Game Day: LA Tech

Liberty (4-6, 3-3 CUSA) will visit Louisiana Tech (5-5, 3-3 CUSA) for the first time in program history and its final road game of the season, Saturday afternoon.

Broadcast Information:
TV: ESPN+

Broadcast team: Malcolm Butler (play-by-play) Luke McCown (analyst) and Madison Kaufman (sidlines)

Radio: LFSN Radio (Local: 88.3 FM | Liberty Flames Mobile App | LibertyFlames.com)

Broadcast team: Alan York (play-by-play), Jason Porter (analyst) and Nick Pierce (sidelines)

Game Day Information:
Location: Ruston, La.
Stadium: Joe Aillet Stadium
Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT

News and Notes:

After losing to Missouri State 21-17 on a touchdown with 27 seconds remaining on Nov. 8 and falling at FIU 34-27 in overtime last Saturday, the Flames need to win their last two games to earn bowl eligibility for the seventh consecutive season.
The Flames won their only previous meeting with the Bulldogs, recording a 56-30 Homecoming victory at Williams Stadium on Nov. 4, 2023.
Liberty has never won a game in the state of Louisiana, falling 35-14 at Louisiana in 2019 and 31-28 at ULM in 2021.
Jamey Chadwell is 25-11 in his third year at Liberty and owns a 56-17 coaching record dating back to the start of 2020. His next victory will be No. 125 of his 16-year head coaching career.
Running back Evan Dickens has recorded three straight 100-yard rushing efforts for the first time in his career, totaling 450 yards on the ground over that span. The first-year Flame ranks No. 13 nationally with 93.8 rushing yards per contest and is 154 yards away from 1,000 for the season.
Kicker Jay Billingsley has connected on 10-of-11 field goal attempts over the last five games. Last Saturday at FIU, he nailed a 48-yard FG as time expired to send the game into overtime.

More Game Notes vs. LA Tech

"4 Downs" with LA Tech

#1 Liberty has scored a touchdown on its first drive in four of the last five games, going 3-2 during that stretch. Jay Billingsley's last-second 48-yard game-tying FG at FIU was the Flames' first game-tying FG at the end of regulation since John Lunsford's 60-yarder against Richmond on Oct. 4, 2014. Billingsley has only missed one FG over the last five games, going 10-of-11.

#2 Both Liberty and LA Tech are coming off back-to-back losses. As a result, the Flames need to win their next two games to achieve bowl eligibility for the seventh consecutive season and record their 20th straight campaign with 6+ victories. CJ Bazile, Jr.'s fumble return at New Mexico State on Sept. 7, 2024 is Liberty's only defensive TD over the last two years. LA Tech has scored a nation-leading seven defensive TDs (5 INT, 2 fumble return) in 2025.

#3 Evan Dickens has rushed for 100 or more yards in each of the last three games, totaling 450 yards over that span. He needs 154 yards on Saturday to give Liberty at least one 1,000-yard rusher in all three seasons under Jamey Chadwell. Such a performance would match Quinton Cooley's longest streak of 100-yard games from last season (four).

#4 LA Tech has played well at home this season, going 4-1 at Joe Aillet Stadium. The Bulldogs' lone home defeat was a 28-27 overtime loss to WKU on Oct. 21. Liberty will visit Joe Aillet Stadium for the first time in its 58 seasons serving as the Bulldogs' home field. Terry Bradshaw threw the stadium's first TD pass on Sept. 28, 1968.

A LIBERTY WIN WOULD...

Keep the Flames undefeated (2-0) against LA Tech all-time, including 1-0 both at home and on the road.
Give the Flames their first-ever win in the state of Louisiana, improving their record against Pelican State opponents to 3-3 all-time (1-2 in Louisiana).
Bring the Flames within one game of bowl eligibility with one contest remaining in the season.
Keep the Flames' quest alive for 20 straight seasons with six or more wins, a streak which started in 2006.
Improve the team's all-time record against CUSA opponents (at time of meeting) to 27-7, including 18-6 since the Flames joined the conference in 2023.
Give the Flames a 9-3 record in November games under Jamey Chadwell, including 2-2 this season.
Represent career victory No. 125 for Jamey Chadwell in 16 seasons as a collegiate head coach.
Be the Flames' first triumph this season over a team which played in a bowl game in 2024.

CUSA Success
Liberty is 26-7 all-time against Conference USA opponents at time of meeting. That includes a 17-6 record versus CUSA teams since joining the league in 2023.

The Flames went 8-0 in conference play during their first year in the league, on the way to the CUSA title and a New Year's Six berth.

Liberty was the first CUSA team to win each of its first 11 regular-season Conference USA games, prior to the Flames' loss to Kennesaw State, Oct. 23, 2024.

Bounce Back
Liberty is 4-6 in games immediately following a loss under Jamey Chadwell, who is 25-11 at the helm.

However, this season, the Flames are 1-4 after a loss, mostly due to their four-game losing streak during September. The Flames' 19-8 win at UTEP snapped their winless streak on Oct. 8.

Louisiana First
Liberty is 2-3 all-time against teams from Louisiana, including 1-0 versus LA Tech, 1-1 against ULM and 0-2 versus Louisiana.

The Flames are looking for their first win in the state of Louisiana, as Liberty fell at Louisiana 35-14 in 2019 before dropping a 31-28 game at ULM during the 2021 season.

Liberty has won football games in 21 different states and the District of Columbia.

The last state that Liberty football won in for the first time was Arkansas, defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks 21-19 on Nov. 5, 2022 in Fayetteville.

Vs. Bowl Teams
Louisiana Tech is one of four opponents on Liberty's 2025 schedule who played in a bowl game last season, joining Jax State, James Madison and Bowling Green.

The Bulldogs lost 27-6 to Army in the 2024 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.

So far this season, four teams on Liberty's schedule have earned bowl eligibility in Jax State, James Madison, Kennesaw State and Old Dominion. Missouri State is 7-3 but is in transition to the FBS level.

Schedule

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Players Mentioned

CJ Bazile, Jr.

Jay Billingsley

Quinton Cooley

Evan Dickens