Anything and everything about Liberty Flames football. Your comments on games, recruiting and the direction of the program as we move into new era.

Moderators: jcmanson, Sly Fox, BuryYourDuke, Class of 20Something

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By Sly Fox
Registration Days Posts
#619934
Between the potential of seniors to gain an extra season and the seemingly wide open transfer portal, it is touhg to get a feel for how our opponents will look this fall. But here is an early primer:

Sep 04 - Campbell

2020 Results:

Overall ........ 0-4


SEP 12 - @ GEORGIA SOUTHERN .... L 26-27
SEP 18 - @COASTAL CAROLINA ...... L 21-43
SEP 26 - @ APP STATE .................... L 21-52
OCT 02 - @ WAKE FOREST .............. L 14-66

The season opener against the Camels is clearly not a marquee matchup for the fall. But in their limited slate against FBS teams in 2020 they held their own nearly upsetting Georgia Southern. They passed on the Big South spring schedule in order to compete in the guarantee games listed above. Coach Mike Minter does a great job making lemonade out of lemons and Hajj-Malik Williams is a playmaking QB.

+++++

Sep 11 - @ Troy

2020 Results:

Overall ........... 5-6
Sun Belt ......... 3-4


Sep 19 - @ MTSU ..................................... W 47-14
Sep 26 - @ #18/23 BYU ............................. L 7-48
Oct 10 - Texas State* ............................... W 37-17
Oct 17 - Eastern Kentucky ....................... W 31-29
Oct 24 - Georgia State .............................. L 34-36
Oct 31 - @ Arkansas State ........................ W 38-10
Nov 07 - @ Georgia Southern ................... L 13-20
Nov 21 - MTSU ......................................... L 17-20
Nov 28 - @ App State ............................... L 10-47
Dec 05 - @ South Alabama ...................... W 29-0
Dec 12 - #11/13 Coastal Carolina ............. L 38-42
Dec 17 - ULM .......................................... Canceled

The Troy Trojans went 5-6 this past fall including a 3-4 mark in the Sun Belt. Chip Lindsey's struggled in the second half of the seson but had a wild one against Coastal in whhat proved to be their finale. They will be bringing back QB Gunnar Watson and LB stud Carlton Martial .


+++++

Sep 18 - ODU

The Monarchs will be the biggest question mark coming into the 2021 season after completely passing on their 2020 slate.


+++++

Sep 25 - @ Syracuse

2020 Results:

Overall ........ 1-10
ACC ............. 1-9


SEP 12 - @ #18 NORTH CAROLINA ............ L 6-31
SEP 19 - @ #25 PITTSBURGH .................... L 10-21
SEP 26 - GEORGIA TECH ........................... W 37-20
OCT 10 - DUKE .......................................... L 24-38
OCT 17 - LIBERTY ...................................... L 21-38
OCT 24 - @ #1 CLEMSON .......................... L 21-47
OCT 31 - WAKE FOREST ............................ L 14-38
NOV 07 - BOSTON COLLEGE ..................... L 13-16
NOV 20 - @ LOUISVILLE ............................ L 0-30
NOV 28 - NC STATE .................................... L 29-36
DEC 05 - @ #2 NOTRE DAME ...................... L 21-45

We obviously saw plenty of the Orange this past fall as we rolled up into the vacant Carrier Dome and took down 'Cuse. Things didn't get any better for them after we left town.

+++++

Oct 02 - @ UAB

2020 Results

Overall ...... 6-3
CUSA ....... 3-1


SEP 03 - CENTRAL ARKANSAS ........................ W 45-35
SEP 10 - @ MIAMI (FL) .................................... L 14-31
SEP 24 - @ SOUTH ALABAMA ......................... W 42-10
OCT 03 - UTSA ............................................... W 21-13
OCT 17 - WKU ................................................ W 37-14
OCT 23 - LOUISIANA ....................................... L 20-24
OCT 31 - @ LOUISIANA TECH .......................... L 34-37 2OT
NOV 14 - NORTH TEXAS ................................. Canceled
NOV 20 - @ UTEP ........................................... Canceled
NOV 27 - SOUTHERN MISS ............................. Canceled
DEC 06 - @ MTSU ........................................... Canceled
DEC 12 - @ RICE ............................................. W 21-16
DEC 18 - @ MARSHALL .................................... W 22-13

UNION HOME MORTGAGE GASPARILLA BOWL
DEC 26 - vs. SOUTH CAROLINA ........................ Canceled

UAB may prove to be onr of the toughest opponents of the upcoming season. But with five games canceled due to COVID-19 it is tough to get a read on them. Still waiting to hear if CUSA's all-time leading rusher Spencer Brown will be coming back for a bonus season.

+++++

Oct 09 - MTSU

2020 Results:

Overall ....... 3-6
CUSA .......... 2-4


Sep 05 - @ Army ............................... L 0-42
Sep 19 - Troy .................................... L 14-47
Sep 25 - @ UTSA ............................... L 35-37
Oct 03 - WKU .................................... L 17-20
Oct 10 - @ FIU .................................. W 31-28
Oct 17 - North Texas ......................... L 35-52
Oct 24 - @ Rice ................................. W 40-34 (2OT)
Nov 07 - Charlotte ............................. Canceled
Nov 14 - @ Marshall .......................... L 14-42
Nov 21 - @ Troy ................................. W 20-17
Nov 28 - FAU ...................................... Canceled
Dec 06 - UAB ...................................... Canceled


+++++

Oct 16 - @ Louisiana-Monroe

2020 Results:

Overall ........ 0-10
Sun Belt ...... 0-7


SEP 12 - @ ARMY ......................................... L 7-37
SEP 19 - TEXAS STATE .................................. L 17-38
SEP 26 - UTEP .............................................. L 6-31
OCT 03 - GEORGIA SOUTHERN ..................... L 30-35
OCT 10 - @ LIBERTY ..................................... L 7-40
OCT 24 - @ SOUTH ALABAMA ....................... L 14-38
OCT 31 - APP STATE ..................................... L 13-31
NOV 07 - @ GEORGIA STATE ......................... L 34-52
NOV 28 - LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE .................. L 20-70
DEC 05 - @ ARKANSAS STATE ....................... L 15-48
DEC 17 - @ TROY .......................................... Canceled

There is no getting around the fact that ULM was arguably the worst FBS team in the nation this past fall. But turnaround specialist Terry Bowden was just hired and he could bring a spark.

+++++

Oct 23 - @ North Texas

2020 Results:

Overall ........ 4-6
CUSA ........... 3-4


SEP 05 - HOUSTON BAPTIST.............. W, 57-31
SEP 19 - SMU .................................... L 65-35
SEP 26 - @ HOUSTON ....................... Canceled
OCT 03 - SOUTHERN MISS ................. L 41-31
OCT 10 - CHARLOTTE ........................ L 49-21
OCT 17 - @ MTSU ............................. W 52-35
NOV 14 - @ UAB ................................ Canceled
NOV 21 - RICE ................................... W 27-17
NOV 28 - @ UTSA ............................... L 49-17
DEC 03 - LOUISIANA TECH ................. L 42-31
DEC 11 - UTEP ................................... W 45-43

MYRTLE BEACH BOWL
DEC 21 - vs. APPALACHIAN STATE ....... L 56-28

The Mean Green went 4-6 and just 3-4 in a down CUSA in 2020. Seth Littrell was once one of the hottest offensive coaches in college football. Unfortunately UNT's defense was atrocious in 2020 even with their passing game posting big numbers.

+++++

Oct 30 - UMass

2020 Results:

Overall ....... 0-4


OCT 17 - @ GEORGIA SOUTHERN ......... L 0-41
NOV 07 - @ #16/15 MARSHALL ............. L 10-51
NOV 20 - @ FAU .................................... L 2-24
NOV 27 - @ LIBERTY ............................. L 0-45

The last time anyone saw the Minutemen it was at Williams Stadium getting shut out by the Flames. UMass did a quick save on their season after initially canceling in order to squeeze in four games. The averaged just 3 points a game and will have their work cut out for them in 2021.


+++++

Nov 13 - @ Ole Miss

2020 Results:

Overall ........ 5-5
SEC ............. 4-5


SEP 26 - #5 FLORIDA .......................... L 35-51
OCT 03 - @ KENTUCKY ...................... W 42-41 OT
OCT 10 - #2 ALABAMA ........................ L 48-63
OCT 17 - @ ARKANSAS ....................... L 21-33
OCT 24 - AUBURN .............................. L 28-35
OCT 31 - @ VANDERBILT .................... W 54-21
NOV 14 - SOUTH CAROLINA ............... W 59-42
NOV 28 - MISSISSIPPI STATE .............. W 31-24
DEC 12 - @ TEXAS A&M .................... Canceled
DEC 19 - @ LSU ................................ L 48-53

OUTBACK BOWL
JAN 02 - vs. #7 INDIANA ................... W 26-20

Clearly the marquee matchup of the 2021 season with Coach Freeze returning to the school where he lifted the program to heights not seen since Peyton Manning's dad was leading the Rebes offense. But Ole Miss brings a stout squad to face the Flames this fall coming off their big bowl victory over Indiana.


+++++

Nov 20 - Louisiana-Lafayette

2020 Results:

Overall ....... 10-1
Sun Belt ..... 7-1


SEP 12 - @ #23 IOWA STATE ....................... W 31-14
SEP 19 - @ GEORGIA STATE ....................... W 34-31 (OT)
SEP 26 - GEORGIA SOUTHERN ................... W 20-18
OCT 14 - COASTAL CAROLINA ..................... L 27-30
OCT 23 - @ UAB ......................................... W 24-20
OCT 31 - @ TEXAS STATE ........................... W 44-34
NOV 07 - ARKANSAS STATE ........................ W 27-20
NOV 14 - SOUTH ALABAMA ........................ W 38-10
NOV 21 - CENTRAL ARKANSAS ................... Canceled
NOV 28 - @ ULM ........................................ W 70-20
DEC 04 - @ APPALACHIAN STATE ............... W 24-21

SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP
DEC 19 - @ COASTAL CAROLINA ................. Canceled


SERVPRO FIRST RESPONDER BOWL
DEC 26 - vs. UTSA ...................................... W 31-24

The Ragin Cajuns arguably were the best team in the Sun Belt this past season with all due respect to the Chants. They will definitely be a challenge for the Flames coming off the emotional Ole Miss game.

+++++

Nov 27 - Army

2020 Results:

Overall ........ 9-3


SEP 05 - MTSU ................................................... W 42-0
SEP 12 - LOUISIANA-MONROE .......................... W 37-7
SEP 19 - BYU ..................................................... Postponed
SEP 26 - @ #14 CINCINNATI ............................... L 10-24
OCT 03 - ABILENE CHRISTIAN ........................... W 55-23
OCT 10 - THE CITADEL ...................................... W 14-9
OCT 17 - @ UTSA .............................................. W 28-16
OCT 24 - MERCER .............................................. W 49-3
NOV 14 - @ TULANE ........................................... L 12-38
NOV 21 - GEORGIA SOUTHERN ........................ W 28-27
DEC 12 - NAVY ................................................... W 15-0
DEC 19 - AIR FORCE ........................................... W 10-7

AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL
DEC 31 - vs. WEST VIRGINIA ................................ L 21-24

Jeff Monken has turned the Black Knights into a force in recent years. While most of the attention has been on the Triple Option offense, it was the defense that stood out in 2020. Outside of their loss in New Orleans to Tulane, no one scored more than three TDs all season. Obviously their ground game chews up clock but they were within seven at Cincy until late in the 4th quarter.
User avatar
By Sly Fox
Registration Days Posts
#620058
BY THE NUMBERS:

3 Opponents had winning record in 2020 (UAB, Louisiana, Army)
7 Opponents had losing record in 2020
1 Opponent finished even in 2020 - Ole Miss at 5-5

4 Opponents did not win a game in 2020 (Campbell, ULM, UMass combined 0-18 + ODU did not play any games)
1 Opponent managed just one victory - Syracuse 1-10

2 P5 Opponents in 2021
7 G5 Opponents in 2021
4 CUSA Opponents in 2021 (ODU, UAB, MTSU, UNT)
3 Sun Belt Opponents in 2021 (Troy, ULM, Louisiana-Lafayette)
2 FBS Indy Opponents in 2021
1 FCS Opponent in 2021

5 Opponents selected to Bowl Games in 2020 (UAB, UNT, Ole Miss, Louisiana, Army)
2 Opponents won Bowl Games in 2020 (Ole Miss & Louisiana)
2 Opponents had Bowl Games Canceled in 2020 (UAB & Army)


So what does that add to for the Flames in 2021?
User avatar
By Ill flame
Posts
#620301
Geraldos Mustache wrote: January 9th, 2021, 1:43 pm
ballcoach15 wrote: January 9th, 2021, 1:26 pm 2021 schedule is much tougher than 2020 schedule.
Please elaborate...
Based on the F+ metric from this season the 2020 schedule had 8 teams ranked 97 or worse and three in the top 61 (that's where nc st was ranked)

The 2021 schedule has 7 teams ranked worse than 100 and 5 in the top 60. We were ranked 43.

I wouldn't necessarily say it's much tougher but it will be noticeably tougher. There are no unwinnable games on the schedule only more teams that could easily upset us.
ballcoach15, LUOrange liked this
User avatar
By sstaedtler
Posts
#620385
We aren't getting two FCS teams like last year (thank goodness). These are the key games. The other ones I see as should be wins:

at Troy
at Syracuse
at UAB
at Ole Miss
Louisiana
Army

Kind of nice to have two real meaningful home games near the end, though Army may be Thanksgiving weekend. Ole Miss is improving and will be even better next year than 5-5. Syracuse will want revenge. Troy is a better team than their record and showed it by almost beating Coastal.
ballcoach15 liked this
User avatar
By CCWMichael
Posts
#621637
So looking forward to the last two home games in 21 and it only gets better in 22.
This schedule can provide some challenges.
I drank the Kool Aid hard last year (see my Coastal game of the year prediction) but this year will be a bit tougher to drink it.
We will be a bowl team.
I think we lose 2 and could be 3. However, we are strong and hold the potential to run the table.
I know, big talk. Running the table is very difficult but we DO have the right things in place for it to happen. Could of happened in 20.
So, no wishy washy 10 and 2.
Pulling hard for a 1 or no loss season.
User avatar
By LUGrad2000
Registration Days Posts
#621673
We may be the first game at UAB's new stadium. Their first home game is at the Crampton Bowl because the new stadium is not scheduled to be ready yet.

"Liberty then comes to town on Oct. 2 in what will be a monumental day for Birmingham as the first event at Protective Stadium takes place. The Flames were 10-1 in 2020 and finished the year ranked No. 17." from the UAB football site.
CCWMichael liked this
By rtb72
Posts
#621678
LUGrad2000 wrote: February 1st, 2021, 2:23 pm We may be the first game at UAB's new stadium. Their first home game is at the Crampton Bowl because the new stadium is not scheduled to be ready yet.

"Liberty then comes to town on Oct. 2 in what will be a monumental day for Birmingham as the first event at Protective Stadium takes place. The Flames were 10-1 in 2020 and finished the year ranked No. 17." from the UAB football site.
Cryin shame they are going to christen the new stadium with a big fat "L"! :D
LUOrange liked this
User avatar
By sstaedtler
Posts
#621710
This tell us Louisiana, Troy, and Ole Miss should all be better than last year. UAB will be worse. North Texas did just pick up a transfer QB from North Carolina, so maybe that springs them a tad higher.
User avatar
By PAmedic
Registration Days Posts
#622361
bigsmooth wrote: February 19th, 2021, 4:47 pm Haize and i are making the roadie to oxford with a stop in memphis before and im also going to syracuse.
You come thru Philly my phone better ring
User avatar
By Purple Haize
Registration Days Posts
#622371
PAmedic wrote: February 19th, 2021, 7:19 pm
bigsmooth wrote: February 19th, 2021, 4:47 pm Haize and i are making the roadie to oxford with a stop in memphis before and im also going to syracuse.
You come thru Philly my phone better ring
For bail money
User avatar
By Purple Haize
Registration Days Posts
#622372
Sly Fox wrote: February 19th, 2021, 5:37 pm Oxford is not crazy talk for me as well. It all depends on stadium capacity.
Well if you’re going there might be other options... :D
User avatar
By bigsmooth
Registration Days Posts
#625261
PAmedic wrote: February 19th, 2021, 7:19 pm
bigsmooth wrote: February 19th, 2021, 4:47 pm Haize and i are making the roadie to oxford with a stop in memphis before and im also going to syracuse.
You come thru Philly my phone better ring
I'm flying....im not skydiving out of the plane.
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