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 the first of only two games for the Flames in October, as Liberty heads west to take on UTEP for what might be the final time as the Miners prepare to make the move to the Mountain West.
UTEP
• When: Wednesday, Oct. 8 at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas (8 p.m., CBS Sports Network)
• Last year’s record: 3-9, 3-5 CUSA (t-6th)
• Coach: Scotty Walden, second year at UTEP
• 2025 SP+ ranking: 123
• Series History: Liberty leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Sep. 14, 2024: Liberty 28, UTEP 10
Billy Lucas scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns to put the first 21 points on the board for the Flames. He went on to rush for 104 yards on 21 carries in the game as Liberty opened the season 3-0. Kaidon Salter completed 15 of 19 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown. The Miners took the early lead, 3-0, before Liberty scored 14 straight, but UTEP cut the deficit to 14-10 early in the second half. The Flames would score the final two touchdowns to create some separation and provide the final margin.
Program History:
National Championships: 0
Conference Championships: 2
Bowl Record: 5-10
Last Bowl Appearance: 2021: L, 31-24 vs Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl
UTEP is entering their final year in Conference USA as they prepare to depart for the Mountain West. The Miners have had just two winning seasons in the past 20 years, something second year head coach Scotty Walden is trying to change. The young and fiery Walden has injected new life into the program, as evidenced by two strong recruiting classes. Now, he hopes some of that off the field success can begin to translate to wins on the field.
In Walden’s first season, the Miners started 0-6 and 1-8 before winning two of their last three. Their two CUSA losses in the back half of the schedule each came by exactly one score, and they will be looking to carry over some of the at momentum into 2025.
There will be a lot of attention on the quarterback battle in training camp. Skyler Locklear is the incumbent after winning the job last season. He followed his head coach Walden from Austin Peay to UTEP prior to the 2024 season. Locklear completed 63.5% of his 233 passes for 1,583 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.
The former top ranked recruit in the nation by ESPN, Malachi Nelson, enters the fold this season. The former five-star recruit began his collegiate career at USC where he appeared in one game during his true freshman season behind starter Caleb Williams. Nelson redshirted and then transferred to Boise State a year ago. He was beat out by Maddux Madsen in that quarterback battle and once again entered the transfer portal where he landed at UTEP.
The Miners seem to be bigger, stronger, and more talented than they were in 2024. They should be able to top last year’s win total and hope to be flirting with bowl eligibility
What’s at Stake?
Having completed its non-conference schedule by this point of the season, Liberty will now turn sole attention to Conference USA where the Flames will be looking to get back in the conference championship picture after 2024’s fourth place finish. UTEP will be looking to make a resurgence in Coach Walden’s second year, and they have strung together a couple of strong recruiting and transfer portal classes which should soon begin to lead to improved results on the field. This will be Liberty’s second conference game of the season, with both of the first two coming on the road. With the expanded 12-team league and unbalanced conference schedules, it will be difficult to remain in the conference championship game race with multiple losses.
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Bowling Green
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