# 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.

## Schedule

Liberty had games scheduled against Bowling Green, North Carolina A&T, UConn, and UMass, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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.
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. Ironically, the two teams were selected to play in the Cure Bowl at season's end, a match-up that Liberty won.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 19 | 12:00 p.m. | at Western Kentucky | | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | ESPNU | W 30–24 | 4,276 |
| September 26 | 1:00 p.m. | FIU | | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | ESPNU | W 36–34 | 1,000 |
| October 3 | 1:00 p.m. | North Alabama | | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | ESPN3 | W 28–7 | 1,000 |
| October 10 | 12:00 p.m. | Louisiana–Monroe | | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | ESPN2 | W 40–7 | 1,000 |
| October 17 | 12:00 p.m. | at Syracuse | | Carrier DomeSyracuse, NY | ACCRSN | W 38–21 | 0 (Behind closed doors) |
| October 24 | 1:00 p.m. | Southern Miss | | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | ESPN3 | W 56–35 | 1,000 |
| November 7 | 12:00 p.m. | at Virginia Tech | No. 25 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ACCN | W 38–35 | 1,000 |
| November 14 | 12:00 p.m. | Western Carolina | No. 22 | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | ESPNU | W 58–14 | 1,000 |
| November 21 | 7:30 p.m. | at NC State | No. 21 | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC | ACCRSN | L 14–15 | 4,032 |
| November 27 | 12:00 p.m. | UMass | | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | ESPN3 | W 45–0 | |
| December 5 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 18 Coastal Carolina | | Brooks StadiumConway, SC (College Gameday) (rivalry) | ESPNU | No contest | _ |
| December 26 | 7:30 p.m. | vs. No. 12 Coastal Carolina | | Camping World StadiumOrlando, FL (Cure Bowl) (rivalry) | ESPN | W 37–34 $^{OT}$ | 4,488 |
| Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Rankings

In week 5, Liberty received votes in the Coaches Poll for the first time in program history and the following week, they received votes in the AP Poll for the first time. In week 9, they were nationally ranked for the first time, when they were ranked at No. 25 in the AP Poll. They would spend 8 total weeks in the rankings, finishing at No. 17.
Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 22 | 21 | RV | 25 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 17 |
| Coaches | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 22 | 22 | RV | 25 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 18 |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Game summaries
### At Western Kentucky

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Flames | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 30 |
| Hilltoppers | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WKU −14.5 | 51.5 |
| Statistics | Liberty | Western Kentucky |
| First downs | 27 | 19 |
| Total yards | 487 | 291 |
| Rushing yards | 354 | 110 |
| Passing yards | 133 | 181 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 34:59 | 25:01 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 13/21, 133 yards |
| Liberty | Rushing | Malik Willis | 21 carries, 168 yards, 3 TDs |
| Liberty | Receiving | CJ Yarbrough | 2 receptions, 53 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 18/25, 181 yards, 3 TDs |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 14 carries, 74 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Mitchell Tinsley | 6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD |

### FIU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 14 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 34 |
| • Flames | 14 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 36 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LIB −7 | 59 |
| Statistics | FIU | Liberty |
| First downs | 16 | 31 |
| Total yards | 304 | 527 |
| Rushing yards | 168 | 219 |
| Passing yards | 136 | 308 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 22:39 | 37:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| FIU | Passing | Stone Norton | 9/13, 120 yards, 2 TDs |
| FIU | Rushing | D'Vonte Price | 13 carries, 148 yards, 2 TDs |
| FIU | Receiving | Bryce Singleton | 2 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 24/30, 285 yards, 2 TDs |
| Liberty | Rushing | Joshua Mack | 13 carries, 107 yards, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | DJ Stubbs | 8 receptions, 119 yards, 1 TD |

### North Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| • Flames | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LIB −33 | 65 |
| Statistics | North Alabama | Liberty |
| First downs | 14 | 22 |
| Total yards | 247 | 357 |
| Rushing yards | 63 | 250 |
| Passing yards | 184 | 107 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:10 | 27:50 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Alabama | Passing | Rett Files | 15/24, 156 yards, 2 INTs |
| North Alabama | Rushing | Parker Driggers | 7 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD |
| North Alabama | Receiving | Andre Little | 1 reception, 47 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | Chris Ferguson | 12/21, 64 yards, 3 TDs |
| Liberty | Rushing | Joshua Mack | 16 carries, 130 yards |
| Liberty | Receiving | CJ Yarbrough | 2 receptions, 43 yards |

### Louisiana–Monroe

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warhawks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| • Flames | 14 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 40 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LIB −17 | 63.5 |
| Statistics | Louisiana–Monroe | Liberty |
| First downs | 10 | 20 |
| Total yards | 198 | 400 |
| Rushing yards | 78 | 180 |
| Passing yards | 120 | 220 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:49 | 32:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Colby Suits | 13/29, 78 yards, 2 INTs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Josh Johnson | 13 carries, 51 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Josh Pederson | 2 receptions, 21 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 11/29, 177 yards, 1 INT |
| Liberty | Rushing | Malik Willis | 13 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | DJ Stubbs | 2 receptions, 69 yards |

### At Syracuse

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Flames | 14 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 38 |
| Orange | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LIB −3.5 | 53 |
| Statistics | Liberty | Syracuse |
| First downs | 24 | 19 |
| Total yards | 520 | 308 |
| Rushing yards | 338 | 97 |
| Passing yards | 182 | 211 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 36:24 | 23:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 16/20, 182 yards, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Shedro Louis | 10 carries, 170 yards, 2 TDs |
| Liberty | Receiving | DJ Stubbs | 4 receptions, 58 yards, 1 TD |
| Syracuse | Passing | Rex Culpepper | 19/40, 211 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Syracuse | Rushing | Sean Tucker | 21 carries, 111 yards |
| Syracuse | Receiving | Taj Harris | 9 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD |

### Southern Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 35 |
| • Flames | 14 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 56 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LIB −14 | 59.5 |
| Statistics | Southern Miss | Liberty |
| First downs | 19 | 25 |
| Total yards | 416 | 537 |
| Rushing yards | 215 | 192 |
| Passing yards | 201 | 345 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:37 | 32:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Tate Whatley | 15/26, 188 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Tate Whatley | 12 carries, 52 yards, 4 TDs |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 5 receptions, 114, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 24/31, 345, 6 TDs |
| Liberty | Rushing | Malik Willis | 12 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | Demario Douglas | 6 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD |

### At Virginia Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 25 Flames | 7 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 38 |
| Hokies | 3 | 17 | 0 | 15 | 35 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| VT −17 | 67.5 |
| Statistics | Liberty | Virginia Tech |
| First downs | 29 | 24 |
| Total yards | 466 | 418 |
| Rushing yards | 249 | 201 |
| Passing yards | 217 | 217 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 37:27 | 22:33 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 20/30, 217 yards, 3 TDs |
| Liberty | Rushing | Malik Willis | 19 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | CJ Yarbrough | 5 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 20/27, 217 yards, 3 TDs |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Hendon Hooker | 20 carries, 156 yards, 1 TD |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Tré Turner | 6 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD |
The game featured a wild finish as Liberty got into field goal range with 8 seconds left to go in a 35–35 tie. Facing a 4th and 6 at the Virginia Tech 41-yard line, disaster appeared to strike when Liberty 59-yard field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Virginia Tech's Jermaine Waller with no time remaining. However, Virginia Tech had called a timeout to try to Icing the kicker before the play. Liberty then decided to go for it on fourth down, and got an 8-yard pass completion for a first down after Virginia Tech mistakenly thought that Flames would try a Hail Mary and went to a prevent defense. With 5 seconds remaining, the Flames converted a 51-yard field goal to win the game.

### Western Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Catamounts | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| • Flames | 7 | 21 | 14 | 16 | 58 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LIB −39 | 63 |
| Statistics | Western Carolina | Liberty |
| First downs | 15 | 21 |
| Total yards | 282 | 633 |
| Rushing yards | 142 | 254 |
| Passing yards | 140 | 379 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:44 | 29:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Carolina | Passing | Will Jones | 7/13, 74 yards, TD, INT |
| Western Carolina | Rushing | Donnavan Spencer | 12 carries, 79 yards |
| Western Carolina | Receiving | Owen Cosenke | 5 receptions, 56 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 14/19, 306 yards, 3 TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Malik Willis | 8 carries, 97 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | Kevin Shaa | 2 receptions, 137 yards, TD |

### At NC State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Flames | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| • Wolfpack | 0 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 15 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NCSU −4 | 66.5 |
| Statistics | Liberty | NC State |
| First downs | 17 | 19 |
| Total yards | 279 | 321 |
| Rushing yards | 107 | 167 |
| Passing yards | 172 | 154 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:42 | 30:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 13/32, 171 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Joshua Mack | 12 carries, 49 yards |
| Liberty | Receiving | Noah Frith | 4 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| NC State | Passing | Bailey Hockman | 14/27, 154 yards |
| NC State | Rushing | Zonovan Knight | 14 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD |
| NC State | Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 1 reception, 55 yards |

### UMass

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Minutemen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Flames | 14 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 45 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LIB −35.5 | 57.5 |
| Statistics | UMass | Liberty |
| First downs | 12 | 31 |
| Total yards | 227 | 629 |
| Rushing yards | 55 | 378 |
| Passing yards | 172 | 251 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:50 | 34:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UMass | Passing | Garret Dzuro | 9/22, 172 yards, 1 INT |
| UMass | Rushing | Cam Roberson | 5 carries, 17 yards |
| UMass | Receiving | Samuel Emilus | 4 receptions, 82 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 16/24, 223 yards, 3 TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Peytton Pickett | 10 carries, 125 yards, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | DeMario Douglas | 4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD |

### Vs. Coastal Carolina (Cure Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| • Flames | 14 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 37 |
| No. 12 Chanticleers | 0 | 13 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 34 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CCU –6.5 | 60 |
| Statistics | Liberty | Coastal Carolina |
| First downs | 26 | 24 |
| Total yards | 475 | 483 |
| Rushing yards | 255 | 165 |
| Passing yards | 220 | 318 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:49 | 29:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 19/29, 220 yards, 2 INT |
| Liberty | Rushing | Malik Willis | 21 carries, 137 yards, 4 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | DJ Stubbs | 5 receptions, 68 yards |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | Grayson McCall | 21/32, 318 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing | Grayson McCall | 15 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving | Jaivon Heiligh | 13 receptions, 178 yards |