The preseason chatter has begun, as various media outlets have started to project various outcomes for the upcoming 2021 season. There has already been Heisman odds, bowl projections and win predictions. And earlier this week, Pro Football Focus released their upcoming power rankings for ’21.
Liberty, who finished last year 10-1, was ranked #63 in the country. This is a team that is returning 10 starters on both sides of the ball including quarterback Malik Willis. The Flames finished the 2020 campaign ranked No. 17 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll after winning a second consecutive Cure Bowl.
Other schools that Liberty will face in 2021 were ranked as follows:
Louisiana: #35
Ole Miss: #40
UAB: #57
Army: #67
Troy: #83
Syracuse: #104
Old Dominion: #113
North Texas: #115
Middle Tennessee: #121
UMass: #126
Louisiana-Monroe: #127
Campbell: N/A
Now, these are just preseason rankings, but based off these numbers Liberty is ranked higher than all but three of their opponents. On paper, the schedule is setting up for the Flames to be favored in the majority of their games and have the potential to have another very special season.
Liberty will open the season at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 4 against Campbell. Kickoff has been scheduled for 6pm on ESPN3. The Flames will then hit the road to take on Troy at 7pm on ESPN+ on Sept. 11, before returning home to host Old Dominion on Sept. 18 at 6pm on ESPN3. Liberty will be away from home the next two weeks, playing at Syracuse on Friday, Sept. 24 at 8pm on the ACC Network and UAB on Oct. 2 at 7pm on CBS Sports Network.
