Liberty Flames vs. FIU Panthers: How to Watch and Preview

Date/Time: Saturday, September 23rd 6:30 PM ET

TV: ESPN+ (AJ Ricketts - Play-By-Play, Jonathan Cyprien - Analyst)

Radio: Miami's WQBA 1140 AM with the voice of the Panthers Corey Brooks and Patrick Murray as the Analyst

Location: FIU Football Stadium (Miami, Florida)

Betting Line: Liberty is favored -10.5 according to Draft Kings

All-Time Series Record: Liberty Flames lead 1-0 (Last game: September 26th, 2020)

FIU Panthers

Throughout the past two weeks, the Panthers have gone up against dual-threat quarterbacks with University of North Texas quarterbacks Stone Earle and Chandler Rogers. This past weekend, the Panthers faced UConn Huskies quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson as well.

This weekend, the Panthers will go up against Kaidon Salter, who leads all of Conference USA in rushing touchdowns, but also ranks fifth in rush attempts and sixth in rushing yards.

"The North Texas game, they were able to make some plays on some scramble situations," said FIU head coach Mike MacIntyre in his Tuesday availability. "So that's what the young man at Liberty does. He really does a good job with that. So we've got to do that. We corralled the quarterback last week better, we keep them in the pocket a bit better or flush them. So we're gonna have to do that with Kaidon for sure."

Week three saw Jalen Bracey record five receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown. A big change for the Panthers receiver is yards per catch, which was at 7.5 in 2022 and through the first four games of the season, it is now at 14.0. A huge improvement.

"A lot of work that I've been doing like away from the cameras and away from just football itself," said Bracey on Tuesday. "I've come out of my routes and also been working on tracking the ball when it's in air. So a lot of the things that I've been doing behind closed doors."

Leading Conference USA in deflected passes is sophomore cornerback Brian Blades. This season, the Blades has played three games and has 16 total tackles, 10 solo tackles, five deflected passes and one fumble recovery.

"He really understands how to play," said MacIntyre. "He's really competing and doing that. He leads in pass break up and we've been teasing him. We need to get a couple of picks out of those. He's made some great plays and as long as he's getting his hands on the ball, he'll start getting some picks."

Liberty Flames

Throughout the first three games for the newest member of Conference USA, the Liberty Flames are a perfect 3-0. Each win for the Flames has come in double digit fashion.

"You have to work on a lot. They do a lot of different things," said Mike MacIntyre. "Offensively, it takes a quarterback to do all those things, and this young man can do that. They've got excellent running backs, so you have to prepare for that and then defensively, they played really well defensively to. Really played well and they've been very opportunistic to make big plays and sacks and turnovers and so they're just an excellent well rounded football team."

The last time that the Flames faced the Panthers, Malik Willis was the opposing quarterback. He is now the backup quarterback to Ryan Tannehill with the Tennessee Titans. Liberty ended up winning the game, 36-34 in the 2020 COVID season.

Flames quarterback Kaidon Salter earned Conference USA offensive player of the week after throwing for 344 yards and five touchdowns against Buffalo. Throughout the first three gams of the season, Salter has thrown for 763 yards, nine touchdowns and zero interceptions.

"I guess you could say he's a magician with everything he does," said MacIntyre. "He leads the conference in every category that a quarterback can. He's made play after play."

Aside from Salter, MacIntyre mentioned tight ends Bentley Hanshaw and Austin Henderson as names to keep an eye out for this weekend. Throughout the first three weeks, Henderson has two receptions for eight yards and a touchdown while Hanshaw has three receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns. MacIntyre described them as "big and athletic" players who they have been preparing for.