardless of level.

“It’s been challenging, but our team’s excited about playing,” said head coach Jamey Chadwell. “They want to finish the season right away. There are obviously a lot of guys returning. It’s a good opportunity for them to set a tone for next season. Anytime you go into the off season with a victory, I think that’s important. You definitely want to do that over a loss. But also, our team knows that we can finish strong and be the first group ever to have more than eight wins consecutively. That’s never happened here. Nobody’s ever won more than eight games back to back. We have the opportunity to do that. So our team’s excited about what it can do for this year’s group and the legacy they can leave, and also just helping continue to build a program going forward.”

BOWL SUCCESS

Since moving to the FBS level, Liberty has seen tremendous success, winning at least 8 games every season and reaching a bowl game all six years. It’s really been quite an impressive run, especially from a program that only made the FCS Playoffs once ever.

The Flames have been able to win a conference championship and reach six bowl games through its first six years at football’s highest classification. Liberty has also had some success in bowl games. The Flames won its first three bowl games under former head coach Hugh Freeze, winning the 2019 and 2020 Cure Bowl and the 2021 Lending Tree Bowl. Liberty then lost the 2022 Boca Raton Bowl under interim head coach Josh Aldridge. The Flames then dropped its second straight bowl game last year, losing to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.

Liberty is looking to stop its two-game skid in bowl games and get back in the win column on Saturday against Buffalo in the Bahamas Bowl.

INJURY REPORT

Here’s an update on Liberty’s current injury situation:

  • QB Ryan Burger is expected to play and start for the Flames after missing a couple weeks of practice during December due to a concussion suffered in the regular season finale at Sam Houston.
  • WR Reese Smith is expected to play though he has been hampered by injuries all season. “He won’t be 100%, but he will be as close as he’s been to that in a long time,” Chadwell said of Smith.
  • TE Bentley Hanshaw was injured early in the game against UMass. He missed the last couple weeks of the regular season, but he is expected to return for a limited role against Buffalo. Bentley easily could have not come back and played in the game it required surgery to come back and play he c hose that surgery he’s playing in the game I think that says a lot about him and who he is and wanting to finish his career here he wont be 100% but whatever he has he will give
  • TE Austin Henderson is not expected to play. TE Bo Burklow is not expected to play. TE Caleb Ryan will also miss the game. After Hanshaw and Jacob Jenkins, the Flames’ tight end room will look to true freshmen Deuce Hewitt and Eli Sisson.
  • LB Aidan Vaughan will miss the game due to injury. We could see true freshman Dillano Glaud play some in this game.
  • S Quinton Reese did not play the last couple games of the regular season, but he should be good to go in the Bahamas Bowl.
  • S Brylan Green will also miss the Bahamas Bowl and DB Christina Bodnar remains out.
  • Be sure to also check out our list of opt outs for the Flames, which is not included above. One name we did not have on that list of opt outs previously is CB Charles Yates who will not be playing in the Bahamas Bowl.

“Everybody on the outside is talking about who we lost,” Chadwell said. “Our main focus needs to be on who decided to stay. Who are the guys that are here? What are we capable of? These guys that are here chose to play for each other. Let’s go out and play well. I expect our guys to do that. We won’t be perfect. There will be mistakes made, but I know we will play as hard as we can for each other and will lay it on the line which is what I’m excited about.”