Liberty to Face Eastern Michigan in LendingTree Bowl on Dec. 18

Bowl bound for the third year in a row, Liberty has accepted an invitation to play in the LendingTree Bowl against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 18 in Mobile, Ala.

The Flames will square off against the Eagles at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. Kickoff for the game is set for 5:45 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

“Liberty is honored and grateful to be invited to participate in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl,” said Liberty AD Ian McCaw. “We look forward to a strong showing from Flames Nation in Mobile as we have a large alumni base in Alabama and the Southeast.”

Eastern Michigan finished the 2021 regular season with a 7-5 record and tied for fourth place in the MAC West Division.

Liberty has one previous matchup against Eastern Michigan, which has historical significance for the Flames. Liberty defeated Eastern Michigan, 25-24, in Ypsilanti, Mich., on Oct. 14, 1989, accounting for the Flames’ first-ever win over an FBS program.

Liberty is making its third-straight bowl game appearance following back-to-back Cure Bowl wins in Orlando. Liberty defeated Georgia Southern, 23-16, in 2019 at Exploria Stadium and No. 9/11 Coastal Carolina, 37-34 (OT), at Camping World Stadium in 2020.

Liberty, who joined the FBS ranks for their first full season in 2019, is the third current FBS team to become bowl eligible in each of its first three seasons since transitioning from the FCS to FBS (Appalachian State: 2015-present; Marshall: 1997-02).

The LendingTree Bowl has built a reputation of fielding some of the most competitive and exciting games of the bowl season. The game has featured incredible performances by future NFL standouts LaDanian Tomlinson, Byron Leftwich and Ben Roethlisberger among others.

Last year, Georgia State defeated Western Kentucky, 39-21, in the 2020 LendingTree Bowl on Dec. 26 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The LendingTree Bowl has been played each year since 1999 and traditionally features teams from the Sun Belt Conference and the Mid-American Conference.