Over the past several years, Liberty football has been growing at an unprecedented pace. From struggling to to reach the FCS Playoffs in the Big South just a few seasons ago, the Flames have quickly risen to one of the more notable non-Power Five programs in the country.
And head coach Hugh Freeze thinks the program is just beginning to rise.
“In all the shifting in college football, we are on the cusp of having an opportunity to be one of the premier Group of Five programs in the nation,” Freeze said. “I think we have the support from the administration side. I think we have the financial support. I think we have the facilities.”
Under Freeze’s leadership, Liberty has advanced to a bowl game in each of the past three seasons, the first three years the program was a full FBS member. The Flames are the third current FBS team to become bowl eligible in each of its first three seasons since transition from the FCS to FBS joining Appalachian State and Marshall.
Liberty will be playing Eastern Michigan in the 2021 Lending Tree Bowl on Dec. 18 in Mobile, Alabama. With a win, the Flames will remain perfect in bowl games, improving to 3-0 all-time, following wins over Georgia Southern, 23-16, in the 2019 Cure Bowl and Coastal Carolina, 37-34 (OT), in the 2020 Cure Bowl.
“We have a culture here that is different than a lot of places,” Freeze stated. “When (AD) Ian (McCaw) first called me, I was headed to one of three different SEC schools to be an offensive coordinator, (but) Ian solid this place. My pitch to recruits is just come and see.”
Without visiting the campus in Lynchburg, Virginia, it is difficult to understand the level of commitment the school has to the football program. It’s facilities are as good, if not better, than any Group of Five program in the country. They are even comparable to some Power Five programs.
Williams Stadium was most recently renovated and expanded in 2018. The Liberty Football Center, the base of operations for the football program, was renovated and expanded in 2020. The indoor football practice facility was opened in 2017 and it sits adjacent to the outdoor practice field which opened in 2007.
“I think it’s a unique place,” said Freeze, who’s previous head coaching stops include Sun Belt member Arkansas State and SEC member Ole Miss. “Is it for everybody? Probably not, but I think we have a special, special place here on The Mountain that attracts a lot of people. Another bowl win, being 3-0 after three years, would be pretty special and another way that we can sell this place to recruits.”
Currently competing as an FBS Independent, Liberty is scheduled to join Conference USA prior to the 2023 football season. The Flames will join Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Florida International, UTEP, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State, and Jacksonville State in the new look CUSA. This move will allow the program to begin competing for conference championships each and every year and continue to build towards being one of the premier programs outside of the Power Five conferences.
Cincinnati, who has made history by becoming the first G5 team to reach the College Football Playoffs, will be joining the P5 alongside Central Florida, Houston, and BYU in the Big 12. With those teams joining the P5, it opens the door for others to jump into the conversation as top G5 program.
Based on the current ESPN FPI rankings, once those four teams are in the Big 12, the highest ranked G5 team would be Appalachian State who is currently ranked No. 24. The Mountaineers are followed by No. 39 Boise State, No. 43 Coastal Carolina, No. 46 SMU, No. 47 Western Kentucky, and No. 51 Louisiana.
Liberty is currently ranked No. 67 in the ESPN FPI. The Flames have drastically risen up the FPI rankings over the past couple years under Freeze. Liberty ranked No. 97 at the end of his first campaign in Lynchburg in 2019. At the end of the 2020 season, the Flames finished ranked No. 76 in FPI.
