GRAPEVINE, Texas – Conference USA champion No. 23 Liberty (13-0, 8-0 CUSA) has earned the Group of Five’s New Year’s Six bowl bid as the highest-ranked G5 champion, and the Flames are headed to the VRBO Fiesta Bowl to take on No. 8 Oregon. This marks the first time a CUSA team has earned a New Year’s Six spot in the league’s history. The game takes place on Monday, Jan. 1, at 12 p.m. CT from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Liberty set a program record for wins with 13 and was one of just four undefeated teams in the country during the 2023 season. All 13 wins came against FBS competition, including six wins over bowl-eligible opponents. The Flames were dominant in those games, winning by an average of 16.5 points per game.
The Flames captured the 2023 CUSA championship on Friday night with a 49-35 win over 10-win New Mexico State, the team’s first FBS conference title in their first season in the conference.
Liberty is among the national leaders in several defensive categories heading into bowl season. The Flames’ defense leads the nation in interceptions (21), are second in FBS in turnovers forced (25), rank seventh in fewest interceptions thrown (five) and 15th in turnover margin (+0.69 per game) and are 21st in rushing defense (111.6 yards per game).
Offensively, Liberty is the national leader in rushing (302.9 yards per game), the Flames are second in FBS in sacks allowed (0.69 per game), second in first downs (333), third in total offense (514.9 yards per game), fifth in scoring offense (40.8 points per game).
Liberty has one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in all of college football in sophomore Kaidon Salter. The Cedar Hill, Texas, native leads the FBS in yards per completion (16.98), is second among all QBs with 1,064 yards rushing (behind only Jayden Daniels of LSU), has 43 total touchdowns (31 passing, 12 rushing and has only 5 INTs) and is third in points responsible for (258).
-ConferenceUSA.com-
