Game Day: Campbell

Coming off its best season in program history, Liberty will kick off the 2024 campaign by hosting Campbell, Saturday evening at Williams Stadium.

"4 Downs" with Campbell

#1 Expectations are high for the Flames this season after winning their first FBS conference title (CUSA) and making their first New Year's Six bowl game appearance (Vrbo Fiesta Bowl) in 2023. Liberty tops the 2024 CUSA Preseason Poll and is getting votes in both national Top 25 polls. This is Liberty's first FCS matchup since Oct. 15, 2022, when the Flames topped Gardner-Webb.

#2 Both Liberty (CUSA) and Campbell (CAA) are beginning their second season in their current conferences. This is the second all-time gridiron meeting between the Flames and Camels, both of which have come in season openers (also 2021). Jamey Chadwell begins his second season with the Flames. He was the only first-year head coach to lead his team to a New Year's Six bowl game in 2023 and was named Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year.

#3 Each of Liberty's first three games this season will be played against a team with a first-year head coach, starting with Campbell's Braxton Harris. Although it has only been three years since Liberty last faced Campbell, only seven current Flames (list appears on page 4) appeared in that game. Liberty returns its top three rushers from the nation's No. 1 rushing attack in 2023.

#4 Liberty was the only FBS team with two 400-yard rushing games last season. The Flames rushed for a program and CUSA all-time record 4,106 yards in 2023. After going 8-0 at Williams Stadium to set a program record for home wins a year ago, Liberty will kick off 2024 with four of its first six contests in Lynchburg.

A LIBERTY WIN WOULD...

Mark the 300th victory in program history.
Keep both the Flames (2-0) and Jamey Chadwell (4-0) perfect all-time when facing Campbell.
Extend the Flames' regular-season winning streak to 13.
Push the Flames' home winning streak to nine games, giving Liberty a 33-6 record at Williams Stadium since joining FBS in 2018.
Be the Flames' fifth straight season-opening triumph and eighth in the last nine seasons, boosting Liberty's record in season openers to 27-25 all-time.
Make Liberty 9-0 vs. FCS opponents since joining the FBS ranks in 2018.
Represent the Flames' second straight victory over a CAA opponent, making Liberty 5-24 all-time versus the league.
Mark the Flames' 14th consecutive win when hosting an opponent from North Carolina at Williams Stadium.

Home Sweet Home
Liberty is 32-6 at Williams Stadium since joining FBS in 2018 and 145-55 all-time at the facility.

The Flames set a program record for home wins (8) last year and were the only FBS team who went 8-0 at home. Prior to that, Army in 2020 was the last non-Power 5 Team to go 8-0 at home in a season.

Liberty's current eight-game home winning streak is its longest since a program-record 15-game home win streak from Sept. 14, 2019 through Oct. 30, 2021.

For Openers
Liberty is 26-25 all-time in season openers, having won its first game in each of the last four seasons.

Starting with a 48-45 win at Baylor to begin the 2017 season, the Flames have won seven out of their last eight season openers. The only season-opening loss in that span was Aug. 31, 2019 against No. 22 Syracuse.

Liberty has only played three season openers against FCS opponents (at time of meeting) since 2004. Most recently, the Flames opened the 2021 season with a 48-7 win over Campbell at Williams Stadium.

PERFECT Regular Season
Liberty carries a program-record 12-game regular-season winning streak into this season.

The Flames were the only Group of Five team to go undefeated in the regular season last year. Only Georgia (39 games), Michigan (28), Washington (18) and Florida State (17) own longer active regular-season winning streaks than Liberty among FBS schools.

Liberty tied the 2011 Houston Cougars (13-1) and 2014 Marshall Thundering Herd (13-1) for the most wins by a Conference USA football team in a single season.

FCS Success
After facing a schedule of only FBS opponents for the first time in program history last year, Liberty opens the 2024 season against FCS program, Campbell.

Since joining FBS football in 2018, Liberty is 8-0 against FCS opponents. In Liberty's last four meetings with FCS foes, the Flames have outscored opponents by a combined 155-48.

However, Liberty's last FCS meeting was a one-point win, 21-20 over Gardner-Webb on Oct. 15, 2022.

North Carolina Notes
Saturday will be Liberty's 90th game all-time against a varsity opponent from North Carolina. Liberty has played more games against North Carolina opponents than versus any other state.

The Flames are 43-44-2 all-time against North Carolina opponents, including 27-17 in Lynchburg and 23-7 at Williams Stadium. The Flames have won 13 straight home games versus North Carolina teams since a 27-24 loss to Gardner-Webb on Oct. 21, 2006.

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