Liberty is picked as the 110th best team in the country out of 133 FBS teams, according to Phil Steele’s Power Poll. This ranking is down from last year’s preseason ranking of No. 69 and down from 2021’s preseason ranking of No. 41 but up from 2020’s ranking of No. 114.
James Madison is the highest ranked team from Virginia in the Power Poll, checking in at No. 64, up significantly from where they debuted a year ago at No. 112. Virginia Tech checks in at No. 75 followed by No. 93 Virginia. Liberty is ranked ahead of Old Dominion who checks in at No. 126.
Under first-year head coach Jamey Chadwell and as a first year Conference USA member, the Flames are picked to finish in a tie for 4th place in the nine-member league. Western Kentucky is Phil Steele’s preseason favorite to win CUSA, as many have predicted. Phil Steele has UTEP picked to finish second in CUSA followed by Middle Tennessee, Liberty and Louisiana Tech.
Phil Steele picks New Mexico State to finish 6th in CUSA with FIU picked to finish 7th, Sam Houston 8th, and Jacksonville State 9th.
Here’s how Liberty’s 2023 opponents are ranked in the Phil Steele Power Poll:
72. Western Kentucky
89. UTEP
97. Buffalo
98. Middle Tennessee
109. Louisiana Tech
113. New Mexico State
120. Bowling Green
123. Florida International
124. Sam Houston
125. Jacksonville State
126. Old Dominion
129. UMass
According to Phil Steele’s projection, Liberty has the weakest schedule in the country entering the 2023 season, ranking No. 133 of all FBS teams. Last year’s Liberty’s strength of schedule was projected as the No. 100 toughest in the country before finishing as the 117th toughest schedule in the country.
