“If ifs and buts were candies and nuts, Liberty would have at least two national championships.” -Richie Longshots (probably). The 2025-26 athletic season has concluded, and with it comes the dog days of summer and fans like us dreaming about alternate scenarios if certain iconic Liberty Sports moments had a different ending. While the past may be in the past, it’s fun to think about “what could have been.” So without further ado, here are the top ‘What-ifs’ in Liberty Athletics History…
What if the 2020 NCAA Tournament Was Never Cancelled
Objectively, I think this is probably the ‘what-if’ that comes to most Liberty fans’ minds first. The 2019-20 Liberty Men’s Basketball team was special and had all the makings of a Cinderella team. The Flames won a program record 30 games that season and had just secured their second consecutive ASUN Tournament Championship and a ticket to the NCAA Tournament, just before the world shut down due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak. The year prior, Liberty won 29 games and secured its first-ever NCAA Tournament win in the round of 64 over Mississippi State. This year’s team returned four out of five starters from that year’s team, as well as six of the eight players on the 8-man rotation.
The Flames had experience, confidence, and were peaking at the right time. Liberty likely would have been a 12-seed (like the year prior) and had already usurped their program-best win mark from the year prior. Veteran leadership, high-octane scoring ability, elite three-point shooting, and great defense, this team had it all. Depending on the matchup, it is not crazy whatsoever to believe that the 2019-20 Flames were Sweet Sixteen bound (if not further). However, this team will always go down as perhaps the greatest ‘what if’ in Liberty Flames history.
What if Hugh Freeze Never Left For Auburn?
There are so many paths this hypothetical scenario could lead you down. The year is 2022, and the Flames are having one of, if not the best, seasons in program history. Liberty is 8-1, in the Top 25, with their only loss being by a single point on the road to 19th-ranked Wake Forest, while claiming wins over both BYU and Arkansas. After the Arkansas win, talks of Hugh Freeze leaving Liberty intensified, with Auburn University setting their focus on the Liberty ball coach. Coincidentally, at the time Auburn began talks with Hugh Freeze, Liberty started losing. The Flames lost their last three regular-season games, including getting blown out at home by New Mexico State right after the Hugh Freeze to Auburn news officially broke less than an hour before kickoff. Behind interim head coach Josh Aldridge, Liberty would lose its bowl game as well, dropping their last four games and finishing the season at 8-5.
If Hugh Freeze stayed, what would that season have looked like? It’s hard to not believe that Liberty would have at least reached the 10-win threshold (for what would have only been the third time at that point), and it is definitely not crazy to believe they would have won out if Freeze did not have a “split-allegiance” the last few games of the season, as Liberty was favored against every remaining team. Does Liberty finish the year 12-1? What kind of bowl game does Liberty get into with this finish?
If Hugh Freeze doesn’t leave this season, how long does he stay? Is he still Liberty’s head coach? Do the Flames have the historic 13-1 Fiesta Bowl season the next year under Freeze? This is the question that intrigues me the most. While some fans say that Chadwell inherited a “Freeze team,” the truth of the matter is that over 50% of the roster departed once Freeze left. Chadwell brought in players like Quinton Cooley, Aaron Bedgood, Billy Lucas, Kobe Singleton, TJ Bush, Preston Hodge, and other essential pieces on that historic 2023 team. Not to mention introducing a new offense, which allowed the Flames to lead the nation in rushing and saw Kaidon Salter flourish. Does Hugh Freeze go undefeated in 2023 and win CUSA and make a New Year’s Six Bowl? It is definitely possible, but the team would have looked different, and it is very possible Salter would not have been QB1 or have had the historic season he had. Coaching changes can also spark an unspoken motivation amongst players and staff, and that also likely played a role in 2023 Liberty’s success. It’s plausible to think that the 2023 season, which featured an undefeated regular season, a CUSA Championship, and a Fiesta Bowl appearance, would not have happened without Hugh Freeze’s departure in 2022.
What if Carlik Jones’ Missed That Shot?
Carlik Jones is still one of the least favorite names you can mention around Flames faithful today. The Radford Highlander hit a game-winning dagger at the buzzer to crush the Flames’ NCAA Tournament dreams in 2018. Liberty finished the regular season a respectable 18-13 and 9-9 in Big South play, earning the team the 5th seed in the Big South Tournament. The Flames got hot at the right time and defeated 4th-seeded Campbell comfortably in the quarterfinals and then followed that with an upset over regular season champion UNC Asheville in the semi-final round, setting up a championship game with Commonwealth foe and 2nd-seeded Radford. In a defensive battle, the Flames and Highlanders went back and forth with Jones’ buzzer-beater at the end, resulting in a 55-52 Radford win. The Highlanders ended up being a 16-seed and lost to eventual National Champion Villanova after defeating LIU Brooklyn in the First Four.
If that shot doesn’t go in, the game goes into overtime. Do the Flames win in OT? Not necessarily, but it is very possible. If they did, they undoubtedly would have been a 16-seed in their own right. While still young, this team featured a rotation with the likes of Lovell Cabbil Jr, Georgia Pacheco Ortiz, Scottie James, Caleb Homesley, Ryan Kemrite, Elijah Cuffee, Myo Baxter-Bell, and Keegan McDowell. This team had talent and very easily could have won a First Four game in Dayton and maybe even given a 1-seed a first-round scare. Not to mention, a win here would have been the first of four consecutive conference titles, further cementing Liberty as one of the top mid-major programs. Would Liberty have won? Would Liberty have won its first March Madness game? Would Liberty have four-peated as conference champs? These are all questions that will have to go unanswered.
What if Liberty Never Blocked that Coastal FG in 2014?
The “Hand of God” (PT 1) is one of the most iconic plays in Liberty Football history. Coastal Carolina came into the game 11-1 and ranked #1 in the FCS. The Flames stood at 7-4, but only had one loss in conference play, meaning that with a win, they could clinch a share of the Big South title, and in turn the conference’s autobid to the FCS playoffs by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker over Coastal. Many did not give the Flames a shot, as the Chanticleers were seen as the superior team and were hosting the game on their home turf. Not to mention, Liberty starting QB Josh Woodrum was out due to an injury, so Liberty was forced to turn to backup Stephon Masha.
Liberty went down 14-3 in the 2nd quarter, but a second field goal at the end of the first half kept the Flames within reach. A Darrin Peterson 72-yard touchdown got the Flames within two in the third, and John Lunsford’s third field goal of the day gave Liberty a 15-14 lead with less than five minutes remaining. Coastal had one more shot and put together a 9-play, 69 -yard drive to set up a chip-shot 24-yard field goal to win the game as time expired. Chima Uzowihe had other plans, as the Flames’ DE blocked the game-winning field goal attempt, spoiling Coastal’s perfect season, and securing Liberty’s first-ever trip to the FCS playoffs.
Liberty would win their first round playoff game vs JMU and almost defeat Villanova in the second round. Former president Jerry Falwell JR admitted that this team breaking through to the FCS Playoffs and winning a game is what sparked the funding for the indoor practice facility, as well as other major facility upgrades. These upgrades and successes proved huge in Liberty’s case for moving up to the FBS ranks just a few years later. While I do think Liberty would be in the FBS in the present day regardless of this happening, I do think this moment accelerated the Flames to the highest rank in college football. If Chima Uzowihe doesn’t block that kick, when does Liberty make the jump to the FBS? When do they make their first FCS Playoffs appearance? How many iconic moments do we miss out on in the FBS era if this doesn’t happen? Crazy to think about.
What if Seth Curry Never Transferred?
This is a fun hypothetical. For those that may not know, Seth Curry, brother of NBA great Steph Curry, spent his freshman year on the Mountain along with a heralded freshman class in Coach Ritchie McKay’s first stint on the Mountain. Curry was very much what Dick Vitale would refer to as a “Diaper Dandy.” The freshman sensation was named Big South Freshman of the Year and broke the all-time Liberty and Big South record for points scored as a freshman. His average of 20.2 PPG led the entire NCAA among freshmen, and his total points of 707 were the 6th most ever scored by a Big South player.
Needless to say, Curry’s sensational freshman year garnered national attention, and the guard entered the transfer portal and finished his collegiate career with the Duke Blue Devils. Most Flames fans would agree that Curry is likely the most talented player to come to LU, and many wonder what he could have accomplished if he had stayed. Would Curry be considered the LU MBB GOAT if he stayed for more than a year? Would he have led Liberty to their first NCAA Tournament win and a potential Cinderella run? Perhaps the biggest ‘what-if’ in this scenario involves Coach Ritchie McKay. After Curry transferred, McKay also left Lynchburg to join his friend Tony Bennett in Charlottesville as a part of the UVA coaching staff. Many believe that if Curry had never transferred, McKay would have stayed. McKay has often stated that leaving to join Bennett made him a better coach, and he also obtained his “master’s degree” in the Packline defense, which he brought back to Liberty in his second stint. If Curry/McKay stay is Coach McKay still Liberty’s head coach? Does Liberty see the levels of success under McKay without him leaving for Charlottesville first?
What if Liberty Never Joined CUSA?
In the fall of 2021, it was announced that Liberty would be joining Conference USA, beginning in the 2023-24 athletic year. This marked the end of Liberty’s time in the ASUN and allowed the Flames to join an FBS conference in football for the first time. The conference has seen a rise in competition for the Flames in most athletic sports, specifically, baseball, basketball, track, and softball. However, the football side of things has sparked debate amongst the Liberty fanbase. When Liberty joined, they were forced to make room for eight conference games, resulting in the Flames dropping previously scheduled games with objectively better opponents (mostly Power 4 schools). This, combined with CUSA being one of the weaker FBS conferences, has resulted in Liberty having one of the nation’s worst strength of schedules since joining the conference in 2023. Liberty has not faced a Power 4 program since 2022 and will not face one again until 2027.
Many argue that this has hurt the program, as playing and beating P4 teams put the program on the map and made it exciting for the fans. These same fans would argue that joining a weak FBS conference was a lateral move for the program’s future as opposed to remaining independent. On the other hand, joining CUSA has its advantages. Liberty now has automatic bowl game tie-ins with CUSA and a path to the College Football Playoff if it can finish the season as a top 5-ranked conference champion.
This path benefited Liberty in their very first season in CUSA before the playoff expanded. Liberty was the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion in 2023, thus earning them a bid to the Fiesta Bowl. That accomplishment never would have been possible as an independent program. Is Liberty better off joining CUSA, or did it set the program back? If Liberty remained independent, would they be in a better conference right now? How many more P4 wins would Liberty have if they stayed Independent? Would you trade those for the 2023 season? No matter where you stand on the joining CUSA vs staying independent debate, I think all fans agree that joining Conference USA is not the ultimate goal for the program. We will see how this benefits (or doesn’t) Liberty in the years ahead.
What if Isiah Ihnen Never Got Injured?
This is a recent ‘what-if’ that had major implications on Liberty Men’s Basketball the last couple of seasons. At 6 ‘9 and 210 LBS, Ihnen stood as the largest Flame on the roster for the last two seasons.
The German F appeared in the first 11 games for the Flames in their CUSA Championship winning 2024-25 season before suffering a season-ending knee injury against North Carolina A&T. Before his injury, Ihnen was arguably developing into Liberty’s best player, as he provided great post defense on opposing bigs, while simultaneously being a scoring threat for the Flames both inside and outside the arc. His 16-point 7 rebound performance was critical in Liberty’s win over Kansas State and many will remember his clutch block to preserve a win over McNeese State in the Paradise Jam Championship. Ihnen was supposed to return this season, but re-injured his knee causing him to miss this season as well.
It is no secret that Liberty had their struggles against taller and more athletic teams.Liberty’s JJ Harper (6 ‘5) was often tasked with guarding the opposing player’s 5-man (biggest player). While JJ was an incredible defender, his size limited him and the Flames were often outmatched as a whole defensively in 2025-26, especially after Owen Aquino departed. Ihnen was a stretch big that gave the Flames an extremely solid defensive big, but also a post/perimeter threat on offense. If Ihnen doesn’t get hurt, how much better are the Flames in 2024-25? Do they beat Oregon? Does Liberty repeat in 2025-26? I guess we’ll never know.
What if CJ Daniels Never Transferred?
CJ Daniels is one of the best talents we’ve seen come through Lynchburg, and that was proven when the LA Rams selected him in the 6th Round of this year’s NFL Draft. CJ had a six-year collegiate career, coming to college during the Covid-19 2020 season (maintained eligibility), and then tore his ACL in the spring before the 2022 season ( maintained eligibility although he still played in two games). Daniels spent two seasons with Malik Willis in 2020-21, compiling 849 yards REC and 10 TDs in those years. 2022 was his medical redshirt season, but Daniels still managed to catch two passes for 30 yards and a score in Liberty’s historic win over BYU.
2023 was Daniels’ breakout season. CJ was QB Kaidon Salter’s go-to target, catching 55 passes for 1,067 yards and 10 TDs. Daniels gave the Flames a legitimate passing threat and when you consider that Liberty had the best rushing offense in the nation this season (and relied heavily on it), these numbers are even more impressive. Daniels probably had the best performance of any Flame in the Fiesta Bowl vs Oregon, catching 8 passes for 79 yards. After his historic 2023 season, Daniels left for LSU. While he did solid, Daniels was buried in the depth chart a bit and used his final year of eligibility to transfer to Miami (FL). Daniels fared very well as a Hurricane, totaling 557 yards and 7 TDs and playing a pivotal role in Miami making it to the National Championship game. What if CJ never left? If Daniels spent two more years on the Mountain, he very easily could have broken some all-time records. Would he be seen as Liberty’s WR GOAT? Would he have been drafted? If so, would he have gone higher or lower? Since Daniels left, the Flames WR room has struggled mightily and there has been no clear “number one.” Does Liberty have a better 2025 and maybe even make a bowl game if they had Daniels last season?
What if Liberty Football Beat Kennesaw State in 2024 or Basketball Beat them in 2021?
Ok, I will admit, Kennesaw State has had our number on a few different occasions. We are going to look at the two most painful losses in this feature, starting with the football loss in 2024. Coming into this game, Liberty was 5-0 and had won 17 consecutive regular season games (best in the country). Kennesaw State was an FBS newcomer and had yet to win a game that season and had never beat an FBS program in their history. Despite this, Kennesaw State upset Liberty 27-24, a loss which many fans claim Liberty never recovered from. Liberty would lose twice more in the regular season and again in the Bahamas Bowl to finish 8-5 despite starting the year 5-0. Had Liberty beaten Kennesaw State, they would have gone back to the CUSA Championship game for a second consecutive year. While this doesn’t mean they would have won, hypothetically a win vs Kennesaw could have resulted in a 11-2 CUSA Championship winning season, setting Liberty up for a much better bowl game and perhaps Liberty wins that too as players may have not opted out as they did for the Bahamas Bowl. Does Liberty win a second straight CUSA title? Would Liberty have won 10+ games? Does a better result in 2024 lead to a better 2025 for the Flames? These are a lot of big ‘what-ifs’ that don’t necessarily change with a win over Kennesaw, but there is no doubt that this loss started a pretty big spiral for the football program that they are still recovering from.
Next, we turn to the 2023 ASUN Championship vs Kennesaw State. Despite sharing the regular season crown, the Owls and Flames met just once in the regular season (in Kennesaw) and KSU won, giving them homecourt advantage for the tournament and Championship game. The game was extremely close throughout, but the Owls led late until true freshman Colin Porter hit a clutch three-pointer with 24 seconds remaining to even the score at 66 apiece. Unfortunately, Isiah Warfield was called for a shooting foul on the Owls’ game-winning shot attempt with just one second remaining. KSU made the first and intentionally missed the second attempt to drain the clock and secure a 67-66 win. This marked Kenensaw’s first-ever NCAAT appearance and prevented Liberty from winning their fourth ASUN Championship in five years. This also was Darius McGhee’s last season on the Mountain. If Liberty wins, do the Flames make a Cinderella run in the tournament?
