IMPORTANT GAME FOR LIBERTY

As Liberty continues to strive for more national respect, Saturday’s game is an important one. The Flames won’t get respect for any win over a Conference USA team, right or wrong there is no value in beating a current conference member. With the team’s weak non-conference schedule, Old Dominion provides an opportunity for the Flames to earn some respect by beating a team from the higher rated Sun Belt Conference. Plus, it’s an instate opponent which can help for bragging rights and in recruiting battles.

“I’m sure for fan bragging rights it’s a big deal,” Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell said of this week’s game. “When your players are from all different parts of the country I don’t know. Obviously, we talk about it. When you have an in-state rival, I think that’s a big deal. Our players are definitely aware of that. We are definitely aware of the conference, who’s conference is better, all those things. Then, you mentioned, fans love to beat somebody in state because they are always comparing themselves. We try not to compare ourselves to anybody else. We are trying to be the program we want to be, but we know it’s a big deal for fans, alumni, and we know it’s a big deal for our conference. If we can go and beat somebody from another conference that is respected nationally, then that helps our conference, that helps our program and what we’re trying to accomplish this year.”

Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s game, respect will still be hard to come by for the Flames. One thing that can’t be argued with is the win-loss column though, and that’s all Liberty can control.

“In-house, we know what we’ve accomplished,” said Chadwell. “We know how hard it is to win. It’s hard. Outside, from a national perspective, obviously the Sun Belt gets more recognition than what we do currently our conference-wise because of all the different changing and what’s happened, landscape-wise.”

Liberty has four wins this season over teams with a winning record. Compare that to Tulane, who is currently the only ranked Group of Five team in the CFP Rankings, who has just one. Liberty’s season opening opponent, Bowling Green, has ended up having a pretty strong season, including a win over Georgia Tech.

“A Bowling Green, who we beat earlier, they went and beat a Georgia Tech, nobody talks about that,” Chadwell continued. “From a national recognition, from a respect standpoint, anytime you can beat somebody from another conference, Sun Belt Conference, since we are so close to some of those schools. I think that’s a big deal. Our fans probably want it more than anything, I’m sure they bicker back and forth on X and all those different things. For them, it’s a huge deal. It’s a huge deal for us. We want to continue to win and climb. Any time you can do that against a great opponent from a great conference, I think that helps legitimize your conference. I don’t think we have to legitimize what we are doing on the field, but I think from a conference stand point, as we’ve had these new additions, I think that’s an important deal for us to go represent our conference.”

TALKING ABOUT RANKINGS

Liberty reached No. 25 in the AP Top 25 poll this week, marking the first time this season the Flames have been ranked. It is the third time in four seasons at the FBS level the Flames have been ranked in the AP poll.

“I do think anytime you get ranked, that’s a great honor,” said Chadwell. “I mean, there’s (133) that play and you are one of 25 right now that is ranked in the country. That’s a special deal no matter how it happens, when it happens. I think that’s great for recognition, it’s great for your university, it’s great for your program. We talked about for about two seconds and then we moved on. Here’s the thing that I know, if you don’t keep winning they will forget about you real quick.”

NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

It’s no secret that Liberty has one of the worst strength of schedules in the country this season. There is a lot to blame for that, most notably the quick change to the CUSA causing the Flames to have to make significant changes to its schedule in short order.

Liberty Athletic Director Ian McCaw has laid out, on several occasions, his formula for what he would prefer the Flames’ non-conference schedule to look like. He would prefer Liberty play one Power Five, two regional Group of Five opponents, and an FCS school. Earlier this week, head coach Jamey Chadwell was asked about his preferences for a non-conference schedule for the first time since coming to Liberty.

“I know our AD and our administration, you play one P5, you play a couple G5s and then whether it’s a third G5 or a FCS school, that’s usually your out of conference,” Chadwell said. “We had a bunch of those lined up, and then once you went into a conference, you had to change some and then also some dropped us because we were winning some of those games. Like next year, we have a Sun Belt school, we have an AAC school, out of conference, an FCS and then an FBS Independent. You are always working toward those things. At the end of the day, no matter who you are playing, no matter what the strength of record is, strength of schedule, you’ve got to go win them. As long as you are winning, I think that speaks a lot.”

INJURY REPORT

Liberty starting corner Amarian Williams continues to deal with injuries. He returned to the lineup at Western Kentucky after missing two straight games and was back on the field against Louisiana Tech last week. He then got dinged up again in that game. His status for this week against ODU is uncertain.

Wide receiver EJ Smoot returned to the lineup against Louisiana Tech. Freshman defensive end Larry Jones III has missed the past two games with an injury. Running back Billy Lucas was injured in the game against Louisiana Tech and did not return to the game. They all have a chance to return this week against ODU, but their status is currently uncertain.