The Liberty Flames (C-USA) have added two games against FCS opponents for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, according to A Sea of Red. The Flames will welcome the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (Big South-OVC) in 2026 and the Delaware State Hornets (MEAC) in 2027. No official dates were confirmed for either contest.
Gardner-Webb and Liberty were previously members of the Big South Conference before the Flames joined the FBS in 2018. The two schools have met 25 previous times with Liberty holding a 15-9-1 lead in the series dating back to 1976. The most recent game was a 21-20 victory by Liberty in 2022 as the Bulldogs made a second half comeback to take the lead but a touchdown early in the fourth quarter by Liberty was enough to hold on.
Delaware State and Liberty played routinely from the early 1980s until the early 2000s when the FCS was known as Division I-AA. The Hornets and Flames have played 15 times total with Liberty holding a 10-5 lead in the series dating back to 1982. The most recent matchup came in 2015 with Liberty winning 32-13 over the Hornets at home. Before the 2015 matchup, the two schools met 14 times between 1982 and 2001.
Gardner-Webb will play two games against the FBS in 2025 on September 6 at Georgia Tech (ACC) and September 20 at Ohio (MAC). Delaware State is scheduled to play against Delaware (C-USA) on August 28 to start the 2025 season. Liberty will welcome Maine (CAA) on August 30, 2025, and VMI (Southern) on September 9, 2028.
Photo Credit to Gardner-Webb University Athletics
Related posts:
SIAC and CIAA Suspend Fall Sports; 12 Additional Games With FCS Opponents Canceled
Southern Conference Postpones Fall Sports
FCS Teams Announce Two New Games, One Rescheduled; MEAC Reveals Spring Schedule
2024 Celebration Bowl Date Set; Multiple FCS Teams Schedule Future Games
Western Carolina Adds East Carolina for 2027; MEAC Unveils 2024 ESPN Schedule
2 FCS Games Postponed Due to Hurricane Helene, 4 Others Change Kickoff Times