Liberty is picked as the 83rd best team in the country out of 136 FBS teams, according to Phil Steele’s Power Poll. This ranking is down from last year’s preseason ranking of No. 81.
Virginia is the highest ranked team from Virginia in the Power Poll, checking in at No. 39 with Virginia Tech right behind them at No. 40. Those two are followed by No. 66 James Madison, No. 74 Old Dominion, and Liberty.
Here’s how Liberty’s 2026 non-conference opponents are ranked:
66. James Madison
118. Coastal Carolina
136. Ball State
N/A. Gardner-Webb
Under fourth-year head coach Jamey Chadwell, the Flames are picked to win the 10-member CUSA. And here is how the entire CUSA is ranked in the Phil Steele Power Poll:
83. Liberty
94. Jax State
102. Western Kentucky
108. Delaware
109. FIU
111. Kennesaw State
116. New Mexico State
124. Middle Tennessee
132. Sam Houston
133. Missouri State
According to Phil Steele’s projection, Liberty’s schedule is ranked as the 135th toughest schedule out of the 138 FBS teams entering the 2026 season.
