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 a trip to South Florida for the Flames in mid-November to take on FIU.
FIU
• When: Saturday, Nov. 15 at Pitbull Stadium in Miami (5 p.m. ESPN Platform TBD)
• Last year’s record: 4-8, 3-5 CUSA (t-6th)
• Coach: Willie Simmons, first year at FIU
• 2025 SP+ ranking: 129
• Series History: Liberty leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 8, 2024: Liberty needed overtime to squeak out the Tuesday night win at Williams Stadium, 31-24. After the panthers scored two touchdowns during the final seven minutes of regulation, it was Liberty’s rushing attack and a key defensive stop by Christian Bodnar allowed the Flames to push the nation’s longest regular season winning streak to 17 games. Quinton Cooley rushed 29 times for 174 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bodnar sacked FIU QB Keyone Jenkins on the game’s final play, forcing a fumble which Liberty recovered to seal the victory.
Program History:
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 1
Bowl Record: 2-3
Last Bowl Appearance: 2019: L, 34-26 vs Arkansas State in the Camellia Bowl
After three straight 4-8 seasons, Mike MacIntyre is out as head coach and Willie Simmons has taken over. Simmons inherits an FIU team that was also 3-5 in CUSA play, but their record may be worse than they were. The Panthers lost to Liberty, 31-24, in overtime at Williams Stadium. They had four other losses by three points or less. FIU was very close to achieving bowl eligibility.
Simmons comes in after spending the 2024 season as the running backs coach at Duke. Prior to that he was the head coach at Florida A&M for six years, compiling an impressive 45-13 overall record and 34-5 conference record. The former starting quarterback at Clemson, Simmons was the head coach at Prairie View A&M for three years prior to his time at FAMU. He has never had a losing season at head coach.
QB Keyone Jenkins went into the portal but Simmons was able to convince him to come back. Jenkins is one of the more experienced quarterbacks in the league with nearly 5,000 passing yards in two seasons at FIU. Simmons and FIU also brought in Joe Pesansky, a transfer QB from Holy Cross where he was the starter last year. He has thrown for over 2,000 yards with 19 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, and should, at the least, be a solid backup option to Jenkins who is prone to injuries with his style of play.
Kejon Owens is a veteran that returns at running back while Brian Blades II returns to lead the team in the defensive secondary. Blades had seven passes defended and returned an interception for a touchdown last season.
A successful coach at the lower levels and in a talent rich area, Simmons could get the FIU ship righted quickly and them back competing near the top of CUSA.
What’s at Stake?
This could end up being a sneaky game for the Flames. It wouldn’t be a shock to see FIU in the mix at the top of the conference standings at this point in the season. Plus, it’s not a quick and easy trip to South Florida. One good thing for Liberty is that this game falls late in the season and is an evening game meaning the heat and humidity shouldn’t be much of a factor at Pittbull Stadium.
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