When college football fans want a preview of the teams across the country, they turn to Phil Steele’s Football Preview. In previewing Liberty in his 2026 College Football Preview Magazine, Phil Steele is high on the Flames and expects the team to return to the top of Conference USA. He has the Flames as his most improved team in the country this season.
Liberty was picked 83rd out of the 138 FBS teams in Phil Steele’s Power Poll and 33rd in his preseason top 40. His Power Poll is like a power rankings of the talent of each year’s team while his top 40 ranks where he anticipates each team will finish the season.
“This year, they bring in some solid transfers like RB Kanye Udoh who was a 1,000 yard rusher for Army in ’24,” the magazine writes of Liberty. “Liberty is my #1 Most Improved Team and is my choice to win CUSA.”
Phil Steele is very high on Liberty’s offensive line and running back units. He ranks the Flames’ offensive line as the No. 25 unit among all offensive lines in the e country. Meanwhile, the running backs are ranked as the No. 30 unit in the country among all other running backs.
11 Flames are on the preseason All-CUSA team led by first team defensive end Brenton Williams. Three players were named to the second team listing in C Aaron Fenimore, OL DJ Geth, and LB Derrell Farrar. On the third team from Liberty was RB Kanye Udoh, WR Makai Jackson, OL Christian Williams, and DT Nathan Pirolli. The fourth team had Liberty selections in TE LaKelsey Johnson, Jr., S Jayden Davis, and KR Peyton Jones.
“I like what Chadwell did in the portal and all indicators are pointing up,” Phil Steele wrote in his preview of Liberty. “They are my favorites to win CUSA and a playoff contender.”
For more on Liberty and a full breakdown on all 138 FBS teams, Phil Steele’s 2026 College Football Preview magazine is now on sale.
