NOT FOCUSING ON CFP RANKINGS
Despite being ranked No. 19 in both the AP and Coaches Top 25 polls this week, Liberty was unable to slip into the College Football Playoff Rankings Top 25. The Flames, at 8-1, have never been ranked in the CFP Top 25.
“I’m not big on using stuff like that for motivation,” said Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze. “I think that’s fleeting and kind of works sometimes and doesn’t. I’m more about let’s take care of what we can take care of and control. I don’t understand it.”
Tulane is currently the highest rated non-Power Five team with an 8-1 record. They have a win over Kansas State with their loss coming against Southern Miss, a team Liberty beat on the road in four overtimes in the season opener. The Flames certainly have a resume similar to Tulane, but are not ranked while the Green Wave are ranked No. 17 in the CFP.
“Tulane is a fine program and they are doing a heck of a job, but they got beat by the same team we beat on the road,” Freeze stated. “We have the same record, it’s hard to understand exactly. All we can do is try to keep winning. I didn’t bring that up to our team. We will just try to keep winning and see what happens.”
JOHNATHAN BENNETT QB1?
Johnathan Bennett entered the season as Charlie Brewer’s backup at quarterback, but found himself falling behind Kaidon Salter after Brewer’s injury in the season opener at Southern Miss. Bennett struggled the first half of the season, failing to find consistency while Brewer and Salter battled injuries.
He had a solid second half at Old Dominion and didn’t throw an interception at UMass the following week. His other four appearances for the Flames, Bennett had completed just 37 of 78 passes for 411 yards, 2 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Something has changed over the past two games, wins for Liberty over BYU and Arkansas. Bennett has completed 39 of 54 passes for 471 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Is he the unquestioned QB1 moving forward?
“I thought about that this morning when I woke up,” Freeze said on Monday. “It’s going to be hard for me to not have JB as a part of it. Hopefully we will get Kaidon back also so we will be blessed to have all three. We will see how they perform in practice, which one gives us the best chance to win. Might use a few of them. I think all of them have checked their egos at the door too.”
Brewer and Salter were both back at practice this week and could factor into the game plan moving forward.
“Give him credit,” Freeze continued. “He made some great throws at times to places that they needed to be, got us the lead, got to 5-0 as a starter, probably has the two biggest wins in school history. That’s the way it spins. JB will definitely be in the rotation moving forward in practice. We will go from practice to the games, accordingly.”
This was the first week of the season that Liberty had all six quarterbacks on the roster going through practice. Freeze says both Salter and Brewer are able to play this weekend if needed, says Freeze.
INJURY REPORT
Entering the home stretch, the Flames are much healthier than they have been for the majority of the season. Defensive end TreShaun Clark played last week and the entire defensive two-deep is expected to be healthy and active Saturday at UConn.
Caleb Snead and CJ Yarbrough were both back in action last week at Arkansas as they returned from injury. Jaivian Lofton was close to returning last week but was unable to make it. With another week to recover, Lofton could get back on the field this weekend.
