Here are the 2 most likely scenarios for the Flames to get into the playoffs in 2016:

1. Win the Big South auto-bid.

It’s pretty simple, but has been difficult for Liberty to accomplish. Take care of business in the Big South and the Flames will be dancing. This certainly means beating Charleston Southern in November as it’s nearly impossible to envision CSU losing 2 games in the Big South if they don’t fall to LU. Liberty could lose at Kennesaw State, for example, and still win the auto-bid provided they defeat the Bucs.

2. Go 3-3 in non-conference & lose to CSU.

The Flames could secure a playoff bid prior to conference play starting by winning at least 3 non-conference games. With 6 challenging non-conference games including Virginia Tech, SMU, Jacksonville State, and Coastal Carolina, a 3-3 mark with 1 Big South loss to Charleston Southern would put Liberty at 7-4 on the year. That 7-4 mark would feature no bad losses and at least 1 good win. In the 24-team playoff format, that would be close to a lock to get in the dance.

10 Numbers to Know

3,855 Career rushing yards gone with the graduations of D.J. Abnar & Des Rice 74 Tackles Nick Newman had in 2015, which led the team 44 Career games started by Josh Woodrum 38 Starts from returning offensive lineman in 2015 25 Consecutive starts by Hunter Winstead...

9 Things to Know About Non-Conference Schedule

1. 2016 marks the first time the Flames have ever played one of the premier teams in Virginia, as Liberty travels to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech. 2. The Hokies will be playing their first game under a head coach not named Frank Beamer in 30 seasons as Justin...

8 things to know about the Big South

1. Presbyterian, who finished 2-9 overall and 1-5 in the Big South last season, returns just one all-conference performer in running back Darrell Bridges. 2. Monmouth, who is in the 3rd year of its 4 year commitment with the league, returns quarterback Cody Williams...

7 Keys for success

1. New Leadership needs to step up Not only did Liberty lose a lot of talent in key positions from last year, but they also lost all 4 team captains. 2. Quarterback can't be a liability Replacing a 4-year starter at any position is a challenging task, but doing so at...

6 Players Poised for a breakout in 2016

1. Stephon Masha The coaching staff is clearly counting on Masha to make a huge leap this season as he has been picked as a captain and a team representative for media day. Much of the team’s success will fall on his shoulders. 2. Todd Macon In the time Macon has...

5 positions to watch during camp

With fall practice beginning one week from today, here's a look at 5 positions to watch. 1. Quarterback Stephon Masha was named the starting quarterback at the end of the spring, but that was before Buckshot Calvert arrived on the scene. While Stephon is still likely...

4 Bold Predictions for the 2016 Season

1. Juwan Wells will lead the Big South in sacks. As a true freshman, Wells recorded 5 sacks last season including 3 in the final 2 games. With Wells expected to be a major contributor from the beginning of the season, his numbers will increase significantly. 2. Damian...

3 Reasons 2016 is the most important season at LU for Gill

1. No more room for error. Losing to Monmouth AND Gardner-Webb in the same season is unacceptable. If something similar happens this season, there will be significant changes made within the football program. 2. No more excuses for not winning Big South auto-bid. With...

1 Reason 2016 Will Be Special

Today, we reach the conclusion of this particular season preview countdown. Dating back to the first post over a month ago, 10 numbers to know, we’ve looked at various storylines entering the 2016 season. (A link to all of the previous 9 entries is at the end of this...