Liberty Athletics

Football

FB: Liberty Enters CFP Rankings at No. 25

GRAPEVINE, Texas - The 11-0 Liberty Flames have officially entered the College Football Playoff Rankings for the first time as members of Conference USA, and the first time in program history, at No. 25. The Flames conclude their regular season on Saturday, Nov. 25, in El Paso against the UTEP Miners at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network.

Liberty is seeking the New Year's Six spot guaranteed to the highest-ranked G5 champion in the CFP rankings, and currently sits behind just Tulane. The Flames host the CUSA Championship Game on Friday, Dec. 1, in Lynchburg, Virginia, at 6 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network, and must also win that game to qualify for the NY6 spot.

Liberty's inclusion in the Week 12 rankings marks the fourth consecutive season that a Conference USA team has been in the CFP top 25, and fifth season overall since their inception in 2014.

Liberty, who also rank No. 22 in both the AP Top 25 and US LBM Coaches Poll, is one of just six unbeaten teams remaining in the FBS. The Flames, under first-year head coach Jamey Chadwell, are atop the Conference USA standings. Other undefeated teams are: No. 1 Georgia (11-0), No. 2 Ohio State (11-0), No. 3 Michigan (11-0), No. 4 Washington (11-0) and No. 5 Florida State (11-0). Note: Rankings from tonight's CFP Top 25.

The Flames are the only 11-0 G5 regular season champion and have victories over 9-win New Mexico State, 8-win Jacksonville State, 6-win Bowling Green (who defeated Georgia Tech earlier this season) and 6-win Western Kentucky. All 11 Liberty wins are versus FBS competition and the Flames rank 15th nationally in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric (College Football Power Index), which is first among G5 teams (Tulane is 18, James Madison is 21, SMU is 25, Toledo is 27 and Troy is 34).

Full CFP Rankings.