2019 and 2020 Cure Bowl Review

2019 FBC MORTGAGE CURE BOWL

Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Fla.) – December 21, 2019 2020 FBC MORTGAGE CURE BOWL

Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Fla.) – December 26, 2020

In a season that saw the offense grab most of the attention with its gaudy numbers, it was the Liberty defense that showed up in its biggest game, as a stout defensive effort led Liberty to a 23-16 win over Georgia Southern in the 2019 FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl. With the win, the Flames cap off a memorable first full season at the FBS level with an impressive 8-5 record - Liberty completed its FBS reclassification process in August, received its first-ever bowl game invitation on Dec. 8, and walked away from Exploria Stadium with a bowl game trophy in hand. Liberty’s defensive effort held Georgia Southern to 154 rushing yards, a single rushing touchdown, and three field goals in the victory. On the day, the Flames outgained the Eagles in total offense (402 to 249). Flames defensive end Jessie Lemonier was named the 2019 Cure Bowl MVP, finishing the game with eight tackles, including two sacks. Liberty’s four-year starting quarterback Stephen Calvert finished the day completing 16-of-35 attempts for 270 yards and two touchdowns. He ended his career as the program’s all-time career leader in passing yards (12,025), completions (896) and touchdowns (93).

Liberty’s Elijah James blocked a game-tying field goal attempt in overtime, securing No. 23 Liberty’s 37-34 win over No. 9 Coastal Carolina in the 2020 FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl. The Flames finished their second season of full FBS bowl eligibility with a 10-1 record, winning the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl for the second year in a row. Liberty is just the second team (also Appalachian State) to win bowl games in each of its first two seasons of bowl eligibility following a transition from the FCS. Liberty snapped Coastal Carolina’s (11-1) 12-game winning streak, which was tied for the longest FBS winning streak in the nation. Liberty quarterback Malik Willis was named Cure Bowl MVP after totaling 357 yards of offense and rushing for a Cure Bowl-record four touchdowns. Liberty earned its first-ever win over an FBS Top 25 program and knocked Coastal Carolina from the ranks of the unbeaten for the second time ever. The Flames defeated then 11-0 CCU by a 15-14 score on a lastsecond blocked field goal on Nov. 22, 2014.

The NCAA approved Liberty’s waiver request to transition to the FBS level on Feb. 16, 2017 and has quickly found success at the highest level of college football. • 2017: 6-5 (first year of the FBS transition process/last full year at the FCS level) • 2018: 6-6 (second FBS transitional season) • 2019: 8-5 (first full season at the FBS level)

o Cure Bowl Champions o One of three FBS transitioning teams in NCAA history to win a bowl game during its first full season at the FBS level • 2020: 10-1 (Ranked No. 17 in the final Associated Press poll)

o Cure Bowl Champions o One of two teams in NCAA history to win back-to back bowl games during their first two seasons at the FBS level

• First team to ever be nationally ranked (No. 25 in the AP poll on Nov. 1, 2020) • Best ever end of the year national ranking: • Associated Press Poll - #17 • Amway Coaches Poll - #18 • First team to defeat a nationally ranked FBS team (No. 9/11 Coastal Carolina on Dec. 26, 2020) • First team to defeat an ACC team (Virginia Tech on Oct. 17, 2020) • Best start in school history (8-0 record) • First Group of Five school to beat two ACC schools in the same season since Houston in 2015