American Football Wiki
Liberty Flames logo 2013-present

The Liberty Flames football program represents Liberty University, a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia, in college football. The Flames compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of Conference USA. The program, which previously competed in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), announced it would start a transition to the top level of NCAA football in July 2017. The Flames became a provisional FBS member in 2018, and became a full FBS member with bowl eligibility in 2019. In 2020, Liberty entered the rankings in the AP Poll at 25 for the first time in program history.

In 2021, Liberty University announced the Flames would become full members of Conference USA effective for the 2023 football season. The Flames current head coach is Jamey Chadwell, who lead the Flames to the programs first New Year 6 bowl and Conference USA title in 2023.

Affiliations[]

  • 2023-present - Conference USA (NCAA FBS)
  • 2018-2022 - NCAA FBS independent
  • 2002-2017 - Big South Conference (NCAA FCS/1-AA)
  • 1988-2001 - NCAA 1-AA independent
  • 1981-1987 - NCAA Division II independent
  • 1973-1980 - NAIA independent

Seasons[]

2020s[]

Season Coach Record
2025 Jamey Chadwell
2024 Jamey Chadwell 8-4
2023 Jamey Chadwell 13-1
2022 Hugh Freeze; Josh Aldridge 8-5
2021 Hugh Freeze 8-5
2020 Hugh Freeze 10-1

2010s[]

Season Coach Record
2019 Hugh Freeze 8-5
2018 Turner Gill 6-6
2017 Turner Gill 6-5
2016 Turner Gill 6-5
2015 Turner Gill 6-5
2014 Turner Gill 9-5
2013 Turner Gill 8-4
2012 Turner Gill 6-5
2011 Danny Rocco 7-4
2010 Danny Rocco 8-3

2000s[]

Season Coach Record
2009 Danny Rocco 8-3
2008 Danny Rocco 10-2
2007 Danny Rocco 8-3
2006 Danny Rocco 6-5
2005 Ken Karcher 1-10
2004 Ken Karcher 6-5
2003 Ken Karcher 6-6
2002 Ken Karcher 2-9
2001 Ken Karcher 3-8
2000 Ken Karcher 3-8

1990s[]

Season Coach Record
1999 Sam Rutigliano 4-7
1998 Sam Rutigliano 5-6
1997 Sam Rutigliano 9-2
1996 Sam Rutigliano 5-6
1995 Sam Rutigliano 8-3
1994 Sam Rutigliano 5-6
1993 Sam Rutigliano 6-5
1992 Sam Rutigliano 7-4
1991 Sam Rutigliano 4-7
1990 Sam Rutigliano 7-4

1980s[]

Season Coach Record
1989 Sam Rutigliano 7-3
1988 Morgan Hout 8-3
1987 Morgan Hout 3-7
1986 Morgan Hout 1-9
1985 Morgan Hout 3-4-1
1984 Morgan Hout 5-6
1983 Tom Dowling 2-9
1982 Tom Dowling 7-4
1981 Tom Dowling 1-9
1980 Tom Dowling 7-3

1970s[]

Season Coach Record
1979 Tom Dowling 9-1-1
1978 Tom Dowling 4-5-1
1977 Tom Dowling 3-7
1976 John Cartwright 5-4-1
1975 John Cartwright 4-5
1974 John Cartwright 5-4
1973 Lee Royer 3-3

History[]

See also: List of Liberty Flames football seasons

In 1971, Jerry Falwell and Elmer L. Towns established a private Christian school in Lynchburg Baptist College. Falwell stated a plan to “have our athletic program comparable to USC, to Notre Dame, to Alabama, to anybody in time,”, with the football team beginning play in 1973. They played in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics until 1980 before moving onto NCAA Division II for seven years. They played in Division I-AA from 1988 to 2017. Fred Banks was the first Liberty player to be drafted in the NFL in 1985. The Flames had their practice facility on Treasure Island near Riverside Park until the flood of November 6, 1985, which devastated the facility. They moved their football operations to campus and, in 1989, to the newly constructed Williams Stadium there.

Conference championships[]

Liberty has won nine conference championships: eight in the Big South Conference (two outright and six shared) and one in Conference USA.

Season Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
2007 Big South Conference Danny Rocco 8–3 4–0
2008 10–2 5–0
2009† 8–3 5–1
2010† 8–3 5–1
2012† Turner Gill 6–5 5–1
2013† 8–4 4–1
2014† 9–5 4–1
2016† 6–5 4–1
2023 Conference USA Jamey Chadwell 13–1 8–0

† Co-championship

Rivalries[]

Coastal Carolina[]

Main article: Coastal Carolina–Liberty football rivalry

The Coastal Carolina–Liberty football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team of Coastal Carolina University and Liberty Flames football team of Liberty University. Liberty and Coastal Carolina first played in 2003. The teams played every year from 2003 to 2016 and met in the 2020 Cure Bowl. The Flames have more wins in the rivalry, having won 8 out of 15 games. Liberty holds an 8-7 over the Chanticleers. The school's haven't faced off since the 2020 season.

Middle Tennessee[]

Main article: Middle Tennessee–Liberty football rivalry

Liberty holds a 3-1 lead over Middle Tennessee, the series dates back to 1982. Both programs compete against each other in Conference USA since the Flames arrival in 2023.

Bowl games[]

Liberty has participated in six bowl games since joining FBS in 2018, going 3–3.

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
2019 Hugh Freeze Cure Bowl Georgia Southern W 23–16
2020 Hugh Freeze Cure Bowl Coastal Carolina W 37–34 OT
2021 Hugh Freeze LendingTree Bowl Eastern Michigan W 56–20
2022 Josh Aldridge Boca Raton Bowl Toledo L 19–21
2023 Jamey Chadwell Fiesta Bowl Oregon L 6–45
2024 Jamey Chadwell Bahamas Bowl Buffalo L 7-26

† New Year's Six bowl game

Playoff appearances[]

Liberty made one appearance in the I-AA/FCS playoffs between 1989 and 2017, going 1–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
2014 First Round James Madison W 26–21
2014 Second Round Villanova L 22–29

External Links[]