The Rise of the Flames: A History of Liberty University Football

The Liberty Flames football program represents Liberty University, a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Flames compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of Conference USA. From its humble beginnings to its recent successes, the program has undergone significant transformations, marked by key milestones and memorable moments.

The Early Years: Building a Foundation

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 into 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.

Big South Conference Dominance

The 2000s marked a period of significant success for the Flames, particularly within the Big South Conference.

2007: First Big South Championship

In 2007, the Flames captured their first Big South Conference Football championship with a 31-0 victory over Gardner-Webb.

2008: Back-to-Back Champions

In 2008, Liberty ran its unbeaten Big South streak to 11-straight games, finishing back-to-back conference championship seasons with a 30-10 victory over Gardner-Webb. The Flames finished with a 10-2 record on the year and finished the conference slate unbeaten at 5-0. The Flames became the first team in Big South history to win five conference games in a season and joined Gardner-Webb as the only two teams to post consecutive unbeaten seasons.

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2009: Undefeated Streak

Undefeated in Big South play for 2009, the Flames just needed to capture a win over Stony Brook in the season finale to secure a 3rd straight Big South Conference Championship. Stony Brook who had only lost one game in Big South play (a 30-27 overtime loss to Charleston Southern the previous week) for 2009 could claim half of the Big South Championship with a win over Liberty.

2010-2014: Continued Success

Liberty again became conference co-champions again in 2010. Liberty became the conference co-champion for the third time in 2012. After starting off 2-0 in conference play, Liberty traveled to Coastal Carolina, where they lost to the Chanticleers 36-12, bringing their overall record to 3-5. Liberty would then play then ninth ranked Stony Brook, beating them 28-14, also extending their at home conference win streak which dates back to 2006. In order to win a share at the Big South title, they would have to beat the Virginia Military Institute Keydets. The 2013 Flames shared the conference championship for a second consecutive year in 2013. Liberty opened up conference play at home against Coastal Carolina, where they let a 19-point lead slip away in the second half as the Chanticleers rallied to win in double overtime, 55-52. The Flames would rebound with a shutout victory at Gardner-Webb to mark the first shutout in Turner Gill's eight seasons as a head coach. After victories at home over VMI and Presbyterian, the Flames captured a share of the Big South title with a 56-14 victory at Charleston Southern who has previously beaten Coastal Carolina. Liberty became the conference co-champion for the third consecutive year in 2014. Liberty started Big South Conference play against Gardner-Webb with a 34-0 shutout victory. After three consecutive conference victories, the Flames fell at home to Charleston Southern, 38-36. The loss to Charleston Southern would be Liberty's only loss in Big South play. The Flames rebounded with a 15-14 win over rival Coastal Carolina (ranked No. 1 in the FCS polls at the time), and Liberty clinched a share of the Big South Conference championship. Liberty also earned its first ever FCS playoff berth in school history.

2016: Eighth Conference Championship

Liberty earned a conference co-championship again in 2016, marking their eighth conference championship. They finished the season 6-5, 4-1 in Big South play to share the conference championship with Charleston Southern.

Transition to FBS and Bowl Game Victories

In July 2017, the program announced it would start a transition to the top level of NCAA football. The Flames officially moved to the FBS in 2018, marking a new chapter in the program's history.

2019: First FBS Bowl Win

For the 2019 season, the Liberty Flames would finish 8-5. They would make and win their first bowl game as an FBS program.

Read also: History of Liberty's Flames

2020: AP Top 25 Ranking

In 2020, after a 6-0 start, Liberty made it in the AP Top 25 Poll for the first time in their program history.

2023: Conference USA Champions and Fiesta Bowl Appearance

In Jamey Chadwell's first season as the Flames' head coach, he led Liberty to an undefeated regular season and a Conference USA Championship over New Mexico State in Liberty's first season in Conference USA. Following the Championship win, Liberty got the Group of Five New Year's Six Bowl Bid. On January 1, 2024, the Flames lost 45-6 to the Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl, their first major bowl appearance in school history. The following season, the Flames under Chadwell finished 8-4 and received an invitation to the Bahamas Bowl vs Buffalo.

2025: Roster Turnover and Future Prospects

In 2025, the Flames significant roster turnover due to the ongoing transfer portal situation.

Bowl Game History

Liberty has participated in six bowl games since joining FBS in 2018, amassing a 3-3 record.

Rivalries

Liberty maintains football rivalries with several universities.

Coastal Carolina

Liberty maintains a football rivalry with Coastal Carolina which began in 2003. The teams played every year from 2003 to 2016 and met in the 2020 Cure Bowl.

James Madison

Liberty maintains a football rivalry with James Madison which began in 1980. The teams played almost every year from 1980 to 1992 and then again from 2000 to 2014. The rivalry is set to renew in 2025, marked by the recent expansion of the game series where the teams are set to play each other through to 2040, marking the longest contracted game series in FBS football.

Old Dominion

Liberty maintains a football rivalry with Old Dominion which began in 2013. The teams played 5 times from 2013-2024. The rivalry was renewed starting with the 2025 season.

Notable Figures

Several individuals have played pivotal roles in the history of Liberty University football.

Jerry Falwell

Falwell never played for the football program, but he founded the university in 1971.

Samkon Gado

Samkon Gado (RB), former professional football player for the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins and St.

Rashad Jennings

Liberty to retire Rashad Jennings' #23 jersey at FIU Game Sept. 26.

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