Kickoff times and television info for the first three games of Liberty’s 2022 football season has been announced.

The Flames will open the season in Hattiesburg, Mississippi against Southern Miss on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN+. The Eagles are coming off a 3-9 season in 2021. This will be the second ever meeting between the two programs, with Liberty defeating Southern Miss, 56-35, on Oct. 24, 2020 at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Fourth year Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze will be making a return trip to his alma mater as coach for the visiting team. Former Liberty offensive line coach Sam Gregg, who served under Freeze from 2019-2021, was hired by Southern Miss head coach Will Hall following the conclusion of the 2021 football season. Gregg now serves as the Golden Eagles’ offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

Liberty will then return to Lynchburg for its 2022 home opener against UAB. Kickoff for this game on Sept. 10 has been scheduled for 6 p.m., also on ESPN+. The Blazers finished the 2021 campaign with a 9-4 record, defeating No. 13 BYU in the Independence Bowl. The Flames spoiled UAB’s Protective Stadium grand opening on Oct. 2 last season, dispatching the Blazers, 36-12.

Liberty’s third game of the season is on Sept. 17 at Wake Forest. Kickoff has been scheduled for 5 p.m. against the Demon Deacons and the game will be televised on the ACC Network. Wake had one of their best seasons in 2021, finishing at 11-3 following a 38-10 win over Rutgers in the Gator Bowl.

The Flames will be looking to get back to a fourth straight bowl game in 2022 under Freeze. 2022 will also be the final year for the program as an FBS Independent before joining Conference USA beginning with the 2023 season. There is much anticipation surrounding the upcoming season as the Flames will play its most anticipated home schedule in school history with Virginia Tech and BYU each coming to Lynchburg to take on Liberty.