Liberty Flames

Liberty opened with a 13-20 loss at James Madison, then needed a late 54-yard touchdown from Jaylen Henderson to Darius Copeland to survive Gardner-Webb 24-23 at home. Since then, the Flames have rattled off five straight wins, including a 51-15 rout of Ball State, a 34-17 comeback at Coastal Carolina, a 30-14 win at Delaware in the Conference USA opener, and a 35-3 home romp over Sam Houston. At 5-1 overall and 2-0 in league play, Liberty has flipped its season and now sits with a positive power rating (0.9) after starting at -7.7.

The preseason quarterback battle was a major question mark, with Ethan Vasko returning from shoulder surgery and transfers Deshawn Purdie and Jaylen Henderson competing. Purdie has emerged as the starter and steadying force, throwing for 230 yards at James Madison, 211 yards and three touchdowns against Ball State, 216 yards and two scores at Coastal Carolina, and 157 yards at Delaware. He has also shown mobility, rushing for 57 yards against Sam Houston. Vasko has contributed in short-yardage situations, including an 8-yard touchdown sneak on fourth down at Coastal Carolina, and Henderson delivered the game-winning touchdown pass against Gardner-Webb. The room is now a strength rather than a liability.

After ranking first nationally in rushing in 2023 and fourth in 2024, Liberty slipped to 194 yards per game last season. The offensive line returned four starters and was expected to be the strength of the offense, and the run game has finally taken off. Kam Davis rushed for 166 yards and a touchdown at Coastal Carolina, then added 147 yards and two scores at Delaware. Against Sam Houston, the Flames piled up 297 yards on the ground, with Jaylon Coleman leading the way with 92 yards on seven carries and Vasko scoring twice on the ground. The emergence of Davis and Coleman, along with Purdie's mobility, has restored the identity that made Liberty's offense so potent in previous years.

New defensive coordinator Shawn Quinn inherited a unit that ranked near the bottom of Conference USA against the run in 2025, and early returns were mixed. Gardner-Webb's Randy Young ripped off a 65-yard touchdown run and averaged nearly 19 yards per carry on four attempts, and the Flames also allowed a 35-yard fumble return for a score in that near-loss. However, the defense has not allowed a fourth-quarter touchdown in any game this season and has tightened up during the winning streak. Against Sam Houston, Liberty forced three turnovers on downs in the second half and allowed just a field goal. Linebacker Derrell Farrar, who led the team with 71 tackles last season, remains a key piece. The pass rush, a problem for three years under Chadwell, is still a work in progress, but the overall trajectory is positive.

Liberty's five-game win streak has come against opponents with a combined record of 6-18, and the Flames have covered the spread in four of their last five games after failing to cover in their first two. The offense has scored 30 or more points in four straight games, and the defense has allowed 17 or fewer in each of the last four. The remaining schedule features Kennesaw State (1-5) next, followed by other Conference USA foes. The key question is whether Liberty can maintain this level of play and avoid the close calls that plagued it early in the season. The running game and Purdie's efficiency have raised the ceiling, but the run defense and pass rush must continue to improve for the Flames to contend for a conference title.