Earlier, we looked at Liberty’s best wins at the FBS level. Now, let’s take a look at the worst losses during that same time period. For losses, there are several ways to define the “worst” such as biggest margin of defeat, most embarrassing, most costly, etc. We are taking each of those into account while coming up with this list. Here is our ranking of the worst five losses since Liberty joined the FBS level, what would your list be?
5. No. 8 Oregon 45, No. 23 Liberty 6 – January 1, 2024
Maybe this one doesn’t belong on this list, but it’s the biggest stage Liberty athletics has ever been – playing in the Fiesta Bowl after the team’s undefeated 13-0 and CUSA Championship season in 2023. After taking a 6-0 lead in the first quarter, the Ducks were just too much for Liberty and they cruised to the dominant victory. It was a deflating loss, maybe not unexpected, but certainly was a gut punch. The team’s struggles over the past two years since that loss have certainly exacerbated the feeling from that loss to Oregon back on New Year’s Day. It’s also left us wondering if the program can ever get back to that level.
4. NC State 15, No. 21 Liberty 14 – November 21, 2020
Maybe one of the biggest “what-if” moments in the history of Liberty football. Sure, looking back at this score and, even in the moment, it didn’t feel like such a demoralizing and costly defeat, but knowing what that 2020 season ended up being, this game certainly deserves to be on this list. The Flames entered that Saturday in Raleigh at 8-0 on the season and ranked in every Top 25 poll. Liberty owned wins over Syracuse and Virginia Tech as Hugh Freeze and Malik Willis were putting together arguably the best season the program has ever seen. The Flames would end that year 10-1 with two wins over ACC programs and a Top 25 win over a previously unbeaten Coastal Carolina team in the Cure Bowl. What if Alex Barbir’s 39-yard field goal made it through the uprights?
3. New Mexico State 49, Liberty 14 – November 26, 2022
I don’t know if I’ve ever felt more embarrassed during a game/throughout a game day. From the pre-game reports of Hugh Freeze leaving to take the head coaching job at Auburn to the beatdown against a New Mexico State team that had just 4 wins entering that regular season finale for the Flames. It was the Diego Pavia breakout game before anyone knew who he was. But it was a deflating day at Williams Stadium for all Liberty fans.
2. Louisiana-Monroe 31, Liberty 28 – October 16, 2021
Coming off the 10-1 2020 season, expectations were sky high for the Flames in 2021. Behind Hugh Freeze and Malik Willis, Liberty was expected to compete as one of the top Group of Five teams once again. The Flames entered this game with 5-1 record, the only loss a three-point setback to Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. Liberty was a 32.5-point favorite in this one, had a two-touchdown lead at halftime before letting the Warhawks score 28 unanswered points in the third quarter to take the lead. Liberty would come back to tie the game before ULM set up a game-winning 53-yard field goal with less than 2 minutes remaining to pull off the shocker in Monroe.
1. Kennesaw State 27, Liberty 24 – October 24, 2024
The Jamey Chadwell era couldn’t have gotten off to a much better start. The Flames went 13-1 in 2023 and jumped out to a 5-0 start in 2024, good for an 18-1 record through his first 19 games as head coach. Liberty entered this game as a 27-point favorite against the FBS-newbies who entered the night at 0-6. Kennesaw State pulled the shocking upset and the two programs have been headed in different directions since then. Liberty would go on to lose four games in the last half of 2024 before limping to a 4-8 season in 2025. Meanwhile, the Owls won 10 games in 2025, including the CUSA Championship.
