Today, we begin 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.

We begin today with a look at Liberty’s season opener against Maine.

Maine

• When: Saturday, Aug. 30 at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg (4 p.m. ESPN+)
• Last year’s record: 5-7, 3-5 CAA (11th out of 16 teams)
• Coach: Jordan Stevens, fourth year at Maine
• 2025 SP+ ranking: N/A
• Series History: Tied, 1-1

Last Meeting: Oct. 19, 2019: Liberty 59, Maine 44

Liberty wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden finished the game with 9 receptions for 149 yards, giving him 3,295 career receiving yards as he became the program’s career receiving yard leader in the game. Meanwhile, Buckshot Calvert became the second quarterback in school history to pass for 10,000 or more yards, finishing the night 23 of 35 passing for 351 yards and 5 touchdowns, becoming Liberty’s all-time leader in career passing yards with his performance.

Program History:

National Championships: 0

Conference Championships: 0

Bowl Record: 0-0

Last Bowl Appearance: N/A

For a second straight season, Liberty will kick off the season at Williams Stadium against an FCS opponent when the Flames welcome Maine to Lynchburg to open the 2025 campaign. The Flames are 9-0 against FCS opponents since making the move to the FBS prior to the 2018 season, including a 41-24 win over Campbell last year. The Black Bears were 5-7 a year ago and 3-5 in CAA play. They lost to Oklahoma, 59-14, in their only contest against an FBS opponent in 2024.

For the first time in Jordan Stevens’ tenure as head coach, the Black Bears are returning both their offensive and defensive coordinators, as well as their starting quarterback, Carter Peevy. Peevy appeared in 12 games last season, completing 213 of 320 of his passes for 2,422 yards and 18 touchdowns. He ranked in the top three in the CAA in completions, completion percentage, passing yards, and touchdowns. It was his first year at Maine after transferring from Mercer where he guided them to the FCS playoffs and first round victory over Gardner-Webb in 2023 while passing for 2,284 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.

With continuity on the coaching staff and at the quarterback position, there’s a sense of optimism surrounding the program as they prepare for their August 30th opener at Liberty.

What’s at Stake?

Liberty is 9-0 against FCS opponents since making the move to the FBS. The Flames will be heavy favorites in this one and cannot suffer a setback if the team wants to have the type of season it hopes to have. Having a game like this to open the season can be beneficial as Liberty has so many new pieces on both sides of the ball including at quarterback.