For the fourth time in program history, Liberty has started a season 7-1 or better, also doing so in 1997, 2008, and 2020. The Flames defeated BYU, 41-14, last Saturday in front of a Williams Stadium record crowd of 24,012. Despite not playing, Liberty has jumped into the top 25 this week at No. 23 in both the Coaches Poll and the AP Poll.
This marks the first time Liberty has been ranked in the top 25 since the end of the 2020 season when the Flames were ranked No. 17 in the AP Top 25 and No. 18 in the Coaches Top 25.
In the AP Top 25, the Flames are ranked No. 23 with 136 points. This is up from last week when Liberty was second among the other teams receiving votes with 35 points. Liberty is just behind three ACC teams in Wake Forest, NC State, and Syracuse who are ranked No. 20-22, respectively. The Flames are ahead of No. 24 Oregon State and No. 25 UCF.
In the Coaches Poll, Liberty is ranked No. 23 and received 147 points. The Flames are just behind No. 22 Kentucky and ahead of No. 24 Kentucky and No. 25 UCF. This is up from last week when the Flames were second among other teams receiving votes with 42 points.
Coming off a bye week, the Flames head to SEC country to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks this Saturday. Arkansas is currently 5-3 on the season and are coming off an impressive win at Auburn this past Saturday, defeating the Tigers, 41-27. The Razorbacks defeated BYU in Provo, Utah, 52-35, on Oct. 15, the only similar opponent for the two teams this season. Arkansas is receiving votes in both top 25 polls this week after spending the first half of the season ranked in the top 25.
This will be the first ever meeting between Liberty and Arkansas. The Flames have only faced an SEC team twice previously, falling to Auburn, 53-0, on Nov. 17, 2018, and to Ole Miss, 27-14, on Nov. 6, 2021.
