2023 Liberty Flames football team

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2023
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
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

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

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 212:00 p.m.
CBSSN
W 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
Riccardo Silva Stadium
  • Westchester, FL
    		• 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
    Fiesta Bowl)
    		ESPNL 6–4547,769

    Game summaries

    vs Bowling Green

    See also: 2023 Bowling Green Falcons football team
    Game One – Bowling Green Falcons (0-0) at Liberty Flames (0-0) – Game summary
    Period 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.
      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

    See also: 2023 New Mexico State Aggies football team
    Game Two – New Mexico State Aggies (1-1) at Liberty Flames (1-0) – Game summary
    Period 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

    See also: 2023 Buffalo Bulls football team
    Game Three – Liberty Flames (2–0) at Buffalo Bulls (0–2) – Game summary
    Period 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

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

    at

    Riccardo Silva Stadium • Westchester, Florida

    ): 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

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

    at Williams Stadium
    Lynchburg, VA

    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

    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.
      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

    See also: 2023 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team
    Game Seven – Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (2-5) at Liberty Flames (6-0) – Game summary
    Period 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
    )

    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

    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
    AP
    		RV——————RVRVRV252522201825
    Coaches————RV—RVRVRVRVRVRV222220RV
    CFPNot released———252423Not released

    References

    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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