LIBERTY FLAMES NOTES:
LIBERTY STORYLINES
• No. 23 Liberty (13-0, 8-0 CUSA) takes on No. 8 Oregon (11-2, 8-1 Pac-12) in the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. • In its first year in Conference USA, Liberty posted a perfect 8-0 conference record. The Flames won their first FBS conference title, defeating fellow league newcomer New Mexico State 49-35 in the CUSA Championship Game at home. • Liberty is in its fifth year as a fully bowl-eligible program and is making its fifth straight bowl game appearance. The Flames earned victory in each of their first three bowl games and holds a 3-1 overall bowl record. • Jamey Chadwell, the 2023 CUSA Co-Coach of the Year and Paul “Bear” Bryant Award Group of Five Coach of the Year, is up for several National Coach of the Year honors. He owns a 44-6 record dating back to the start of the 2020 season and has coached a pair of unbeaten regular seasons during that span. • Liberty QB Kaidon Salter holds program single-season records for both passing TDs (31) and TDs responsible for (43). Salter and Oregon’s Bo Nix are two of five FBS QBs responsible for 40+ TDs this year. • The Flames rank No. 1 nationally in rushing offense (302.9 ypg). RB Quinton Cooley leads the way with 1,322 yards, ranking No. 3 in program history and No. 9 in the nation this season. Liberty is the only FBS team with two 1,000-yard rushers so far this year. • Liberty leads the nation in passes intercepted with 21. The Flames are led by FWAA All-America 2nd Team selection Brylan Green with five picks. Oregon’s Bo Nix has tossed just three INT’s in 2023.
“4 DOWNS” WITH OREGON
1
Liberty is the first Conference USA team to compete in a New Year’s Six bowl, breaking the AAC’s six-year New Year’s Six streak. The Flames earned their first-ever College Football Playoff ranking (No. 25) on Nov. 21 before win- ning their first Conference USA Championship Game on Dec. 1. Liberty leads the nation in both interceptions (21) and rushing offense (302.9 ypg).
2
This game features two of the nation’s elite quarterbacks in Heisman Trophy finalist Bo Nix (4,145 passing yards, 46 touchdowns re- sponsible for) and Group of 5 Player of the Year Kaidon Salter (3,814 total yards, 43 touchdowns resonsible for). Jamey Chadwell is looking to beat his second Power 5 opponent, as he went 3-0 against Kansas while at Coastal Carolina. Liberty is the only FBS team to rush for 400 or more yards in two separate games this season.
3
Jamey Chadwell is 2-1 all-time against FBS Top 25 teams and is aiming for his third Top 25 vic- tory. His only loss to a nationally-ranked FBS team came to then No. 23 Liberty in the 2020 Cure Bowl. Liberty is vying to be the third non Power 5 team to win the Fiesta Bowl in the last 11 years, joining UCF(Jan. 1, 2014) and Boise State (Dec. 31, 2014).
4
Group of 5 teams hold a 4-5 record since 2014, including 1-1 in the Fiesta Bowl. Last year, Tu- lane beat USC 46-45 in last year’s Cotton Bowl. Liberty has posted a 3-1 record all-time in bowl games, winning its first three bowl contests before falling to Toledo in the 2022 Boca Raton Bowl.
A LIBERTY WIN WOULD…
• Set a new Conference USA single-season record for victories (14) and winning streak (14) while also extending program records in both categories. • Make the Flames the first FBS team in Virginia ever to win 14 games in a season. • Mark the highest-ranked opponent that Liberty has beaten in football. The previous high was when Liberty beat Jamey Chadwell-coached No. 9/11 Coastal Carolina in the 2020 Cure Bowl. • Make Liberty the first Group of 5 team since Boise State in 2009 to post a 14-0 record. • Make Liberty just the second CUSA team all-time to finish a full season undefeated, joining Tulane in 1998 (12-0). • Make Jamey Chadwell the first FBS coach since Boise State’s Chris Petersen in 2006 (13-0) to go unbeaten in his first full season as head coach at his current institution.
LAST BOWL GAME (BOCA RATON)
DEC. 20, 2022
TOLEDO 21, LIBERTY 19
BOCA RATON, FLA. (FAU STADIUM)
• Liberty scored two TDs during the final 7:24 of the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl, but a failed two-point conversion with 3:40 left kept the Flames from tying the game. • Toledo finished the game with twice as many total plays as Liberty (86 plays for 356 yards to Liberty’s 41 plays for 253 yards). • Liberty QB Kaidon Salter ran the ball 10 times for 63 yards, while also completing 12-of-20 pass attempts for 84 yards and a touchdown. • Durrell Johnson finished with 5.0 TFLs for Liberty.
BOWL WINS
Liberty has posted six wins over teams who will compete in bowl games this season. The Flames defeated Bowling Green (Quick Lane Bowl), New Mexico State (New Mexico Bowl) twice, Jacksonville State (New Orleans Bowl), Western Kentucky (Famous Toastery Bowl) and Old Dominion (Fa- mous Toastery Bowl). Oregon has beaten five 2023 bowl teams this season: Texas Tech (Independence Bowl), Utah (Las Vegas Bowl), California (Independence Bowl), USC (Holiday Bowl) and Oregon State (Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl).
NOT SO CLOSE CALLS
Last season, Liberty went 3-4 in games decided by three points or fewer. The Flames played a total of eight games which were within one score. This year, Liberty has played only two games which have been decided by seven points or fewer, a 21-16 win over Sam Houston on Oct. 5 and a 42-35 victory over Middle Tennessee on Oct. 17. The Flames lead all FBS schools, with 11 wins of 10 or more points this season. 11 – Liberty 10 – Michigan 9 – Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, SMU, Texas, Troy 8 – Alabama, Miami (Ohio), Notre Dame
ON A STREAK
Liberty’s current 13-game winning streak is a new program record and is tied with Michigan for the third-longest active winning streak among FBS teams. Washington (20 games) has the longest active FBS winning streak, followed by Florida State (19). Liberty is tied with Tulane (Nov. 22, 1997-Sept. 6, 1999) for the longest winning streak in Conference USA history.
MARQUEE MATCHUP
Liberty (13-0) and Oregon (11-2) have the fourth most combined wins of any bowl matchup this season. 25 – Capital One Orange Bowl – Georgia (12-1) vs. Florida State (13-0) 25 – CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game – Alabama (12-1) vs. Michigan (13-0) 25 – CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl – Texas (12-1 ) vs. Washington (13-0) 24 – Vrbo Fiesta Bowl – Liberty (13-0) vs. Oregon (11-2)
TAKE THIS INSIDE
Liberty has posted a 2-4-1 all-time record indoors, including 1-1 at Syracuse, 1-0 against Georgia State in the Georgia Dome and 0-3-1 at ETSU’s Memorial Center. Jamey Chadwell has coached in a dome once as a head coach, as his Charleston Southern Buccaneers lost 24- 17 in overtime to North Dakota State at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome, Aug. 27, 2016.
STRENGTH ON STRENGTH
The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl features two of the top offenses in the country. Liberty leads all FBS teams in rushing offense (302.9), while Oregon is second in passing offense (342.8). Oregon (526.6) and Liberty (514.9) are second and third, respectively, in total offense. Oregon is second overall in scoring offense (44.2 points per game), while Liberty is fifth (40.8). The Ducks lead the nation in first downs (344), while Liberty (333) is second nationally.
CUSA SUCCESS
Liberty, after playing the last five years as an FBS Independent, is the first football team to go undefeated in its first season as conference members. The Flames were members of the Big South Conference from 2002-17, winning eight conference titles. This year was the first time Liberty has had the opportunity to play in a conference championship game in program history. Liberty defeated fellow CUSA newcomer New Mexico State 49-35 in the Conference USA Championship Game at Williams Stadium, joining Tulsa (2005) as the only first-year teams to win the CUSA Championship.
RANKED GAMES
Liberty is 1-4 all-time against FBS Top 25 teams, with its lone ranked win to date coming in the 2020 Cure Bowl.
Aug. 30, 2014 at No. 23 North Carolina – L, 29-56
Aug. 31, 2019 vs. No. 22 Syracuse – L, 0-24
Dec. 26, 2020 vs. No. 9/11 Coastal Caro. – W, 37-34 (OT)
Nov. 6, 2021 at No. 15 Ole Miss – L, 14-27
Nov. 20, 2021 vs. No. 21/22 Louisiana – L, 14-42
Trends/Streaks
• Liberty is one of four FBS teams in the country who remain undefeated and are 13-0 in 2023. • Liberty joins Florida State, Michigan and Washington as the only 13-0 teams in the country heading into bowl season. • Liberty has won 13 games in a row and is tied with Michigan for the third-longest active win streak in the country. • Liberty has won 13 games in a row, besting the previous best start in school history set in 2020 (8-0). • Liberty has won eight or more games each of its last five seasons and 15 times total in program history (2019: 8-5; 2020: 10-1; 2021: 8-5; 2022: 8-5; 2023: 13-0). • Since the FBS added a 12th game in 2006, Liberty is one of 24 FBS teams to start a season at 13-0. • Since its first season of bowl eligibility in 2019, Liberty has posted a combined 47-16 overall record (2019-23). • During its first five seasons of full bowl eligibility, Liberty has played in five straight bowl games, winning its first three postseason FBS games (W in the 2019 Cure Bowl; W in the 2020 Cure Bowl; W in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl; L in the 2022 Boca Raton Bowl).
Offense
• Liberty finished the CUSA Championship game against New Mexico State with 712 total offensive yards on 70 plays, averaging 10.2 yards per play. • Liberty’s 712 total yards are the third most in any game this season featuring two FBS teams, trailing UCF’s 723 against Kent State on Aug. 31 and Washington’s 713 versus Michigan State on Sept. 16. Only Nov. 2, 219 at UMass (730 yards) saw Liberty total more than tonight’s 712 yards. • Liberty has surpassed 450 total offensive yards in seven straight games and 10 times this season. • Liberty currently leads CUSA and ranks No. 3 in the country in total offense (514.9 yards per game). • Liberty has scored on its opening possession in 10 out of 13 games in 2023 (Touchdown vs. BGSU, FIU, SHSU, WKU, LA Tech, ODU, UMass, UTEP, NMSU; Field Goal vs. BU). RB Quinton Cooley capped Liberty’s first drive in the CUSA Championship game against New Mexico State with a one-yard rushing touchdown. • The Flames surpassed the 30-point mark for the eighth-straight game 12th time in 13 games in 2023 during their 49- 35 win over New Mexico State. • Liberty currently leads CUSA and ranks No. 5 nationally in scoring offense (40.8 points per game). • Liberty scored in all four quarters against New Mexico State. The Flames have now scored in 46 out of 52 quarters during the 2023 season. • The Flames rushed for 393 yards on 45 carries against New Mexico State, averaging 8.7 yards per carry in the CUSA Championship game. • Jamey Chadwell-coached teams are 33-0 when rushing for 300 or more yards. • Following the CUSA Championship game, Liberty still maintains the top rushing offense in the country, ranking No. 1 by rushing for 302.9 rushing yards per game. • Liberty’s rushing total against New Mexico State continues to extend the program’s single-season program record to 3,938 yards, the Flames’ first-ever 3,000-yard rushing season in program history. The Flames previous school rushing record was 2,776 yards in 2020. • Jamey Chadwell-coached teams have rushed for 200 or more yards 95 times in 169 games (56.2 percent) during his head coaching career. • The Flames finished the CUSA Championship game with 319 passing yards, its second 300-yard game of 2023 (season-high 344 yards against Buffalo). • Liberty finished the NMSU game with 35 first downs and now ranks No. 2 in the country in total first downs (333). • Liberty currently leads CUSA and ranks No. 6 in the country in the fewest passes had intercepted (5). Liberty has finished eight games in 2023 without allowing an interception. • Liberty finished the CUSA Championship game without allowing a turnover, its third game in 2023 with giving the ball away. Liberty enters bowl season ranked No. 15 in the country in turnover margin at +9 (0.69). • New Mexico State edged Liberty by 26 seconds in the time of possession battle during the CUSA Championship game. Liberty lost the TOP battle only twice in 2023. • Liberty currently leads CUSA and ranks No. 2 in the country in average time of possession (33:43). • The Flames converted on 5-of-9 third-down plays against New Mexico State. Liberty leads CUSA and rank No. 4 nationally in third-down conversion percentage (50.3 percent). • Liberty QB Kaidon Salter continues to make the most of his completions in 2023 as the Flames enter the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl ranked No. 2 in the country in passing yards per completion (16.91). • Liberty did not allow a sack in the CUSA Championship game, marking the fourth time in the last five games the Flames have not allowed a sack in a game. Liberty has allowed only nine total sacks in 2023 and ranks No. 2 nationally in fewest sacks allowed per game (0.69 per game).
Defense
• The Flames recorded their national leading 21th interception of the year when DB Brandon Bishop picked off a pass in the end zone during the fourth quarter of the CUSA Championship game against New Mexico State. • Liberty has recorded an interception in 12 of 13 games in 2023 and ranks two INTs against Oklahoma (19) for No. 1 in the country in interceptions. • Preston Hodge’s 62-yard interception return for a touchdown against UMass on Nov. 18 as Liberty’s second interception score of 2023. Liberty currently ranks No. 25 in the country in defensive touchdowns (2). • Liberty enters the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl ranked No. 3 in the country in turnovers gained (25). • New Mexico State finished the CUSA Championship game with 499 total offensive yards on 63 plays (7.9 yards per play). This was the most yards allowed by Liberty in 2023 and the third time this season the Flames have allowed 400+ yards in a game. • Liberty limited New Mexico State to 177 rushing yards and enters bowl season ranked No. 21 in the country in rushing defense (111.6 yards allowed per game).
Special Teams
• Liberty enters the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl ranked No. 7 in the country in kickoff return defense (15.19 yards allowed per return) and No. 16 in punt return defense (3.43 yards allowed per return). Note: All national rankings on this page are as of Dec. 15, 2023, heading into bowl season.
OREGON DUCKS NOTES:
TALKING POINTS
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
No. 8 Oregon will close out the 2023 season with a showdown against No. 23 Liberty in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day in Glendale. The Ducks are making their fourth appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, 14th in a New Year’s Six bowl and 37th overall in a bowl game. Oregon is 2-1 all-time in the Fiesta Bowl, with wins over Colorado (Jan. 1, 2002) and Kansas State (Jan. 3, 2013). This will be the first-ever matchup between Oregon and Liberty.
A WIN WOULD…
» Give Oregon 12 wins in a season for the first time since 2019 and sixth time in program history (all since 2010). » Make the Ducks 17-20 all-time in bowl games, and 3-1 in the Fiesta Bowl. » End Oregon’s season on a winning note for the second year in a row and fourth time since 2018.
ONE LAST RIDE
BO NIX will play his final game in an Oregon uniform against Liberty, capping one of the greatest seasons in program history. The winner of the William V. Campbell Trophy as the nation’s top scholar athlete and the third-place finisher in the Heisman Trophy race, Nix has been one of the truly elite players in the nation in 2023. He leads the country with a 77.2 completion percentage, with a chance to break Mac Jones’ NCAA single-season record of 77.4 in the Fiesta Bowl. Nix is tied for the FBS lead with 40 touchdown passes while ranking second in total touchdowns (46), second in passing yards per game (318.8), second in completions (336), second in passer rating (186.24), third in total yards per game (336.4) and third in total yards per play (8.96). Nix enters the Fiesta Bowl needing three touchdown passes and 310 passing yards to break the UO single-season records of 42 TD passes and 4,454 passing yards held by Marcus Mariota (2014).
QUICK HITS: QB BO NIX
CAREER
» The most experienced starting quarterback in NCAA history with 60 career starts. » Ranks fourth in NCAA history in career total yards (16,596), tied for sixth in total touchdowns (147), seventh in completions (1,258), seventh in passing yards (14,989) and 21st in passing touchdowns (108). » Leads all active QBs with 38 career rushing touchdowns; 20 rushing TDs in 26 games as a Duck, third-most among Oregon QBs.
2023 SEASON
» Winner of the William V. Campbell Trophy as the nation’s top scholar athlete. » Finished third in the Heisman Trophy race; fourth Duck ever to be named a Heisman Trophy finalist, and first since 2014. » Named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year by the league’s coaches and the Associated Press. » Leads the nation with a stellar 77.2 completion percentage (336-of-435), just shy of the NCAA single-season record of 77.4 held by Mac Jones (2020, Alabama). 336 completions is a new UO single-season record. » Tied for the FBS lead in passing touchdowns (40) while ranking second in total touchdowns (46), passing yards per game (318.8), completions (336) and passer rating (186.24), and third in total yards per game (336.4) and total yards per play (8.96). » Four-time Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week this season, giving him a Pac-12 record seven in his Oregon career. » Career-high six TD passes in Oregon’s win at ASU matched the UO single-game record. » Also had six total TDs (four passing, two rushing) in win over California; only FBS player with multiple six-TD games in 2023. » Matched career-high with 33 completions vs. both Washington and Oregon State; tied for fifth-most in UO single-game history. » 85.2 completion percentage (23-of-27) in season opener vs. PSU was his best as a Duck and No. 2 in UO single-game history. » Now owns six of the top 10 completion-percentage performances in UO single-game history; four this season.
TEAM NOTES
HISTORIC SEASON
Oregon enters the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at 11-2 overall and looking to finish off a historically-good season with a win. Head coach DAN LANNING is 21-5 in his tenure at Oregon, and a win on New Year’s Day would make him just the third UO head coach to reach at least 22 wins in his first two seasons. So far in 2023, the Ducks have… » Reached 11 wins for the first time since 2019 and eighth time in program history, and fourth time during the regular season. » Won eight conference games for the first time since 2019 and seventh time in program history. » Finished undefeated (7-0) at home for the fourth time since 2019 and 11th time in program history. » Reached a New Year’s Six bowl game for the 14th time in program history.
BALANCED DOMINANCE
The Ducks have been one of the most balanced and efficient teams in the nation en route to an 11-2 record and trip to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Oregon is No. 2 nationally with a +26.84 scoring differential, and is one of seven teams in the top 15 for both scoring offense (2nd, 44.2 PPG) and scoring defense (11th, 17.3 PPG). The Ducks are one of just four teams (Georgia, SMU, Texas) in the top 25 for both total offense (2nd, 526.6 YPG) and total defense (22nd, 320.3 YPG), and one of nine in the top 30 for both rushing defense (12th, 97.54 YPG) and rushing offense (29th, 183.85 YPG). Oregon also ranks second nationally in passing offense (342.8 YPG) while ranking second in the Pac-12 in passing defense (222.8 YPG). The Ducks have been the best FBS team early in games, leading the nation with a +16.38 scoring differential in the first half and a +9.46 scoring differential in the second quarter. » Overall team grade of 93.3 from Pro Football Focus is best in the Pac-12 and No. 8 in the nation. » Seven of 11 wins have been by 29 points or more, and five have been by 36-plus points. » No. 4 nationally in first-quarter scoring differential (+6.92). » Ducks have led at halftime in all 11 wins, and have led through the first quarter in nine of 11 wins. » No. 7 nationally with a +10.46 scoring differential in the second half, and No. 5 in the third quarter (+7.15)
ALL ABOUT THE BALL
Oregon has committed just seven turnovers so far this season, tied for third-fewest in the nation and three fewer than any other team in the Pac-12. The Ducks made it until Week 9 before losing a fumble, and until Week 10 before committing multiple turnovers in a game. UO is tied for fourth in the nation with just two lost fumbles. Oregon’s defense has come away with 16 takeaways, headlined by four in its Week 2 win at Texas Tech and three on Nov. 4 vs. California. The Ducks’ plus-9 turnover margin is tied for No. 12 in the country, and they have won the turnover battle in eight of 13 contests. An emphasis on the ball has been a trend under head coach DAN LANNING, after Oregon ranked 15th nationally with a plus-9 turnover margin in his first season in 2022. In 26 games under Lanning (21-5), UO has committed just 19 total turnovers with 36 takeaways (+17) and has lost only five fumbles.
THIRD DOWN EXCELLENCE
The Ducks have performed well on third downs on both sides of the ball this season, leading the Pac-12 and ranking sixth nationally with a 15.50 efficiency rating on third downs. The Ducks are best in the conference and third in the nation with a 50.69 conversion percentage on third downs – including a season-best 71.43 percentage (10-of-14) in their win over California on Nov. 4 – and they have converted on more than 50 percent of their third-down opportunities in seven of 13 games. Defensively, Oregon is second in the Pac-12 and 34th nationally with a 35.20 conversion percentage allowed. The Ducks held Hawai’i to just 2-for-14 on third down on Sept. 16, and they were No. 16 nationally in third-down defense during November at 29.41 percent (15-of-51) after holding both California and Arizona State to 3-of-14 and Oregon State to 3-of-11.
OWNING THE MIDDLE EIGHT
Oregon has found success in the crucial middle eight minutes of the game this season. Oregon leads the Pac-12 and ranks eighth in the nation with a +4.4 scoring differential in the “middle eight” – the last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half. UO is No.2 in the FBS with a +4.3 scoring differential in the last four minutes of the first half, ranking second in scoring offense (6.3 PPG) and 27th in scoring defense (2.0 PPG). UO dominated the middle eight in 2022 as well, ranking second nationally with a +6.7 scoring differential.
