Kickoff times and TV information has been released for most of Liberty’s football games in 2026 as the Flames attempt to get back to a bowl game and on top of Conference USA.
At least seven of the team’s 12 games will be on linear TV, with four appearing on CBS Sports Network, two on ESPNU, and one on ESPN so far. At least two games will be on ESPN+ while three others will be on ESPN platforms to be announced which network specifically 12 days prior to each game’s kickoff. These games could be on ESPN+ or one of the linear ESPN Networks.
The Flames kick off the season on Saturday, September 5 at James Madison at noon on ESPNU. This will be the first time these two in-state rivals meet in Harrisonburg since 2014 as they play for the Battle of the Blue Ridge trophy. The Dukes came into Williams Stadium and defeated Liberty this past fall. Now, JMU is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance where they lost to No. 5 seed Oregon in Eugene under head coach Bob Chesney. When Liberty strolls into Bridgeforth Stadium in September it will be under their brand-new head coach Billy Napier.
The Flames will then open up its home schedule on September 12 against Gardner Webb with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. and remain at home on September 19 to face Ball State with kickoff schedule at 4 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+. The non-conference portion of the schedule concludes on Thursday, September 24 in Conway, South Carolina at Coastal Carolina at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
The CUSA schedule will then transition to its midweek games for the month of October with Liberty playing three in the midweek in 2026, four including the Coastal game. The Flames will open conference play on Friday, Oct. 2 at Delaware, the first trip for Liberty to play at the Blue Hens. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. On Thursday, Oct. 8, Liberty welcomes Sam Houston to Williams Stadium for the first time since the epic, 21-16, Liberty win on Oct. 5, 2023, as the Flames remained unbeaten with a last second goal line stand. The Flames and Bearkats will kickoff at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
The Flames will then have its open week before playing at defending CUSA champions Kennesaw State on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. This game was originally announced to be played on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
The schedule then shifts to Saturday for the Flames’ final five games of the regular season. The Flames host FIU on Saturday, Oct. 31 for homecoming with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Liberty plays at New Mexico State on Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. on an ESPN Platform to be determined. The Flames then host Middle Tennessee on Nov. 14 at 3:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. The final two regular season games are scheduled for early afternoon kickoffs on an ESPN Platform to be announced. The Flames play host to Western Kentucky on November 21 at 1 p.m. just ahead of the team’s regular season finale on Nov. 28 on the road at Missouri State with a 2 p.m kickoff.
The Conference USA championship game will be contested at the home site of the No. 1 seed in the league on Friday, Dec. 4 and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Here’s a look at Liberty’s 2026 football schedule with times and TV information now included, all times are Eastern:
Sat., Sep. 05 at James Madison, Noon, ESPNU
Sat., Sep. 12 vs Gardner-Webb, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Sat., Sep. 19 vs Ball State, 4 p.m., ESPN+
Thur., Sep. 24 at Coastal Carolina, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Fri., Oct. 02 at Delaware*, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Thur., Oct. 08 vs Sam Houston*, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Thur., Oct. 22 at Kennesaw State*, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Sat., Oct. 31 vs FIU*, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Sat., Nov. 07 at New Mexico State*, 5 p.m., ESPN Platform TBD
Sat., Nov. 14 vs Middle Tennessee*, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Sat., Nov. 21 vs Western Kentucky*, 1 p.m., ESPN Platform TBD
Sat., Nov. 28 at Missouri State*, 2 p.m., ESPN Platform TBD
*CUSA game
