With every passing day and week, we get more and more football news from the various conferences and schools around the country. These ripple affects spread far and wide and many of them ultimately reach Liberty.

Just this past week the Flames were confirmed for the 3 ACC plus one games that were originally scheduled against Virginia Tech, Syracuse, and NC State. Liberty also lost two games this week as UConn canceled its season and the Mid American Conference did the same forcing the Flames to lose a scheduled game against Bowling Green.

As we enter a new week and Liberty returning to the practice field on Monday, the Flames currently have 9 games scheduled for the 2020 season with openings on Sept. 5, Sept. 12, Oct. 3, and Oct. 31.

It’s likely Liberty will elect to keep the Sept. 5 date open and not attempt to schedule a game that weekend as most schools and conferences are starting no earlier than Sept. 12.

Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze just said Friday the Flames are looking to open the season on Sept. 12 against an FCS opponent yet to be determined. It’s also likely the Flames will only look to schedule at most two games to get to 11 games on the schedule to keep at least one date open throughout the fall.

Here’s a look at teams across the country, with a special focus placed on teams within driving distance of Lynchburg, who have openings on the same dates as Liberty.

Sept. 12

With the NCAA’s decision to allow FBS opponents to count up to 2 wins over FCS opponents towards bowl eligibility this season, Liberty’s desire is obviously to play 2 FCS teams in 2020. Western Carolina, as of now, is still scheduled to visit Lynchburg in November, and the Flames would like to add a home opener on Sept. 12 against an FCS opponent.

Elon is still attempting to play this fall despite the CAA and James Madison pushing their season to the spring. The Phoenix are expected to hit the practice field again on Monday. Could we see Elon added as Liberty’s season opener or will the Phoenix make the same decision as the Dukes and punt on a fall season?

The Big South is one of a small minority of FCS conferences that are still working towards a fall football season. Gardner-Webb, Kennesaw State, and Monmouth could all play on Sept. 12 without making any additional changes to their schedules.

Robert Morris is still attempting to put together a full 2020 schedule and they were supposed to play at Bowling Green on Sept. 12 until the MAC’s decision this weekend.

Like the Big South, the Southern Conference is still planning on a fall season and Chattanooga, ETSU, and Samford could all play on Sept. 12.

If Liberty is unable to finalize a deal with an FCS team and options continuing to dwindle, the Flames could look to a number of FBS teams nearby with openings on Sept. 12 – Navy, Charlotte, Old Dominion, Marshall, Coastal Carolina, and Appalachian State are all available that weekend.

Oct. 3

Army has just 5 games on their schedule right now and they are open on October 3rd.

In addition to Sept. 12, Old Dominion is also available this weekend as they lost a game at UConn. Lynchburg is much closer than the trip to the northeast anyways.

Similarly, Appalachian State is also open on Oct. 3.

Oct. 31

FBS Independents Army and BYU are both available on Halloween.

Middle Tennessee State is open this weekend as well.