Liberty is picked as the 52nd best team in the country out of 134 FBS teams, according to Phil Steele’s Power Poll. This ranking is up from last year’s preseason ranking of No. 110. This is the second highest preseason ranking in Phil Steele’s Power Poll Liberty has ever received, trailing only the No. 41 ranking prior to the 2021 season.
Virginia Tech is the highest ranked team from Virginia in the Power Poll, checking in at No. 16, up significantly from where they were ranked a year ago at No. 75. Liberty is the second highest ranked team in Virginia followed by No. 65 Virginia, No. 79 James Madison, and No. 105 Old Dominion.
The Flames are the third highest ranked Group of Five team in the Power Poll, trailing only No. 39 Boise State and No. 45 Memphis. UTSA checks in at No. 56 and USF is No. 60 to round out the five highest ranked G5 teams.
Under second-year head coach Jamey Chadwell, the Flames are picked to repeat as conference champions in the ten-member CUSA. Phil Steele has Western Kentucky picked to finish second in CUSA followed by Jacksonville State, FIU, Sam Houston, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, UTEP, Middle Tennessee, and Kennesaw State.
Here’s how Liberty’s 2024 opponents are ranked in the Phil Steele Power Poll:
64. Appalachian State
86. East Carolina
95. Jacksonville State
97. Western Kentucky
116. Sam Houston
117. New Mexico State
122. Florida International
123. Middle Tennessee
128. UTEP
131. UMass
134. Kennesaw State
N/A. Campbell
According to Phil Steele’s projection, Liberty has the weakest schedule in the country entering the 2024 season, ranking No. 134 of all FBS teams. Of note, James Madison has the No. 133 ranked schedule.
