2020 Liberty Flames football team

The 2020 Liberty Flames football team represented Liberty University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Hugh Freeze and played their home games at Williams Stadium. The Flames competed as an FBS independent.

2020 Liberty Flames football
Cure Bowl champion
Cure Bowl, W 37–34OT vs. Coastal Carolina
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 23
APNo. 17
2020 record10–1
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorKent Austin (2nd season)
Co-offensive coordinatorMaurice Harris (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorScott Symons (2nd season)
Home stadiumWilliams Stadium
(Capacity: 25,000)
2020 NCAA Division I FBS independents football records
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 11 BYU   –     11 –1  
No. 17 Liberty   –     10 –1  
Army   –     9 –3  
UMass   –     0 –4  
New Mexico State   –     0 –0  
UConn†   –      –  
  • Note: † Due to COVID-19, UConn canceled the 2020 football season.
Rankings from AP Poll.

Schedule

Liberty had games scheduled against Bowling Green, North Carolina A&T, UConn, and UMass, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2] These games were partially replaced with new match-ups announced with Coastal Carolina and North Alabama. The games against NC State and Syracuse were rescheduled for different days for the 2020 season.[3]

Because of an increased number of COVID-19 cases within the football program, Liberty University's medical staff decided to pause its football team's activities and cancel the game with Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina, scheduled for December 5.[4]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 19Noonat Western Kentucky
ESPNUW 30–244,276
September 261:00 p.m.FIU
ESPNUW 36–341,000
October 31:00 p.m.North Alabama
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN3W 28–71,000
October 10NoonLouisiana–Monroe
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN2W 40–71,000
October 17Noonat Syracuse
ACCRSNW 38–210
October 241:00 p.m.Southern Miss
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN3W 56–351,000
November 7Noonat Virginia TechNo. 25
ACCNW 38–351,000
November 14NoonWestern CarolinaNo. 22
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPNUW 58–141,000
November 217:30 p.m.at NC StateNo. 21
ACCRSNL 14–154,032
November 27NoonUMass
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN3W 45–0
December 52:00 p.m.at No. 18 Coastal Carolina
ESPNUNo contest[4] _
December 267:30 p.m.vs. No. 12 Coastal Carolina
ESPNW 37–34 OT4,488
Schedule Source:[5][6]

Game summaries

at Western Kentucky
Liberty at Western Kentucky
1 234Total
• Flames 10 776 30
Hilltoppers 0 1077 24
     
See also: 2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team
Pregame lineOver/under
WKU −14.551.5[7]
StatisticsLibertyWestern Kentucky
First downs2719
Total yards487291
Rushing yards354110
Passing yards133181
Turnovers00
Time of possession34:5925:01
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LibertyPassingMalik Willis13/21, 133 yards
RushingMalik Willis21 carries, 168 yards, 3 TDs
ReceivingCJ Yarbrough2 receptions, 53 yards
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome18/25, 181 yards, 3 TDs
RushingTyrrell Pigrome14 carries, 74 yards
ReceivingMitchell Tinsley6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD

FIU
Florida International at Liberty
1 234Total
Panthers 14 0146 34
• Flames 14 0139 36
  • Date: September 26, 2020
  • Location: Williams Stadium
    Lynchburg, VA
  • Game start: 1:05 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 19 minutes
  • Game attendance: 1,000
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: 3 E MPH
  • Referee: Riley Johnson
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Matt Warner (play–by–play), Joe Jauch (analyst), and Emily Austen (sideline reporter)
         
See also: 2020 FIU Panthers football team
Pregame lineOver/under
LIB −759[8]
StatisticsFIULiberty
First downs1631
Total yards304527
Rushing yards168219
Passing yards136308
Turnovers00
Time of possession22:3937:21
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
FIUPassingStone Norton9/13, 120 yards, 2 TDs
RushingD'vonte Price13 carries, 148 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingBryce Singleton2 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD
LibertyPassingMalik Willis24/30, 285 yards, 2 TDs
RushingJoshua Mack13 carries, 107 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDJ Stubbs8 receptions, 119 yards, 1 TD

North Alabama
North Alabama at Liberty
1 234Total
Lions 0 007 7
• Flames 0 7147 28
  • Date: October 3, 2020
  • Location: Williams Stadium
    Lynchburg, VA
  • Game start: 1:05 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2 hours and 53 minutes
  • Game attendance: 1,000
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: 7 E MPH
  • Referee: Duane Heydt
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Matt Warner (play–by–play), Joe Jauch (analyst), and Emily Austen (sideline reporter)
  
See also: 2020 North Alabama Lions football team
Pregame lineOver/under
LIB −3365[9]
StatisticsNorth AlabamaLiberty
First downs1422
Total yards247357
Rushing yards63250
Passing yards184107
Turnovers31
Time of possession32:1027:50
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North AlabamaPassingRett Files15/24, 156 yards, 2 INTs
RushingParker Driggers7 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingAndre Little1 reception, 47 yards
LibertyPassingChris Ferguson12/21, 64 yards, 3 TDs
RushingJoshua Mack16 carries, 130 yards
ReceivingCJ Yarbrough2 receptions, 43 yards

Louisiana–Monroe
Louisiana–Monroe at Liberty
1 234Total
Warhawks 0 007 7
• Flames 14 1079 40
  • Date: October 10, 2020
  • Location: Williams Stadium
    Lynchburg, VA
  • Game start: 11:02 a.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 10 minutes
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C) • Weather: Rainy • Wind: SW 5 MPH
  • Referee: Jeff Heaser
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Mike Couzens (play–by–play), Jay Walker (analyst), and Taylor Davis (sideline reporter)
    
See also: 2020 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team
Pregame lineOver/under
LIB −1763.5[10]
StatisticsLouisiana–MonroeLiberty
First downs1020
Total yards198400
Rushing yards78180
Passing yards120220
Turnovers32
Time of possession27:4932:11
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Louisiana–MonroePassingColby Suits13/29, 78 yards, 2 INTs
RushingJosh Johnson13 carries, 51 yards
ReceivingJosh Pederson2 receptions, 21 yards
LibertyPassingMalik Willis11/29, 177 yards, 1 INT
RushingMalik Willis13 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDJ Stubbs2 receptions, 69 yards

at Syracuse
Liberty at Syracuse
1 234Total
• Flames 14 7143 38
Orange 7 707 21
  • Date: October 17, 2020
  • Location: Carrier Dome
    Syracuse, NY
  • Game start: Noon EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 8 minutes
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Game weather: Indoors
  • Referee: J. Magallanes
  • TV announcers (ACCRSN): Evan Lepler (play–by–play), Charles Arbuckle (analyst), Abby Labar (sideline reporter)
     
See also: 2020 Syracuse Orange football team
Pregame lineOver/under
LIB −3.553[11]
StatisticsLibertySyracuse
First downs2419
Total yards520308
Rushing yards33897
Passing yards182211
Turnovers21
Time of possession36:2423:36
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LibertyPassingMalik Willis16/20, 182 yards, 1 TD
RushingShedro Louis10 carries, 170 yards, 2 TDs
ReceivingDJ Stubbs4 receptions, 58 yards, 1 TD
SyracusePassingRex Culpepper19/40, 211 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
RushingSean Tucker21 carries, 111 yards
ReceivingTaj Harris9 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD

Southern Miss
Southern Mississippi at Liberty
1 234Total
Golden Eagles 7 0217 35
• Flames 14 21714 56
  • Date: October 24, 2020
  • Location: Williams Stadium
    Lynchburg, VA
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 27 minutes
  • Game attendance: 1,000
  • Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: W 5 MPH
  • Referee: Billy Williams
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Matt Warner (play–by–play), Joe Jauch (analyst), Emily Austen (sideline reporter)
         
See also: 2020 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team
Pregame lineOver/under
LIB −1459.5[12]
StatisticsSouthern MissLiberty
First downs1925
Total yards416537
Rushing yards215192
Passing yards201345
Turnovers11
Time of possession27:3732:23
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Southern MissPassingTate Whatley15/26, 188 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingTate Whatley12 carries, 52 yards, 4 TDs
ReceivingJason Brownlee5 receptions, 114, 1 TD
LibertyPassingMalik Willis24/31, 345, 6 TDs
RushingMalik Willis12 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDemario Douglas6 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD

at Virginia Tech
Liberty at Virginia Tech
1 234Total
• No. 25 Flames 7 7717 38
Hokies 3 17015 35
  • Date: November 7, 2020
  • Location: Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: Noon EST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 22 minutes
  • Game attendance: 1,000
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C) • Weather: Clear, nice • Wind: W 1 MPH
  • Referee: Stuart Mullins
  • TV announcers (ACCN): Chris Cotter (play–by–play), Mark Herzlich (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline reporter)
        
See also: 2020 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
Pregame lineOver/under
VT −1767.5[13]
StatisticsLibertyVirginia Tech
First downs2924
Total yards466418
Rushing yards249201
Passing yards217217
Turnovers21
Time of possession37:2722:33
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LibertyPassingMalik Willis20/30, 217 yards, 3 TDs
RushingMalik Willis19 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingCJ Yarbrough5 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD
Virginia TechPassingHendon Hooker20/27, 217 yards, 3 TDs
RushingHendon Hooker20 carries, 156 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingTre Turner6 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD

Western Carolina
Western Carolina at Liberty
1 234Total
Catamounts 0 770 14
• Flames 7 211416 58
  • Date: November 14, 2020
  • Location: Williams Stadium
    Lynchburg, VA
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD MPH
  • Referee:  
  • Television network: ESPN3
See also: 2020 Western Carolina Catamounts football team
Pregame lineOver/under
  
StatisticsWestern CarolinaLiberty
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western CarolinaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
LibertyPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

at NC State
Liberty at NC State
1 234Total
Flames 0 770 14
• Wolfpack 0 726 15
  • Date: November 21, 2020
  • Location: Carter–Finley Stadium
    Raleigh, NC
  • Game start: TBD EST
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD MPH
  • Referee:  
  • Television network:  
See also: 2020 NC State Wolfpack football team
Pregame lineOver/under
  
StatisticsLibertyNC State
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LibertyPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
NC StatePassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

at Coastal Carolina
Liberty and Coastal Carolina
1 2Total
Flames 0
Chanticleers 0
  • Date: December 5, 2020
  • Location: Brooks Stadium
    Conway, Sc
  • Game start: TBD EST
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD MPH
  • Referee:  
  • Television network:  
See also: 2020 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team
Pregame lineOver/under
  
StatisticsLibertyCoastal Carolina
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LibertyPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
Coastal CarolinaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

References
  1. "MEAC suspends all fall sports for indefinite period". ESPN.com. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  2. "ACC Announces Plans for Football and Fall Olympic Sports". TheACC.com. July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  3. "ACC Unveils 2020 Football Schedule". TheACC.com. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  4. Domingo, Ida (December 4, 2020). "Liberty, Coastal Carolina game canceled after coronavirus concerns within football progra". WSET-TV. MSN.com.
  5. "2020 Liberty Flames Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  6. "2020 Season Football Schedule". Liberty Flames. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  7. "Liberty Flames vs WKU Hilltoppers". Odds Shark. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  8. "FIU Panthers vs Liberty Flames". Odds Shark. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  9. "North Alabama Lions vs Liberty Flames". Odds Shark. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  10. "Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks vs Liberty Flames". Odds Shark. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  11. "Liberty Flames vs Syracuse Orange". Odds Shark. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  12. "Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs Liberty Flames". Odds Shark. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  13. "Liberty Flames vs Virginia Tech". Odds Shark. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
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