The Liberty Flames will host the New Mexico State Aggies in the 2023 Conference USA Football Championship Game on Friday, Dec. 1.
Liberty and New Mexico State will meet at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Va. The game will be televised by CBS Sports Network (CBSSN) at 7:00pm ET.
The Liberty Flames, currently 7-0 in CUSA play and 10-0 overall, clinched a spot in the CUSA Championship Game on Tuesday, Oct. 24 after their 42-29 victory on the road against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. The following week on Saturday, Nov. 4, Liberty clinched the top spot in the standings and the right to host the CUSA Championship Game by defeating Louisiana Tech at home, 56-30.
Earlier on Sunday, Liberty made its first appearance in the AP Top 25 Poll this season at No. 25. The Flames are just outside the Coaches Poll (second in others receiving votes) and have yet to be ranked by the College Football Playoff committee.
Liberty is led by head coach Jamey Chadwell, who is in his first season with the Flames. Chadwell was previously the head coach at Coastal Carolina from 2019 through 2022.
The New Mexico State Aggies clinched their spot in the 2023 CUSA Championship Game after upsetting Western Kentucky on the road on Saturday, 38-29. New Mexico State is now 6-1 in CUSA action and 8-3 overall.
New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill is in his second season with the Aggies. Last season, Kill led the team to only its second bowl win since 1960.
Liberty and New Mexico State both joined Conference USA this season after five seasons as a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Independent. The Flames and Aggies will each be making their first conference game appearance as an FBS member.
Liberty and New Mexico State last met in Week 3 of the 2023 season in Lynchburg. The Flames defeated the Aggies in that contest, 33-17.
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@KevinKelleyFB,
NMSU Aggies have fought for their Unis. Sports relevancy in their geographically isolated place in the high deserts of the West.
From 2018 till now they’ve been the bummer lamb of the 4 Corners region.
Liberty Uni. has, debatably, the best location on the East coast of the 9 ConferenceUSA Unis..
I’m rooting 4 Liberty Uni. Flames 2 win vs. former fellow nonaligned Uni.ofMassachusetts Minutemen & 2 continue the undefeated Season.
If Liberty and JMU both complete season unbeaten: Let’s match them up in the New Orleans Bowl !
I give Middle Tennessee St the best location in C-USA being near Nashville. New Mexico St is really close to El Paso Texas, not the 4 corners area.
These two teams were so hard up for teams to play they scheduled a home and home during the same regular season in 2028.
I am glad they are both doing well this year in the rebuild of Conference USA after six left for the American. I hope that an undefeated Liberty plays and undefeated JMU in a bowl game with the winner claiming the National Championship.
They used to say debate of the champion was good for college football.
Is Jacksonville State still transitional and not eligible?
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It will be odd if JSU defeats NMSU in two weeks, won’t it!
Yes, Jax State is ineligible for postseason play.
Jax State and JMU can play in a bowl if there aren’t enough eligible teams, which is tracking that way currently.
David,
“It will be odd if JSU defeats NMSU in two weeks, …”
It would be record setting, would give postseason sports journalists more opinion opportunities to publicize the ncaa Rule that prevents exhibition games for a 1A Teams 1st 2 Years at 85 scholarship level football.
Yes- David, there is no Santa Claus for JSU till ’25.
For JMU Dukes not till ’24.
Both are in their 2nd transition year and will be fully eligible next year. JMU just spent their first transitional years playing a full FBS schedule.
From what I researched, this is New Mexico State’s first 8-win season since 1965.
Great research Pop W.,
NMSU Aggies are trailblazing new records for themselves.
And NMSU has only had one 9+ win season in its entire football history (1960’s undefeated 11-0 season) and their first back-to-back bowl appearances since the 1959-1960 seasons,