Game Day: Old Dominion

Liberty (9-0, 7-0 CUSA) continues a three-game homestand by welcoming Old Dominion (4-5, 3-3 Sun Belt) to Williams Stadium for CFAW/Military Appreciation Weekend.

Game Day Coverage:

Liberty vs. Old Dominion (Williams Stadium)
Kickoff: 1:02 p.m. EST
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station – 88.3 FM Lynchburg)

"4 Downs" with Old Dominion

#1 Liberty is ranked No. 25 in this week's AP Top 25 Poll, marking the Flames' first national ranking of the season and their first in almost exactly a year. Liberty's last ranking was a No. 19 listing in both polls (AP and Coaches) on Nov. 6, 2022. Saturday will mark the Flames' first meeting with an in-state opponent in 2023. Liberty is 45-39 all-time when facing opponents from Virginia.

#2 Liberty currently ranks No. 2 nationally to Air Force with 283.3 rushing yards per game. When the Flames rushed for a program single-season record 2,614 yards in 2003, they averaged 217.8 yards per contest. Liberty is already within 65 yards of breaking that record with five games remaining. Jamey Chadwell is facing ODU for the second straight year. His Coastal Carolina squad lost a 49-21 home decision to the Monarchs on Oct. 15, 2022.

#3 WR CJ Daniels has caught a TD pass in each of the last three games. The last Liberty player to do so was Antonio Gandy-Golden, who hauled in a TD pass in four straight contests in 2019. Liberty ranks No. 1 nationally in three statistical categories, including interceptions (16), fewest tackles for loss allowed/game (2.89) and most passing yards/completion (17.18 by Kaidon Salter).

#4 Liberty is seeking its fourth win over Old Dominion since joining the FBS in 2018. The Monarchs would become the third opponent the Flames have defeated four times as FBS members (New Mexico State and UMass). The Flames are in a stretch of four home games in five weeks, culminating with the CUSA title game on Dec. 1.

A LIBERTY WIN WOULD...

Equal the program record for victories in a season. The Flames previously won 10 contests in 2008 (10-2) and 2020 (10-1).
Extend the Flames' best-ever start to a season. The team's best start prior to this year was 8-0 in 2020.
Give the Flames their fourth winning streak of 10 or more games all-time and longest since winning 10 in a row, Nov. 30, 2019 through Nov. 14, 2020.
Improve the Flames' all-time record when ranked inside the FBS Top 25 to 5-2.
Give the Flames their seventh season with six or more home wins and first since 2020 (6-0).
Mark the Flames' fourth straight win over Old Dominion, giving Liberty a 4-1 advantage in the head-to-head series.
Be the Flames' third consecutive victory over a Sun Belt opponent, boosting Liberty's all-time record vs. Sun Belt foes to 10-3.

HOME SWEET HOME
Liberty is 29-6 at Williams Stadium since joining FBS in 2018. The Flames' first game as an FBS team was Sept. 1, 2018, when Liberty scored 42 unanswered points to pull away for a 52-10 victory over Old Dominion.

This is the eighth time that the Flames have won their first five home games in a season and first since going 6-0 at Williams Stadium in 2020.

The Flames will host eight games at Williams Stadium, including the Conference USA Championship Game. Arizona State, Baylor and Mississippi State are the only other FBS teams with eight home games in 2023, pending further conference championship hosts.

FAST START
Liberty is off to a 9-0 start, its best start to a season in program history. The previous best was 8-0 in 2020.

Jamey Chadwell is the only first-year head coach to guide the Flames to wins in each of his first nine games. The Flames are the only unbeaten team in FBS football remaining this season who has a first-year head coach.

Liberty is one of seven FBS teams to remain unbeaten at 9-0, joining Florida State, Georgia, James Madison, Michigan, Ohio State and Washington.

The Flames are looking to become the first Conference USA team since UTSA (11-0 start) in 2021 to start 10-0.

SUN BELT SUCCESS
Liberty is 9-3 all-time against Sun Belt opponents at time of meeting, including 2-1 at Williams Stadium.

In 2022, Liberty went 2-0 versus Sun Belt foes, opening the year with a 29-27, four-overtime win at Southern Miss and then beating ODU 38-24, Oct. 1.

Liberty beat Sun Belt teams in its first two bowl games, defeating Georgia Southern in the 2019 Cure Bowl and edging Coastal Carolina in the 2020 Cure Bowl.

CLOSE CALLS
Each of Old Dominion's last eight games has been decided by seven or fewer points, with ODU going 4-4 in those one-score games.

By contrast, Liberty has played just two games this season that have been within seven points, a 21-16 win over Sam Houston, Oct. 5 and a 42-35 victory against Middle Tennessee, Oct. 17.

QUICK HISTORY VS. ODU
Liberty is 3-1 all-time against Old Dominion, including 3-0 during its FBS era. The Flames have won their two home games against the Monarchs by a combined score of 97-27.

On Oct. 1, 2022, Liberty defeated ODU 38-24. Ricky Rahne's Monarchs rebounded with a 49-21 win at Jamey Chadwell's Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in their next game.

Schedule

Players Mentioned

CJ Daniels

Kaidon Salter

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