We continue our series of an early look ahead to the teams on Liberty’s 2025 schedule. We will give a quick preview of all 12 teams that stand in the Flames’ way of another bowl trip and potentially a second CUSA championship as third-year head coach Jamey Chadwell prepares his team for the upcoming season.
Today, we look at Week 3 on the schedule when the Flames travel to play at Bowling Green in a non-conference contest.
Bowling Green
• When: Saturday, Sep. 13 at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio (5 p.m., ESPN+)
• Last year’s record: 7-6, 6-2 MAC (t-3rd)
• Coach: Eddie George, first year at Bowling Green
• 2025 SP+ ranking: 111
• Series History: Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 2, 2023: Liberty 34, Bowling Green 24
Liberty opened the Jamey Chadwell era with a win over Bowling Green to open the 2023 season. The Flames tied a Williams Stadium record with five interceptions in the win, Jerome Jolly had two of those picks. Liberty had 246 rushing yards, averaging five yards per carry with 49 carries shared between four players. Kaidon Salter led the team with 82 rushing yards while Quinton Cooley finished his first game as a Flame with 16 carries for 78 yards. Vaughn Blue had 50 rushing yards while Billy Lucas added 38 yards on the ground.
Program History:
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 1
Bowl Record: 5-10
Last Bowl Appearance: 2024: L, 38-31 vs Arkansas State in the 68 Ventures Bowl
Taking over a team that frankly wasn’t very good prior to his hire, Scot Loeffler did an admirable job in his six years at the helm of the Falcons. Loeffler and Bowling Green reached a bowl game in each of his final three seasons and were competing at the top of the MAC each year. Now, he has moved on to the NFL as QB Coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. Eddie George was hired in March to replace Loeffler.
The former All-Pro, Heisman Trophy winner, George comes in from Tennessee State where he led them to their first playoff berth since 2013 and first conference title since 1999. Taking over a team that averaged three wins per year in the immediate history prior to him, George had Tennessee State posting consecutive winning seasons, including a 9-win mark last year.
Taking over in March is obviously late in the process and George had plenty of holes to try and fill. Bowling Green returns just six starters overall and only one on the defense. Add in a new coaching staff with new systems and there are plenty of questions to go around. Obviously, George and his staff hit the portal hard in the spring to try and shore up the roster.
Drew Pyne is the favorite to take over at quarterback. On his fourth Division I school, Pyne is 9-3 as a starter over his previous stops. He started his career at Notre Dame (2020-22) then transferred to Arizona State (2023) before playing at Missouri last year. He returned to Notre Dame for a semester after ASU in order to graduate from the school. The offensive line should be the strength of the team as they return four starters and add one from South Florida. Using more 12 and 13 personnel with a downhill run and play action system, Bowling Green will rely on their offensive line as there are question marks at the skill positions.
It’s a similar story on defense where the Falcons lose most of their top contributors from last season and are also going through a major scheme change. Brandon Fisher, the son of former NFL head coach Jeff Fisher, is Bowling Green’s new defensive coordinator, a position he held at Tennessee State under George for the prior four seasons.
What’s at Stake?
The Falcons have been a solid team in the MAC recently, playing in three straight bowl games. While Liberty will surely be favored in this one, it won’t be a walk in the park. The Flames should have the more talented and experienced team especially being in the third year under head coach Jamey Chadwell while Bowling Green will still be breaking in new head coach Eddie George who wasn’t hired until late in the process. It should be enough for Liberty to pick up the win.
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