2017 Liberty Flames football team


The 2017 Liberty Flames football team represented Liberty University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by sixth-year head coach Turner Gill and played their home games at Williams Stadium. They were a member of the Big South Conference. They finished the season 6–5, 2–3 in Big South play to finish in fourth place.
School president Jerry Falwell Jr. announced plans to undergo the two-year transition period join the Division I FBS as a football independent, while remaining in the Big South Conference in all other sports. While normally against NCAA rules to transition to FBS without a conference invite, Liberty was granted a waiver.

Preseason

Media poll

The 2017 Big South preseason prediction poll was released on July 18. The Flames were ineligible due to their transition to the FBS.

Schedule

  • Source:

Rankings

* Due to their transition to FBS, they are not eligible to be ranked in the FCS Coaches Poll.

Game summaries

At Baylor

StatisticsLIBBAY
First downs3122
Total yards585532
Rushing yards138254
Passing yards447278
Turnovers02
Time of possession38:1621:44

Morehead State

StatisticsMORELIB
First downs1624
Total yards300523
Rushing yards64196
Passing yards236327
Turnovers12
Time of possession33:3126:29

Indiana State

StatisticsINSTLIB
First downs2128
Total yards543500
Rushing yards107121
Passing yards436379
Turnovers21
Time of possession31:2828:32

At Jacksonville State

StatisticsLIBJVST
First downs1719
Total yards316385
Rushing yards31140
Passing yards285245
Turnovers11
Time of possession30:1729:43

Saint Francis (PA)

StatisticsSFULIB
First downs1415
Total yards275338
Rushing yards92119
Passing yards183219
Turnovers04
Time of possession35:3324:27

Kennesaw State

StatisticsKENNLIB
First downs2620
Total yards507337
Rushing yards498103
Passing yards9234
Turnovers12
Time of possession38:3821:22

At Monmouth

StatisticsLIBMON
First downs2426
Total yards529608
Rushing yards121364
Passing yards408244
Turnovers02
Time of possession26:3233:28

At Gardner–Webb

StatisticsLIBWEBB
First downs2224
Total yards458483
Rushing yards125277
Passing yards333206
Turnovers13
Time of possession26:5633:04

Duquesne

StatisticsDUQLIB
First downs1529
Total yards434421
Rushing yards295210
Passing yards139211
Turnovers40
Time of possession25:2334:37

Presbyterian

StatisticsPRESLIB
First downs1630
Total yards452628
Rushing yards155317
Passing yards297311
Turnovers02
Time of possession29:2830:32

At Charleston Southern

StatisticsLIBCHSO
First downs1918
Total yards306415
Rushing yards51229
Passing yards255186
Turnovers11
Time of possession24:4635:14