11/5/2026 9:38:00 AM | Football
CUSA co-leader Liberty (7-1, 4-0 CUSA) will open its November slate with a visit to a familiar foe, New Mexico State (3-5, 2-2 CUSA).
Broadcast Information:
TV: ESPNU
Location: Las Cruces, N.M.
Stadium: Aggie Memorial Stadium
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. MT
"4 Downs" with New Mexico State
#1 Liberty ranks No. 1 in CUSA for both rushing offense (212.3 ypg) and rushing defense (105.1 ypg) this season. The Flames will take on the conference's leading rusher in New Mexico State's James Jones, who ranks No. 11 nationally with 111.1 ypg. Liberty has not allowed an opposing player to rush for 100 yards in a game in 2026.
#2 Liberty is receiving votes in both national Top 25 polls this week. It is the first time the Flames have picked up votes in both polls during the same week since Oct. 20, 2024. Liberty allowed its first two opponents this season to score 20+ points but has not done so since. If the Flames hold New Mexico State below the 20-point mark, they would set a program record of seven straight contests limiting the opposing team to 19 points or fewer.
#3 Liberty has only allowed one opposing QB to throw for 300 yards since the start of 2024 (Delaware's Nick Minicucci in 2025). Chase Reeves is a perfect 11-for-11 on field goals during his first season as a Flame. The Liberty record for consecutive field goals made without a miss is 13, co-held by Daniel Whitehead (1991-92) and newly inducted Hall of Famer Matt Bevins (2010).
#4 The Flames are 7-0 this season and 31-4 under Jamey Chadwell when outrushing their opponents. The Flames have been impressive in the fourth quarter this season, outscoring opponents 80-27. Each of the last two Liberty-New Mexico State clashes (2024 and 2025) have seen the Flames overcome a fourth quarter deficit to win.
A LIBERTY WIN WOULD...
10th time
Saturday will be the 10th all-time meeting between Liberty and New Mexico State in football. The Aggies will become the 12th team that Liberty has faced 10 or more times all-time and the first that the Flames have played 10 times in their FBS era.
Four times in the series, the winning team has scored 49 points, including the first-ever meeting, a 49-41 Aggie win in Las Cruces on Oct. 6, 2018.
These two teams joined the CUSA together in 2023, with Liberty beating New Mexico State 49-35 in the 2023 CUSA Championship Game.
Five times, the Liberty-New Mexico State game has been decided by eight points or fewer, including in each of the last two seasons.
Flames Quarter(s)
Liberty did not allow a point in the fourth quarter of any of its first four games.
Liberty has outscored opponents by a combined 80-27 in the fourth quarter, but also dominate the first (71-23) and third quarters (58-14).
The Flames have not allowed a point in the first quarter in the last four games, and have shut out opponents in the third quarter in each of the last five contests.
On Winning Streak
The Flames have posted their first seven-game winning streak since Liberty won each of its first 13 games under current Head Coach Jamey Chadwell in 2023.
It is the sixth winning streak of seven games or more in program history and second under Chadwell.
Liberty's seven-game winning streak is tied with Boise State for fourth longest active winning streak among FBS members, trailing only Utah (14), Miami (Fla.) (8) and UCLA (8).
Don't Leave Early
In each of Liberty's games this season, points have been scored within the last minute of the first half.
at JMU - Chase Reeves FG as time expired in 1st half
vs. G-W - Chase Reeves FG as time expired in 1st half
vs. Ball St. - Purdie TD pass to Person w/13 seconds left
at CCU - Coastal Carolina TD pass with 24 seconds left
at Delaware - Peyton Jones TD rush with 39 seconds left
vs. SHSU - Sam Houston FG with 16 seconds left
at Kennesaw State - KSU FG with 31 seconds left
vs. FIU - Kam Davis TD rush with 41 seconds left
Wire to Wire
Liberty trailed at some point in 10 straight games before beating Delaware, Sam Houston, Kennesaw State and FIU wire to wire.
This is the first time since Sept. 14 through Oct. 5, 2019 (5 games) that the Flames have not trailed at any point in four or more consecutive games.
Broadcast Information:
TV: ESPNU
- Broadcast team: Joe Tordy (play-by-play) and Forrest Conoly (analyst)
- Broadcast team: Alan York (play-by-play) and Jason Porter (analyst)
Location: Las Cruces, N.M.
Stadium: Aggie Memorial Stadium
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. MT
"4 Downs" with New Mexico State
#1 Liberty ranks No. 1 in CUSA for both rushing offense (212.3 ypg) and rushing defense (105.1 ypg) this season. The Flames will take on the conference's leading rusher in New Mexico State's James Jones, who ranks No. 11 nationally with 111.1 ypg. Liberty has not allowed an opposing player to rush for 100 yards in a game in 2026.
#2 Liberty is receiving votes in both national Top 25 polls this week. It is the first time the Flames have picked up votes in both polls during the same week since Oct. 20, 2024. Liberty allowed its first two opponents this season to score 20+ points but has not done so since. If the Flames hold New Mexico State below the 20-point mark, they would set a program record of seven straight contests limiting the opposing team to 19 points or fewer.
#3 Liberty has only allowed one opposing QB to throw for 300 yards since the start of 2024 (Delaware's Nick Minicucci in 2025). Chase Reeves is a perfect 11-for-11 on field goals during his first season as a Flame. The Liberty record for consecutive field goals made without a miss is 13, co-held by Daniel Whitehead (1991-92) and newly inducted Hall of Famer Matt Bevins (2010).
#4 The Flames are 7-0 this season and 31-4 under Jamey Chadwell when outrushing their opponents. The Flames have been impressive in the fourth quarter this season, outscoring opponents 80-27. Each of the last two Liberty-New Mexico State clashes (2024 and 2025) have seen the Flames overcome a fourth quarter deficit to win.
A LIBERTY WIN WOULD...
- Give the Flames their first eight-game winning streak since Liberty opened the 2023 season with 13 consecutive victories (Sept. 2-Dec. 1, 2023). It would be the sixth winning streak of 8+ contests in program history.
- Mark the Flames' fifth consecutive victory over New Mexico State, improving the team's all-time record against the Aggies to 8-2.
- Enable the Flames to start CUSA play with a 5-0 record for the first time since they went 8-0 in conference play in 2023.
- Give the Flames a 22-8 record in their first 30 matchups with CUSA opponents since joining the conference in 2023.
- Be the Flames' fourth road triumph of the year, equaling the team's total amount of road wins from the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined.
- Mark the 17th time in 54 seasons as a football program the Flames have recorded eight or more victories, including the seventh 8+ win campaign in the last eight years.
10th time
Saturday will be the 10th all-time meeting between Liberty and New Mexico State in football. The Aggies will become the 12th team that Liberty has faced 10 or more times all-time and the first that the Flames have played 10 times in their FBS era.
Four times in the series, the winning team has scored 49 points, including the first-ever meeting, a 49-41 Aggie win in Las Cruces on Oct. 6, 2018.
These two teams joined the CUSA together in 2023, with Liberty beating New Mexico State 49-35 in the 2023 CUSA Championship Game.
Five times, the Liberty-New Mexico State game has been decided by eight points or fewer, including in each of the last two seasons.
Flames Quarter(s)
Liberty did not allow a point in the fourth quarter of any of its first four games.
Liberty has outscored opponents by a combined 80-27 in the fourth quarter, but also dominate the first (71-23) and third quarters (58-14).
The Flames have not allowed a point in the first quarter in the last four games, and have shut out opponents in the third quarter in each of the last five contests.
On Winning Streak
The Flames have posted their first seven-game winning streak since Liberty won each of its first 13 games under current Head Coach Jamey Chadwell in 2023.
It is the sixth winning streak of seven games or more in program history and second under Chadwell.
Liberty's seven-game winning streak is tied with Boise State for fourth longest active winning streak among FBS members, trailing only Utah (14), Miami (Fla.) (8) and UCLA (8).
Don't Leave Early
In each of Liberty's games this season, points have been scored within the last minute of the first half.
at JMU - Chase Reeves FG as time expired in 1st half
vs. G-W - Chase Reeves FG as time expired in 1st half
vs. Ball St. - Purdie TD pass to Person w/13 seconds left
at CCU - Coastal Carolina TD pass with 24 seconds left
at Delaware - Peyton Jones TD rush with 39 seconds left
vs. SHSU - Sam Houston FG with 16 seconds left
at Kennesaw State - KSU FG with 31 seconds left
vs. FIU - Kam Davis TD rush with 41 seconds left
Wire to Wire
Liberty trailed at some point in 10 straight games before beating Delaware, Sam Houston, Kennesaw State and FIU wire to wire.
This is the first time since Sept. 14 through Oct. 5, 2019 (5 games) that the Flames have not trailed at any point in four or more consecutive games.
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, November 04
Tuesday, November 03
Tuesday, November 03
Tuesday, November 03