Changes on horizon for bowls as CFP expands to 12 teams
January 5, 2023 GMTCollege football's bowl season began on Dec. 16, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, with two .500 teams squaring off in a 15,000-seat stadium in the Bahamas.
UAB's 24-20 victory against Miami (Ohio) drew an average of 822,000 viewers to ESPN.
Nix, No. 15 Oregon rally past North Carolina in Holiday Bowl
December 29, 2022 GMTSAN DIEGO (AP) — Bo Nix threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Chase Cota on fourth down with 19 seconds left and Camden Lewis’ PAT bounced off the left upright and went through to give No. 15 Oregon a wild 28-27 victory against North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl on Wednesday night at Petco Park.
Liberty Bowl pits Kansas vs Arkansas for 1st time since 1906
December 28, 2022 GMTThe Kansas Jayhawks see a bright future thanks to coach Lance Leipold's quick turnaround.
Winning record at stake for Kansas, Arkansas at Liberty Bowl
December 27, 2022 GMTLiberty Bowl: Kansas (6-6) vs. Arkansas (6-6), Dec. 28, 5:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK COLLEGE LINE: Arkansas by 2 1/2.
Toledo hands Liberty 1st bowl loss, 21-19, in Boca Bowl
December 21, 2022 GMTBOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — As he dealt with various injuries throughout the 2022 season, Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn used a message from his coach to stay the course, and eventually, lead his team to a bowl win.
Finn leads Toledo past Liberty 21-19 in Boca Raton Bowl
December 21, 2022 GMTBOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Dequan Finn passed for 133 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score to lead Toledo past Liberty 21-19 in the rainy Boca Raton Bowl on Tuesday night.
Toledo came from behind, then fended off Liberty, handing the Flames their first loss in a bowl game after three bowl victories.
Liberty faces Toledo seeking fourth straight bowl victory
December 19, 2022 GMTBoca Raton Bowl: Liberty (8-4) vs. Toledo (8-5), Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK COLLEGE LINE: Liberty by 4 1/2.
Kansas returns to postseason, faces Arkansas in Liberty Bowl
December 4, 2022 GMTKansas (6-6, Big 12) vs. Arkansas (6-6, Southeastern Conference), Dec. 28, 5:30 p.m. ET
Liberty hires Coastal Carolina’s Chadwell to replace Freeze
December 4, 2022 GMTLiberty has hired Coastal Carolina’s Jamey Chadwell, a former college quarterback known for his innovative approach to offense, to replace Hugh Freeze as the Flames’ coach.
The school in Lynchburg, Virginia, introduced Chadwell at a news conference Sunday.
Coastal Carolina to face East Carolina in Birmingham Bowl
December 4, 2022 GMTBIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Coastal Carolina (9-3, Sun Belt) vs East Carolina (7-5, AAC), Dec. 27, 6:45 p.m. ET
Liberty takes 3-0 bowl record in Boca Raton Bowl vs. Toledo
December 4, 2022 GMTToledo (8-5, Mid-American) vs. Liberty (8-4), Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Coastal Carolina hires NC State’s Beck to replace Chadwell
December 4, 2022 GMTCONWAY, S.C. (AP) — Coastal Carolina has hired North Carolina State offensive coordinator Tim Beck to replace Jamey Chadwell, who left to coach Liberty.
VMI picks Danny Rocco as next football coach
December 3, 2022 GMTLEXINGTON, Va. (AP) — Virginia Military Institute has hired Danny Rocco as its football coach.
The school made the announcement Saturday. Rocco replaces Scott Wachenheim, who resigned after eight seasons last month.
Lane Kiffin signs new contract with Mississippi
November 29, 2022 GMTOXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Lane Kiffin has signed a new contract to remain at Mississippi, the school announced Tuesday.
Details of the deal were not released. The 47-year-old Kiffin has gone 23-12 in three seasons with the Rebels, who lost four of their last five games to finish the regular season at 8-4.
Hugh Freeze asks Auburn fans for ‘chance to earn your trust’
November 29, 2022 GMTAUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Hugh Freeze's checkered past in the Southeastern Conference means he'll have to win more than just games.
Auburn hires Liberty’s Hugh Freeze, who’s coming back to SEC
November 29, 2022 GMTAuburn is bringing Hugh Freeze back to the Southeastern Conference as head coach of the Tigers, more than five years after his resignation from SEC West rival Mississippi amid both personal and NCAA scandals.
Kiffin staying at Ole Miss; Auburn has interest in Freeze
November 26, 2022 GMTMississippi coach Lane Kiffin says he has informed school officials he will be staying at Ole Miss, putting an end to speculation that he was the leading candidate to fill the head coaching vacancy at Auburn.
Pavia accounts for 6 TDs in NMSU’s 49-14 win over Liberty
November 26, 2022 GMTLYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Diego Pavia passed for three touchdowns and ran for three more as New Mexico State handed Liberty its third straight loss 49-14 on Saturday.
The Aggies (5-6) have been on a roll, winning four of their last five games under first-year coach Jerry Kill and reaching five wins for just the second time since 2005.
Rivalry week should bring SEC bowl forecast into clear focus
November 23, 2022 GMTGAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — It’s rivalry week for most of the Southeastern Conference. The Egg Bowl. The Iron Bowl. The Palmetto Bowl. The Sunshine Showdown. Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate. The Battle Line Rivalry.
Holston scores 3 TDs, Virginia Tech trips up Liberty 23-22
November 19, 2022 GMTLYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Virginia Tech had a pair of fourth-quarter leads slip through their fingers during its seven-game losing streak. Whatever could go wrong over the final 15 minutes seemingly did for the Hokies.
Hokies seek something positive in first visit to Liberty
November 17, 2022 GMTVirginia Tech (2-8) at Liberty (8-2), Saturday, 12 p.m. EST (ESPN+)
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK COLLEGE LINE: Liberty by 9 1/2.
New Mexico State brings winning streak to Missouri
November 17, 2022 GMTNew Mexico State (4-5) at Missouri (4-6), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK COLLEGE LINE: Missouri by 29 1/2
Bowl positioning the reward as Duke plays at Pittsburgh
November 17, 2022 GMTThings to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Week 12:
GAME OF THE WEEK
Duke (7-3, 4-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) at Pittsburgh (6-4, 3-3)
AP Top 25: No. 1 UGA leads unchanged top 5; Ducks, UCLA slip
November 13, 2022 GMTNo. 1 Georgia led an unchanged top five in The Associated Press college football poll Sunday, while the rest of the Top 25 was shuffled after eight ranked teams lost — including two big upsets in the Pac-12.
No. 2 Ohio State stays unbeaten with 56-14 rout of Indiana
November 13, 2022 GMTCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Miyan Williams rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown before leaving with an injury late in the first half, C.J Stroud threw five TD passes and No. 2 Ohio State buried Indiana 56-14 on Saturday.
Turner’s late TD pass sends UConn past No. 19 Liberty 36-33
November 12, 2022 GMTEAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Zion Turner came to UConn with dreams of leading the struggling program back into the mix for a bowl. Little did he know it’d happen so fast.
The freshman quarterback connected with Kevens Clercius for a 30-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter Saturday, leading UConn to a 36-33 win over No.
UConn looking for bowl eligiblity vs. No. 19 Liberty
November 11, 2022 GMTNo. 19 Liberty (8-1) at UConn (5-5), Saturday, noon EST (CBSSN)
Line: Liberty by 14 ½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
No. 19 Liberty brings its storybook season to UConn
November 11, 2022 GMTEAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Liberty has experienced many firsts during Hugh Freeze’s four years as coach: first bowl game, first win over a Power Five team, first national ranking and, most recently, first win over an SEC program.
New C-USA TV deal to shift October games to weeknights
November 10, 2022 GMTConference USA's new media rights deal with ESPN and CBS steals a page from the Mid-American Conference's playbook, with the new-look league agreeing to play midweek football games throughout October to try to increase visibility and build its brand.
College Football Picks: Tide try to avoid rare 2-game skid
November 9, 2022 GMTThe year was 2007 and Alabama was still looking more like a college football has-been than a program on the cusp of a dynasty.
Nick Saban's first regular season as the coach of the Crimson Tide ended with a four-game losing streak that included a loss to Louisiana-Monroe.
AP Top 25 Reality Check: ND is back; Who else can return?
November 7, 2022 GMTNo. 20 Notre Dame is back in The Associated Press college football poll after struggling early this season.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma State and Wake Forest became the latest teams from the preseason AP Top 25 to slide out as eight ranked teams lost this past weekend.
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Georgia now college football’s standard
November 6, 2022 GMTGeorgia has aspired to be Alabama.
Not just a national champion. The Bulldogs did that last year, going through the Crimson Tide to snap a 41-year title drought.
Georgia wants to set the standard in college football, the program that contends for national titles every season and wins them routinely.
Bennett leads No. 1 Georgia past No. 2 Tennessee, 27-13
November 6, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Stetson Bennett threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score and No. 1 Georgia shut down No. 2 Tennessee’s high-powered offense, dominating the Volunteers 27-13 on Saturday in an SEC showdown of the nation’s top-ranked teams.
No. 23 Liberty gets goal-line stop, beats Arkansas 21-19
November 6, 2022 GMTFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Liberty coach Hugh Freeze said it might have been the biggest win of his career. Arkansas’ Sam Pittman knew it was his worst loss.
No. 23 Liberty picked up its first win over an SEC school just five years after its entry to FBS on Saturday, making a goal-line stand with 1:11 left to beat Arkansas, 21-19.
No. 23 Liberty seeking Power Five road victory vs Arkansas
November 3, 2022 GMTNo. 23 Liberty (7-1) at Arkansas (5-3), 4 p.m. EDT (SECN)
Line: Arkansas by 13 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
College Football Picks: Top-ranked teams hold edge in 1 v. 2
November 2, 2022 GMTThe College Football Playoff and the Bowl Championship Series before it made No. 1 vs. No. 2 rather routine in the postseason.
Before all that, back in the old bowl system, everything needed to fall into place just right so No.
AP Top 25 Reality Check: Pair of 2s sets up 1 vs. 2 matchup
October 31, 2022 GMTThe chances of having a 1 vs. 2 matchup go up if there are two No. 2s in The Associated Press college football poll.
Tennessee and Ohio State were tied for No. 2 Sunday in the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank.
AP Top 25: Tennessee, Ohio St tied at 2, UGA next for Vols
October 30, 2022 GMTTennessee moved into a tie with Ohio State for No. 2 in The Associated Press college football poll Sunday to set up a 1 vs. 2 matchup next week with top-ranked Georgia.
Georgia-Tennessee will be the 25th regular-season game matching the top two teams in the AP poll, and the third straight involving Southeastern Conference teams.
Top 25 Takeaways: Clemson clears CFP path; 3 unbeatens fall
October 23, 2022 GMTAs the number of unbeaten teams in major college football was whittled to six, Clemson emerged as the best bet to reach the playoff — even though the Tigers don't appear to be a serious threat to win a national championship.
Liberty scores final 38 points in 41-14 win over BYU
October 22, 2022 GMTLYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Dae Dae Hunter ran for 213 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, Shedro Louis added two rushing TDs and Liberty scored the final 38 points as the Flames beat BYU 41-14 Saturday night.
No. 25 Tulane aims to validate ranking vs. hard-luck Memphis
October 20, 2022 GMTMemphis (4-3, 2-2 AAC) at No. 25 Tulane (6-1, 3-0), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET. (ESPN2)
Line: Tulane by 7 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Hunter caps Liberty comeback, edges Gardner-Webb, 21-20
October 15, 2022 GMTLYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Dae Dae Hunter's fourth-quarter touchdown run from a yard out lifted Liberty to a 21-20 win over Gardner-Webb in a non-conference game on Saturday.
Liberty earned its sixth win of the season and fourth straight following a 37-36 loss to No.
C-USA approves Kennesaw St. for membership, joining July ’24
October 14, 2022 GMTDALLAS (AP) — Kennesaw State was approved for membership in Conference USA on Friday, and will join the league on July 1, 2024.
Conference USA is going through a transition of its makeup, with six of the league's 11 current members in their last academic year before moving to the American Athletic Conference next summer.
Bennett, Louis lead Liberty to 42-24 victory over UMass
October 9, 2022 GMTAMHERST, Mass. (AP) — Johnathan Bennett threw two touchdown passes and Shedro Louis had three short touchdown runs to power Liberty to a 42-24 victory over Massachusetts on Saturday.
Dae Dae Hunter and Louis scored on 1-yard runs in the second quarter and Bennett connected with Michael Bollinger for a 4-yard touchdown with 42 seconds left to give Liberty (5-1) a 21-10 halftime lead in a battle between independent programs.
Dae Dae Hunter helps Liberty run over Old Dominion 38-24
October 2, 2022 GMTNORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Dae Dae Hunter ran for 121 yards and accounted for three touchdowns to lead Liberty to a 38-24 victory over Old Dominion on Saturday night.
Hunter carried the ball 15 times that included touchdown runs of 29 and 32 yards.
Liberty holds on to defeat Akron 21-12
September 25, 2022 GMTLYCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Jonathan Bennett threw two touchdown passes and Dae Dae Hunter ran for the clinching touchdown as Liberty defeated Akron 21-12 on Saturday night.
Bennett threw touchdown passes of 22 yards to Khaleb Coleman and 30 to Treon Sibley to put the Flames (3-1) up 14-0 in the first minute of the second quarter.
No. 5 Clemson visits No. 21 Wake Forest in key ACC clash
September 22, 2022 GMTNo. 5 Clemson (3-0, 1-0 ACC) at No. 21 Wake Forest (3-0, 0-0), Saturday, noon ET (ABC)
Line: Clemson by 8 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
UMass to hold Pride Day when Liberty football visits
September 21, 2022 GMTAMHERST, Mass. (AP) — The University of Massachusetts is planning to hold a Pride Day on the same day that the Minutemen host evangelical Liberty in a football game.
The school made the “special announcement” Sunday on Twitter in a 37-second video featuring techno music and a uniformed player standing in a room lit by rainbow colors associated with the LGBTQ community.
Penix helps Washington beat No. 11 Michigan State 39-28
September 18, 2022 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Michael Penix Jr. threw for 397 yards and four touchdowns, and Washington emphatically stated its case as a contender in the Pac-12 with a 39-28 win over No. 11 Michigan State on Saturday night.
No. 19 Wake Forest stops Liberty’s late 2-point conversion
September 18, 2022 GMTWINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Liberty scored with 1:11 left, but No. 19 Wake Forest stopped CJ Yarbrough’s two-point conversion attempt several yards short of the goal line for a tight 37-36 home victory Saturday.
No. 19 Wake Forest hosts Liberty as Clemson matchup looms
September 15, 2022 GMTWake Forest reached the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game last year and is a week away from getting a shot at preseason league favorite Clemson as one of this year's top contenders.
Coach Dave Clawson just needs his players to make sure they're focused on beating Liberty at home on Saturday to keep the 19th-ranked Demon Deacons in the national conversation.
No. 19 Wake Forest, Liberty meet seeking 3-0 starts
September 15, 2022 GMTLiberty (2-0) at No. 19 Wake Forest (2-0), Saturday, 5 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
Line: Wake Forest by 16 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
College Football Picks: Texas A&M welcomes hungry Hurricanes
September 14, 2022 GMTLast week was a good reminder to never shrug off a Saturday slate of college football games that appears to be short on marquee matchups.
Intrigue arises in odd places even without the obvious “big games.”
Jackson St. trips Tennessee St. in Southern Heritage Classic
September 11, 2022 GMTMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Shedeur Sanders threw a touchdown pass and Alejandro Mata kicked three short field goals to lead Jackson State to a 16-3 victory over Tennessee State in the Southern Heritage Classic on Saturday night at the Liberty Bowl.
Salter leads Liberty to 21-14 victory over UAB
September 11, 2022 GMTLYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Kaidon Salter passed for 202 yards and ran for a touchdown, leading Liberty to a 21-14 victory over UAB on Saturday.
Dae Dae Hunter and Shedro Louis also had rushing touchdowns for the Flames (2-0).
No. 15 Miami enters as big favorite against Southern Miss
September 8, 2022 GMTMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Southern Miss (0-1) at No. 15 Miami (1-0), Saturday, Noon EDT (ACC Network)
LINE: Miami by 25.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Liberty beats Southern Miss 29-27 in 4OT thriller
September 4, 2022 GMTHATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — Kaidon Salter, Liberty’s third quarterback on the night, connected with Demario Douglas in the corner of the end zone for the two-point conversion in the fourth overtime to lift Liberty past Southern Mississippi on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Memphis to spend up to $200 million renovating Liberty Bowl
May 12, 2022 GMTMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The city of Memphis and the University of Memphis will be spending at least $150 million to renovate and renovate the home of the annual Liberty Bowl before the 2025 season.
The renovation announced Thursday could reach $200 million for the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
South Carolina adds Jacksonville St to 2023 football lineup
May 11, 2022 GMTCOLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina is adding Jacksonville State and to its 2023 football schedule.
The South Carolina Gamecocks announced the move Wednesday. The Jacksonville State Gamecocks will take the place of previously scheduled Liberty on Nov.
Marshall, ODU, S. Miss get OK to exit C-USA for Sun Belt
March 30, 2022 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Conference USA has agreed to allow Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss to expedite their move to the Sun Belt.
The resolution announced in a brief, joint statement Tuesday allows the three schools to withdraw from Conference USA by the end of the current academic year.