[Sly Fox]

LIBERTY TO OPEN 2025 SEASON AGAINST MAINE

Posted by Jon Manson | Jun 6, 2024

Liberty is scheduled to open the 2025 season at home against FCS member Maine, according to a copy of the contract obtained by ASOR.

The Flames and Black Bears are scheduled to meet on August 30, 2025 at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty will pay Maine a $400,000 guarantee for the game.

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Not the type of matchup that most were hoping to land, but there it is.

[tyndal23]

The still unannounced game is the one “ most are hoping” has some relevance”...

[tyndal23]

Just realized I played against a Kirk Ferentz coached team...not one of Justino’s finest outings - 3 pick 6 or something nuts. Just remember seeing a lot of Stephen King signs and being really impressed with their Hockey Arena.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Main ... tball_team

[thepostman]

Fun fact: my first college football game I ever attended was at UMaine in Orono when we lived up in Maine.

With that said this isn't really what any of us were hoping but sometimes a necessary evil, especially if people won't agree to play us.

[LUOrange]

Playing FCS schools while CUSA is rated and perceived so weak is very underwhelming and frustrating. But in some ways it's understandable given the nature of scheduling in 2024, Although it's hard to believe that all 124 other FBS teams were unavailable and unwilling to play us. I really hope that our Admin is not tone deaf to fan and SoS criticism towards our schedules.

That said, if we're going to continue playing FCS schools can we at least put a priority on playing regional (VA, NC, TN, SC) and fellow Christian FCS schools? At least regional schools will bring some fans and we'd be helping out a fellow Christian institution, which is the only good aspect to most of the non-D1's MBB schedules.

[A Sea of Red]

That said, if we're going to continue playing FCS schools can we at least put a priority on playing regional (VA, NC, TN, SC) and fellow Christian FCS schools? At least regional schools will bring some fans and we'd be helping out a fellow Christian institution, which is the only good aspect to most of the non-D1's MBB schedules.

I agree with this point. Went back and looked, since we moved FBS, we have played or are scheduled to play 12 FCS teams. 8 of them have been from VA, NC, or TN.

Of the four that weren’t, 3 were in the first 3 years of our FBS move when we played 2 per year and were struggling to fill a schedule.

Maine is the first one we have played that hasn’t fit that mold other than the aforementioned first 3 years.

I think that shows a willingness to play these regional FCS but perhaps one wasn’t available in 2025.

[LUOrange]

That said, if we're going to continue playing FCS schools can we at least put a priority on playing regional (VA, NC, TN, SC) and fellow Christian FCS schools? At least regional schools will bring some fans and we'd be helping out a fellow Christian institution, which is the only good aspect to most of the non-D1's MBB schedules.

I agree with this point. Went back and looked, since we moved FBS, we have played or are scheduled to play 12 FCS teams. 8 of them have been from VA, NC, or TN.

Of the four that weren’t, 3 were in the first 3 years of our FBS move when we played 2 per year and were struggling to fill a schedule.

Maine is the first one we have played that hasn’t fit that mold other than the aforementioned first 3 years.

I think that shows a willingness to play these regional FCS but perhaps one wasn’t available in 2025.

Timing certainly hasn't been good to us, scheduling wise, since joining FBS and CUSA, so LU definitely gets most of the benefit of the doubt. For now.

[cruzan_flame13]

That said, if we're going to continue playing FCS schools can we at least put a priority on playing regional (VA, NC, TN, SC) and fellow Christian FCS schools? At least regional schools will bring some fans and we'd be helping out a fellow Christian institution, which is the only good aspect to most of the non-D1's MBB schedules.

I agree with this point. Went back and looked, since we moved FBS, we have played or are scheduled to play 12 FCS teams. 8 of them have been from VA, NC, or TN.

Of the four that weren’t, 3 were in the first 3 years of our FBS move when we played 2 per year and were struggling to fill a schedule.

Maine is the first one we have played that hasn’t fit that mold other than the aforementioned first 3 years.

I think that shows a willingness to play these regional FCS but perhaps one wasn’t available in 2025.

Timing certainly hasn't been good to us, scheduling wise, since joining FBS and CUSA, so LU definitely gets most of the benefit of the doubt. For now.

In regards of McCaw, the success of Baylor in the 2010's wasn't built in a day . The difference is that we don't depend on boosters and alumni support alone. It is unfortunate to see the schedule that we have in the next couple of seasons, but hopefully things will change for the better sooner than we think it will.

[sstaedtler]

To me, if we don't get a P4 game, we should not schedule an FCS team. In 2026 we have Ball State at home. Imagine if your other out of conference home game is Ball State. Horrible for fans. The whole point of scheduling an FCS team was an easy win towards bowl eligibility. But that was when we were playing 3 P5's a year. If we can't get 6 wins out of this schedule, without an FCS team, we don't deserve a bowl game.

Side note, weird time to announce game with Maine when you have recruits coming in the next few weekends. That is something I would hide, not be anxious to announce.

[tyndal23]

To me, if we don't get a P4 game, we should not schedule an FCS team. In 2026 we have Ball State at home. Imagine if your other out of conference home game is Ball State. Horrible for fans. The whole point of scheduling an FCS team was an easy win towards bowl eligibility. But that was when we were playing 3 P5's a year. If we can't get 6 wins out of this schedule, without an FCS team, we don't deserve a bowl game.

Side note, weird time to announce game with Maine when you have recruits coming in the next few weekends. That is something I would hide, not be anxious to announce.

100%. On the no P4 then no FCS philosophy -. That was one topic mentioned by CFP when it was down to LU / SMU.

If we can’t get the games we want for 25/26 - let’s get started on building South End zone and put on best opening ceremony show in the country. ( my plan isn’t adding seats - just structurally to support future 2nd level and end zone suites later - simply making that end the height of Carter Tower with bell tower and doubling height of existingcurved wall - will make it seem much more like an FBS stadium.