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 |