Game Day: Akron

Game Day Central page

• Live Audio (LFSN Radio)
• Live Stats (LibertyFlames.com)
• Live Video (ESPN+)
• Williams Stadium
• Fan Guide
• Flames Illustrated Game Program (digital version)
• Flames Ticket Office
• Game Day Information Guide
• Tailgating and Parking Information
• Williams Stadium Clear Bag Policy

Other Links:

• Liberty Game Notes
• Akron Game Notes
• Weather – Lynchburg, Va.

Official Kickoff:

6:05 p.m. (EST)

TV Coverage:

ESPN+

Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Matt Warner

Color Commentator: Joe Jauch

Sideline Reporter: Emily Austen

Pregame Show: 5 p.m. on ESPN+

Radio Coverage:

Liberty Flames Sports Network – Radio

LFSN Radio Network Affiliates List

Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Alan York

Color Commentator: Kyle DeArmon

Sidelines: Nick Pierce

Pregame: Nick Pierce and Aaron Stamn

Pregame Show: 4:30 p.m. (EST)

 Liberty Storylines

• Liberty (2-1) will return to Williams Stadium for its first meeting with Akron (1-2, 0-0 MAC) in 20 years.
• Host Akron won the teams' only previous meeting, 49-21, on Oct. 12, 2002.
• Liberty is 4-9 all-time against MAC opponents, having won each of its last two MAC contests. Most recently, the Flames routed Eastern Michigan 56-20 in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.
• Liberty will look to get back in the win column after a 37-36 loss at No. 18 Wake Forest last Saturday. The Flames' first three games have been decided by a total of 10 points.
• The Flames' defense picked off a pair of passes at Wake Forest, giving Liberty 11 takeaways this season. That matches Liberty's season total from 2021 and ties the Flames with Nevada and Western Kentucky for No. 1 nationally in 2022.
• Redshirt freshman QB Kaidon Salter has made his first two career starts the last two weeks. He was impressive during the Flames' second-half comeback attempt at Wake Forest, running for a 43-yard TD and throwing two TD passes on fourth down.
• WR Demario Douglas hauled in both of Salter's second-half TD passes at Wake Forest. He is tied for No. 9 nationally this season with four TD receptions. Douglas leads the team in receptions (15) and receiving yards (272).

A Liberty Win Would ...

• Make Liberty 8-4 in games immediately following a loss under Coach Freeze.
• Push Liberty's home record to 17-3 under Coach Freeze and 22-4 at Williams Stadium since joining the FBS in 2018.
• Even the all-time series between Liberty and Akron at 1-1.
• Mark the Flames' third consecutive head-to-head victory over a MAC opponent, improving Liberty's all-time record against MAC foes to 5-9, including 2-0 at Williams Stadium.
• Boost the Flames' record in September under Coach Freeze to 12-3.
• Give the Flames their first-ever win at Williams Stadium against a team from Ohio.
• Be the Flames' first win on Sept. 24 since 1988 (vs. Morehead State), snapping a five-game losing streak in games played on this date.

“4 Downs” with Akron

#1 Liberty is coming off of a one-point loss to No. 18 Wake Forest. The last time Liberty lost by one point, Nov. 21, 2020 at NC State, the Flames shut out UMass 45-0 at Williams Stadium the following week. The Flames' lone Ohio native (WR Treon Sibley) hails from Akron. Sibley graduated from Coventry High School, which is located just eight miles away from Akron's InfoCision Stadium.

#2 Both Liberty and Akron won overtime games on opening day, as the Zips topped Saint Francis (Pa.) 30-23 in overtime and it took a program-record four overtimes for Liberty to seal a 29-27 win at Southern Miss. Both head coaches in Saturday’s game have coached in the Egg Bowl, although not against each other. Hugh Freeze was head coach at Ole Miss from 2012-16, while Akron’s Joe Moorhead was head coach at Mississippi State in 2018 and 2019.

#3 Liberty’s first three games have been decided by a total of 10 points, while the Zips’ games have been decided by a total of 116 points. All three times the Flames have welcomed a team from Ohio to Williams Stadium, Youngstown State has been the visitor. Liberty will now play host to Akron Saturday and will kick off the 2023 season with a home clash vs. Bowling Green (Sept. 2).

#4 The Flames' Demario Douglas already has a pair two-touchdown games this season and is tied for ninth in FBS football with four receiving TDs in 2022. That is double the number of Akron's total TDs through the air through three games. The Flames are looking to start 3-1 or better through four games for the third straight year.