2023 Liberty Flames football team

2023 Liberty Flames football
C-USA champion
Fiesta Bowl, L 6–45 vs. Oregon
ConferenceConference USA
Ranking
APNo. 25
Record13–1 (8–0 C-USA)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorWilly Korn (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinatorNewland Isaac (1st season)
Offensive schemeUp-tempo spread
Co-defensive coordinatorSkylor Magee (1st season)
Base defenseMultiple 4–2–5
Home stadiumWilliams Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Conference USA football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 25 Liberty y$   8 – 0     13 – 1  
New Mexico State y   7 – 1     10 – 5  
Jacksonville State*   6 – 2     9 – 4  
Western Kentucky   5 – 3     8 – 5  
Middle Tennessee   3 – 5     4 – 8  
UTEP   2 – 6     3 – 9  
Sam Houston*   2 – 6     3 – 9  
Louisiana Tech   2 – 6     3 – 9  
FIU   1 – 7     4 – 8  
Championship: Liberty 49, New Mexico State 35
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Liberty Flames football team represented Liberty University in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Flames played their home games at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia, and competed as a first-year member of Conference USA. They were led by first-year head coach Jamey Chadwell.

Schedule

[edit]

Liberty and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.[1][2]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 212:00 p.m.Bowling Green*
CBSSNW 34–2418,811
September 96:00 p.m.New Mexico State
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN+W 33–1720,123
September 1612:00 p.m.at Buffalo*
CBSSNW 55–2713,020
September 236:30 p.m.at FIU
ESPN+W 38–617,437
October 57:00 p.m.Sam Houston
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
CBSSNW 21–1617,100
October 107:30 p.m.at Jacksonville State
ESPNUW 31–1321,745
October 177:00 p.m.Middle Tennessee
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
CBSSNW 42–3516,354
October 247:30 p.m.at Western Kentucky
ESPNUW 42–29[3]16,036
November 46:00 p.m.Louisiana Techdagger
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
CBSSNW 56–3021,647
November 111:00 p.m.Old Dominion*
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN+W 38–1021,481
November 181:00 p.m.UMass*
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN+W 49–2516,860
November 253:30 p.m.at UTEPNo. 25
CBSSNW 42–2810,240
December 17:00 p.m.New Mexico StateNo. 24
CBSSNW 49–3520,077
January 1, 20241:00 p.m.vs. No. 8 OregonNo. 23
ESPNL 6–4547,769

Game summaries

[edit]

vs Bowling Green

[edit]
See also: 2023 Bowling Green Falcons football team
Game One – Bowling Green Falcons (0-0) at Liberty Flames (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bowling Green 0 14 10024
Liberty 7 17 7334

at Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, Virginia

  • Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 78 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 18,811
  • Referee: Jeremy Valentine
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): Chick Hernandez and Taylor McHargue
Game information
First quarter
  • (10:34) LIB – Billy Lucas 2-yard run (Teagen Lenderink kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 71 yards, 4:20; Liberty 7-0)
Second quarter
  • (8:18) LIB – Vaughn Blue 12-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Teagen Lenderink kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 66 yards, 3:52; Liberty 14-0)
  • (6:51) LIB – Kobe Singleton 36-yard interception return Teagen Lenderink kick) (Liberty 21-0)
  • (5:48) LIB – Teagen Lenderink 36-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, :54; Liberty 24-0)
  • (3:36) BG – Ta'ron Keith 14-yard run (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 2:12; Liberty 24-7)
  • (0:20) BG – Trent Simms 76-yard blocked field goal return (Alan Anaya kick)(Liberty 24-14)
Third quarter
  • (11:36) BG – Alan Anaya 34-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 72 yards, 3:20; Liberty 24-17)
  • (8:35) LIB – Bentley Hanshaw 17-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Teagen Lenderink kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:01; Liberty 31-17)
  • (4:04) BG – Odieu Hiliare 32-yard pass from Camden Orth (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:31; Liberty 31-24)
Fourth quarter
  • (2:52) LIB – Teagen Lenderink 36-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 14 yards, 1:24; Liberty 34-24)
Statistics BGSU LIB
First downs 19 22
Total yards 62-328 69-389
Rushing yards 31–191 49–246
Passing yards 137 246
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–31–5 11–20–0
Time of possession 27:05 32:55
Team Category Player Statistics
Bowling Green Passing Connor Bazelak 6/21, 71 yards, 3 INT
Rushing Taron Keith 3 carries, 69 yards, TD
Receiving Odieu Hillare 4 receptions, 59 yards, TD
Liberty Passing Kaidon Salter 11/20, 143 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Kaidon Salter 19 carries, 82 yards
Receiving Treon Sibley 3 receptions, 56 yards

vs New Mexico State

[edit]
See also: 2023 New Mexico State Aggies football team
Game Two – New Mexico State Aggies (1-1) at Liberty Flames (1-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
New Mexico State 7 10 0017
Liberty 7 16 10033

at Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, Virginia

  • Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. MDT/6:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 71 °F (22 °C)
  • Game attendance: 20,123
  • Referee: Ron Hudson
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Matt Warner, Joe Jauch, and Emily Austen
Game information
First quarter
  • (11:22) NMSU – Jamoni Jones 10-yard run (Ethan Albertson kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:38; New Mexico State 7-0)
  • (2:08) LIB – C. J. Daniels 40-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Teagen Lenderink kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 3:15; Tied 7-7)
Second quarter
  • (12:32) NMSU – Ethan Albertson 35-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 69 yards, 4:30; New Mexico State 10-7)
  • (8:40) LIB – Kaidon Salter 3-yard run (kick blocked) (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:52; Liberty 13-10)
  • (5:18) NMSU – Trent Hudson 13-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:22; New Mexico State 17-13)
  • (2:13) LIB – Bentley Hanshaw 24-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Teagen Lenderink kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:05; Liberty 20-17)
  • (0:16) LIB – Teagen Lenderink 22-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 1:32; Liberty 23-17
Third quarter
  • (5:57) LIB – Kaidon Salter 2-yard run (Teagen Lenderink kick) (Drive: 17 plays, 75 yards, 9:03; Liberty 30-17)
  • (1:24) LIB – Teagen Lenderink 29-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 22 yards, 3:02; Liberty 33-17)
Fourth quarter
  • No scoring plays
Statistics NMSU LIB
First downs 16 26
Total yards 50–339 77–526
Rushing yards 24–170 52–250
Passing yards 169 276
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–26–2 15–25–0
Time of possession 22:06 37:54
Team Category Player Statistics
New Mexico State Passing Diego Pavia 12/21, 150 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing Diego Pavia 9 carries, 63 yards
Receiving Chris Bellamy 3 receptions, 74 yards
Liberty Passing Kaidon Salter 15/25, 276 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Quinton Cooley 20 carries, 106 yards
Receiving C. J. Daniels 4 receptions, 129 yards, TD

at Buffalo

[edit]
See also: 2023 Buffalo Bulls football team
Game Three – Liberty Flames (2–0) at Buffalo Bulls (0–2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Liberty 10 14 171455
Buffalo 0 14 7627

at University at Buffalo Stadium • Amherst, New York

  • Date: September 16, 2023
  • Game time: 12 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C); Sunny
  • Game attendance: 13,020
  • Referee: Greg Sujack
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): Jason Knapp (play-by-play); Malik Zaire (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • (11:18) LIB – Nick Brown 39-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 52 yards, 3:38; Liberty 3–0)
  • (5:43) LIB – Treon Sibley 56-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 67 yards, 1:13; Liberty 10–0)
Second quarter
  • (11:03) LIB – Elijah Smoot 42-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 85 yards, 2:50; Liberty 17–0)
  • (8:33) LIB – Kaidon Salter 1-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 27 yards, 1:47; Liberty 24–0)
  • (5:38) BUFF – Darrell Harding Jr. 7-yard pass from Cole Snyder (Alex McNulty kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:55; Liberty 24–7)
  • (0:28) BUFF – Nik McMillan 33-yard pass from Cole Snyder (Alex McNulty kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 89 yards, 1:13; Liberty 24–14)
Third quarter
  • (12:13) LIB – Nick Brown 35-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 1 yards, 1:24; Liberty 27–14)
  • (8:40) LIB – Elijah Smoot 33-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 42 yards, 1:00; Liberty 34–14)
  • (4:20) BUFF – Ron Cook 2-yard pass from Cole Snyder (Alex McNulty kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 77 yards, 4:18; Liberty 34–21)
  • (3:25) LIB – C.J. Daniels 75-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 0:55; Liberty 41–21)
Fourth quarter
  • (14:57) LIB – Austin Henderson 3-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 31 yards, 1:31; Liberty 48–21)
  • (10:14) BUFF – Marlyn Johnson 3-yard pass from Cole Snyder (2-pt conversion failed) (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:43; Liberty 48–27)
  • (6:24) LIB – Aaron Bedgood 49-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 1 plays, 49 yards, 0:10; Liberty 55–27)
Statistics LIB BUFF
First downs 19 22
Total yards 65–569 81–363
Rushing yards 36–225 30–87
Passing yards 344 276
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–29–0 29–51–2
Time of possession 28:35 31:25
Team Category Player Statistics
Liberty Passing Kaidon Salter 16/26, 344 yards, TD
Rushing Kaidon Salter 10 carries, 66 yards, TD
Receiving Treon Sibler 3 receptions, 106 yards, TD
Buffalo Passing Cole Snyder 29/51, 276 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Mike Washington 11 carries, 37 yards
Receiving Nik McMillan 4 receptions, 72 yards, TD

at FIU

[edit]
See also: 2023 FIU Panthers football team
Liberty Flames (3-0) at FIU Panthers (3-1) – Game Summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Liberty 14 10 14038
Florida International 6 0 006

at Riccardo Silva Stadium • Westchester, Florida

  • Date: September 23rd
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C); Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 17,437
  • Referee: Garrett Dickerson
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): AJ Ricketts and Jonathan Zipper
Game information
First quarter
  • (11:21) LIB – Bentley Hanshaw 9-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:35; Liberty 7-0)
  • (9:04) LIB – Treon Sibley 68-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 72 yards, :54; Liberty 14-0)
  • (1:40) FIU – Keyone Jenkins 1-yard run (kick failed) (Drive: 10 plays, 94 yards, 4:50; Liberty 14-6)
Second quarter
  • (2:56) LIB – Billy Lucas 18-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 62 yards, 2:52; Liberty 21-6)
  • (1:50) LIB – Nick Brown 41-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 3 yards, :48; Liberty 24-6)
Third quarter
  • (10:09) LIB – Kaidon Salter 2-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 46 yards, 3:14; Liberty 31-6)
  • (3:48) LIB – Kaidon Salter 1-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 4:52; Liberty 38-6)
Statistics LIB FIU
First downs 22 11
Plays–yards 65-520 57-211
Rushes–yards 44-364 33-64
Passing yards 156 147
Passing: comp–att–int 11-21-1 11-24-1
Time of possession 33:09 26:51
Team Category Player Statistics
Liberty Passing Kaidon Salter 11/21, 156 yards, 2TD, 1INT
Rushing Quinton Cooley, Billy Lucas 12 carries, 102 yards / 11 carries, 102 yards, 1TD
Receiving Treon Sibley 2 receptions, 83 yards, 1TD
Florida International Passing Keyone Jenkins 9/21, 133 yards, 1INT
Rushing Kejon Owens 11 carries, 42 yards
Receiving Kris Mitchell 3 receptions, 89 yards

Sam Houston

[edit]
See also: 2023 Sam Houston Bearkats football team
Game Five – Sam Houston Bearkats (0-4) at Liberty Flames (4-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Sam Houston 10 0 6016
Liberty 7 14 0021

at Williams Stadium
Lynchburg, VA

  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT/7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 68 °F (20 °C)
  • Game attendance: 17,100
  • Referee: Rory Bernard
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): Chick Hernandez and Robert Turbin
  • Box score, Recap
Game information
First quarter
  • (12:52) - LIB - Kaidon Salter 10-yard run (Nick Brown kick), 12:52. Flames 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 74 yards, 2:02.
  • (6:46) - SHSU - Al'Vonte Woodard 7-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 6:46. Tied 7-7. Drive: 12 plays, 85 yards, 6:00.
  • (4:27) - SHSU - Colby Sessums 33-yard field goal, 4:27. Bearkats 10-7. Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 1:32.
Second quarter
  • (14:54) - LIB - Quinton Cooley 1-yard run (Nick Brown kick), 14:54. Flames 14-10. Drive: 9 plays, 77 yards, 4:26.
  • (2:21) - LIB - CJ Daniels 51-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick), 2:21. Flames 21-10. Drive: 4 plays, 62 yards, 1:15.
Third quarter
  • (4:36) - SHSU - Al'Vonte Woodard 20 yard-pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Keegan Shoemaker pass incomplete), 4:36. Flames 21-16. Drive: 6 plays, 68 yards, 2:48.
Statistics SHSU LIB
First downs 19 19
Total yards 327 448
Rushing yards 72 191
Passing yards 255 257
Turnovers 1 1
Time of possession 27:24 32:36
Team Category Player Statistics
Sam Houston State Passing Keegan Shoemaker 27/41, 255 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Keegan Shoemaker 7 rushes, 52 yards
Receiving Noah Smith 13 receptions, 97 yards
Liberty Passing Kaidon Salter 11/19, 257 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Quinton Cooley 17 rushes, 106 yards, TD
Receiving CJ Daniels 5 receptions, 157 yards, TD

at Jacksonville State

[edit]
See also: 2023 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team
Liberty Flames (5-0) vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks (5-1)
1 234Total
Flames 0 000 0
Gamecocks 0 000 0
  • Date: October 10
  • Location: Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium
    Jacksonville, Alabama
  • Game start: 7:30 p.m. CST/5:30 p.m. PST
  • Game attendance: 21,745
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): TBD
  • Sources:
   
Scoring summary
Statistics Liberty Jacksonville State
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Liberty Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jacksonville State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs Middle Tennessee

[edit]
See also: 2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team
Game Seven – Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (2-5) at Liberty Flames (6-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Middle Tennessee 14 7 14035
Liberty 14 7 14742

at Williams Stadium • Lynchburg, Virginia

  • Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2023
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 16,354
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): Carter Blackburn (play-by-play) and Brock Vereen (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • (13:36) MTSU – DJ Riles 3-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 22 yards, 1:04; Middle Tennessee 7-0)
  • (8:37) LIB – Quinton Cooley 5-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:59; Tied 7-7)
  • (6:43) MTSU – Elijah Metcalf 20-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:54; Middle Tennessee 14-7)
  • (0:49) LIB – Quinton Cooley 9-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 97 yards, 5:49; Tied 14-14)
Second quarter
  • (8:29) LIB – Billy Lucas 1-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 77 yards, 4:47; Liberty 21-14)
  • (0:20) MTSU – Zack Dobson 2-yard run (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 3:00; Tied 21-21)
Third quarter
  • (12:43) MTSU – DJ England-Chisholm 36-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 47 yards, 0:21; Middle Tennessee 28-21)
  • (6:41) LIB – Bentley Hanshaw 23-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 12 plays, 77 yards, 5:56; Tied 28-28)
  • (6:10) MTSU – Zack Dobson 72-yard pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin kick) (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:31; Middle Tennessee 35-28)
  • (2:50) LIB – Quinton Cooley 10-yard run (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 3:12; Tied 35-35)
Fourth quarter
  • (14:37) LIB – CJ Daniels 37-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 58 yards, 1:15; Liberty 42-35)
Statistics MTSU LIB
First downs 23 33
Total yards 63–428 81–541
Rushing yards 26–96 61–401
Passing yards 332 140
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–37–2 12–20–1
Time of possession 22:40 37:20
Team Category Player Statistics
Middle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 24/37, 332 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Jaiden Cradle 12 carries, 50 yards
Receiving Zack Dobson 2 receptions, 82 yards, TD
Liberty Passing Kaidon Salter 12/20, 140 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Kaidon Salter 16 carries, 160 yards
Receiving CJ Daniels 6 receptions, 71 yards, TD

vs No. 8 Oregon (Fiesta Bowl)

[edit]
See also: 2023 Oregon Ducks football team
2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
No. 23 Liberty Flames (13-0, 8-0) vs No. 8 Oregon Duck (11-2, 8-1)
1 234Total
No. 23 Flames 6 000 6
• No. 8 Ducks 3 2877 45
  • Sources:
  
Scoring summary
Statistics No. 23 Liberty No. 8 Oregon
First downs 15 28
Plays–yards 52–294 71–584
Rushes–yards 28–168 29–183
Passing yards 126 401
Passing: comp–att–int 15–24–2 33–42–0
Time of possession 24:45 35:15
Team Category Player Statistics
No. 23 Liberty Passing Kaidon Salter 15/24, 126 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Quinton Cooley 8 carries, 79 yards
Receiving CJ Daniels 8 catches, 79 yards
No. 8 Oregon Passing Bo Nix 28/35, 363 yards, 5 TD
Rushing Bucky Irving 14 carries, 117 yards, TD
Receiving Tez Johnson 11 catches, 172 yards, TD

Rankings

[edit]
Further information: 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRV——————RVRVRV252522201825
Coaches————RV—RVRVRVRVRVRV222220RV
CFPNot released———252423Not released

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Graham, Chris (January 10, 2023). "Liberty announces 2023 football schedule: Get ready for mid-week C-USA games". Augusta Free Press. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Sordelett, Damien (January 10, 2023). "Liberty to play five midweek games in inaugural Conference USA season". The News & Advance. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  3. ^ Nations, Jeff (October 26, 2023). "Liberty's punishing ground game helps Flames pull away in second half". Bowling Green Daily News. pp. 1B, 3B.
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