The 2026 Liberty Flames football team represents Liberty University in Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Flames play their home games at Williams Stadium located in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are led by fourth-year head coach Jamey Chadwell.
Offseason Transfers Outgoing Kaidon WhidbyLBAlcorn StateDevin HendersonSAppalachian StateEvan DickensRBBoston CollegeVaughn BlueRBCentral MichiganDylan MullinsSCharleston SouthernCal GrubbsIOLEast Tennessee StateMalachi Fannin-RenderRBJames MadisonRyan ManisLSLouisvilleMichael MerdingerQBMinnesotaEli SissonTENorth AlabamaDonovan DozierEDGENorthwestern StateChristian BodnarSOklahoma StateJayden BradfordQBSouth FloridaBryson JenningsEDGESouthernDa'Jy'Quwan Jackson-PayneOTSouthern MissDexter RicksCBTexas StateDonte LeeWRTexas TechWeston WoodardEDGETowsonEli HallDLUABConnie Hewitt IITEUT MartinEsom NnajioforDLWoffordLarry JonesEDGEUnknownUriah PointsCBUnknownCaden WilliamsRBUnknownBrenton WilliamsEDGEWithdrawn
Incoming Tyrell GaineyCBAlbany StateKanye UdohRBArizona StateAshton WhitnerSBall StateKelsey JohnsonTEBaylorAshton McShaneCBBoston CollegeElijah McKenzieCBBowie StateRashawn CunninghamWRCharleston SouthernJustin MarshallRBColorado StatePeyton JonesRBDukeHenry HicksDLElizabeth City StateJohn CustisDLEmory & HenryKam DavisRBFlorida StateD'Icey HopkinsSGeorgia StateGreg RiveraLSGrambling StateMakai JacksonWRIndianaChase ReevesKMcKendreeValen EricksonOTNC StateRefeno VangatesWRNorth Carolina CentralBreckan KirbyTENorth GreenvilleJude FosterIOLOle MissAlex BirchmeierIOLPenn StateKevin EveheOTSaint Francis (PA)Kyle FermLBSMUIzaiah GuyCBSouth FloridaJeremiah VesselSUABZeke WimbushTEVirginia TechDeshawn PurdieQBWake ForestLorenzo PayneEDGEWest FloridaJaylen HendersonQBWest VirginiaTerron KellmanRBWyoming
Schedule
Game summaries at James Madison (Battle of the Blue Ridge)
Statistics LIB JMU First downs 19 15 Plays–yards 65–321 49–291 Rushes–yards 38–91 31–173 Passing yards 230 118 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–27–0 12–18–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 37:17 22:38 Team Category Player StatisticsLiberty Passing Deshawn Purdie 17/27, 230 yards, TD Rushing Kam Davis 16 carries, 52 yards Receiving Makai Jackson 3 receptions, 73 yards, TD James Madison Passing JC Evans 7/9, 61 yards, TD Rushing JC Evans 9 carries, 69 yards Receiving Noah Grevious 4 receptions, 39 yards
vs Gardner–Webb (FCS)
Statistics GWEB LIB First downs 23 18 Total yards 71–304 66–379 Rushing yards 33–118 45–193 Passing yards 186 186 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–38–2 8–21–0 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 30:52 29:08 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Cole Pennington 16/38, 186 yards, 2 INT Rushing Randy Young 4 carries, 75 yards, TD Receiving Kory Jones 3 receptions, 51 yardsLiberty Passing Deshawn Purdie 6/17, 122 yards, TD Rushing Peyton Jones 13 carries, 76 yards Receiving Makai Jackson 2 receptions, 69 yards, TD
vs Ball State
Statistics BALL LIB First downs 17 23 Total yards 261 460 Rushing yards 168 212 Passing yards 93 248 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–21–0 16–24–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 28:01 31:59 Team Category Player StatisticsBall State Passing Keldric Luster 10/21, 93 yards Rushing TJ Horton 8 carries, 79 yards, 2 TD Receiving Isaiah Thacker 4 receptions, 44 yardsLiberty Passing Deshawn Purdie 13/20, 211 yards, 3 TD Rushing Terron Kellman 3 carries, 51 yards Receiving Makai Jackson 4 receptions, 88 yards, TD
at Coastal Carolina (rivalry)
Statistics LIB CCU First downs 24 18 Total yards 485 292 Rushing yards 263 79 Passing yards 222 213 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–18–0 17–35–2 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 32:41 27:19 Team Category Player StatisticsLiberty Passing Deshawn Purdie 11/16, 216 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kam Davis 18 carries, 166 yards Receiving Makai Jackson 5 receptions, 149 yards, 2 TDCoastal Carolina Passing Deuce Bailey 17/34, 213 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Deuce Bailey 15 carries, 31 yards Receiving Tristian Gardner 4 receptions, 86 yards, TD
at Delaware
Statistics LIBDEL First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Liberty Passing Rushing Receiving Delaware Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Sam Houston
Statistics SHSULIB First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Sam Houston Passing Rushing Receiving Liberty Passing Rushing Receiving
at Kennesaw State
Statistics LIBKENN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Liberty Passing Rushing Receiving Kennesaw State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs FIU
Statistics FIULIB First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics FIU Passing Rushing Receiving Liberty Passing Rushing Receiving
at New Mexico State
Statistics LIBNMSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Liberty Passing Rushing Receiving New Mexico State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Middle Tennessee
Statistics MTSULIB First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Middle Tennessee Passing Rushing Receiving Liberty Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Western Kentucky
Statistics WKULIB First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving Liberty Passing Rushing Receiving
at Missouri State
Statistics LIBMOST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Liberty Passing Rushing Receiving Missouri State Passing Rushing Receiving
References