Liberty enters its second full season as an FBS member with a much more balanced schedule in 2020. After having over a month without a home game last year, the Flames will alternate home and away contests all season under second year head coach Hugh Freeze in 2020.

Will the Flames get to play it? We’ll see, but there’s no reason not to be optimistic.

Here are the games I’m looking forward to in order.

1. September 5 – @ Virginia Tech
The season opener is always one to look forward to, and getting to play against the premier college football program over the past two decades in the Commonwealth of Virginia only makes it more exciting. A win in a game like this for the Flames can begin to give the team bragging rights in the state among fans and, more importantly, for recruits.

2. October 24 – Southern Miss
Southern Miss will likely be the best team to visit Williams Stadium in 2020, and they have traditionally been one of the strongest members of the CUSA. Oh, and it’s Hugh Freeze’s alma mater.

3. November 21 – @ NC State
Liberty heads south to take on the Wolfpack in what could be a very winnable game against an ACC opponent.

4. September 19 – @ Western Kentucky
They may not have the same name recognition as the Power Five teams on the schedule, but the Hilltoppers should be just as good as any team on Liberty’s 2020 slate. They finished 9-4 in 2019 after beating Western Michigan in the Servpro First Responder Bowl. This will be a swing game early in Liberty’s schedule.

5. October 17 – @ Syracuse
The Flames make their first trek inside the Carrier Dome, in any sport, looking to get some payback from that 24-0 setback to open the 2019 campaign.

6. October 31 – @ UConn 
It’s the first time Liberty and UConn will meet on the gridiron since 2005. In the only other meeting between the two programs, the Flames were embarrassed 59-0. A lot has changed since then, as Liberty should be favored when they take on the new Independent program.

7. September 26 – FIU
Outside of the Southern Miss matchup, this is the sexiest home date on the schedule. Former Miami, North Carolina, and Cleveland Browns head coach Butch Davis enters his 4th season as head coach at the CUSA school, taking the Panthers to a bowl game in his first 3 seasons.

8. November 28 – UMass
This is the first time Liberty will get the fellow Independent to Williams Stadium. The two went to triple overtime in 2018 with the Minutemen coming out on top, but the Flames got revenge in a big way in 2019.

9. September 12 – NC A&T
Yes, it’s an FCS team, but it gets bumped up a few spots because of several reasons. First, it’s the home opener, and it will be played during Liberty’s commencement weekend. Also, North Carolina A&T may be better than a few of the FBS members on the Flames’ schedule, and they’ve flirted with moving to the FBS ranks recently.

10. October 10 – UL Monroe
Liberty will look to keep its impressive record against the Sun Belt when the Warhawks invade Lynchburg. ULM was 5-7 last season and nearly spring a huge upset in their final game against rival Louisiana to reach bowl eligibility.

11. October 3 – @ Bowling Green
Bowling Green should be one of the worst FBS teams again in 2020. The Falcons haven’t had a winning record since Dino Babers was head coach in 2015, averaging 3 wins per season the past four years.

12. November 14 – Western Carolina
This should be an easy win in a game that won’t mean much, if anything, in Liberty’s bid for bowl eligibility.