When Dr. Jerry Falwell, Sr. founded Liberty Baptist College in 1971, one of his stated visions was to field a football program that would compete on the big stage of the NCAA. Fifty-two years later, the once small college has transformed into Liberty University with a Division I football team that will now fulfill the late Dr. Falwell’s dream.

The Liberty Flames defeated the New Mexico State Aggies 49-35 in the 2023 Conference USA (CUSA) Championship game held Friday on a chilly, rainy night amid an electric, enthusiastic fan atmosphere at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg. The win propelled the undefeated (13-0) Flames into a New Year’s Day game against the Oregon Beavers (11-2) in the Fiesta Bowl.

Liberty finished the regular season ranked 23rd in the College Football Playoff (CFP) poll. Oregon ranks 8th in the CFP poll after losing the Pac-12 Championship to the Washington Huskies. The Flames were chosen by the CFP Selection Committee to represent the Group of Five conferences in a New Year’s Day bowl.

The Aggies took an early 7-0 lead over Liberty when quarterback Diego Pavia scored on a 25-yard run just under five minutes into the game.

Four minutes later, Liberty running back Quinton Cooley’s 21-yard run that ended up in a flip at the left goal line marker on a tackle by J.J. Dervil was ruled a touchdown but was overturned after an official review. With the ball at the one-half-yard line, Cooley scored on a run up the middle to even the score at 7-7.

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