The University of Maine is one of the few Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams to play two games against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams most years.
Most play just one.
FBS schools have more scholarships and resources than FCS schools so FCS victories are rare.
The University of Maine will open its season against the first of two FBS opponents on Saturday at 4 p.m. when it travels to Virginia to take on Liberty University at Williams Stadium.
UMaine is coming off a 5-7 campaign while the Flames went 8-4 for their sixth consecutive season with at least eight victories. They have appeared in bowl games all six seasons.
The Black Bears will be playing their 32nd game against an FBS opponent and they have gone 4-27 in the previous 31 contests.
UMaine fourth-year head coach Jordan Stevens said he would prefer to play just one FBS game each year but noted there are a lot of positives to playing two.
“We do like the challenge of playing a competitive schedule. Playing two allows us to play a competitive schedule. We embrace it and meet that challenge head on,” Stevens said.
Stevens said you will never hear him complain about his schedule like some other coaches do.
“I would never put that victim-mentality in our players’ heads. I am blessed to be in this position and our players are blessed to be in the position they’re in, playing Division I football in a positive environment that is Maine football… with positive leadership and a mentality to get better every day,” said Stevens. “That’s what we’re doing here. We’re creating a positive environment where everyone can get better. We have to show that and prove that on the football field this year.”
The other positives that go with playing two FBS teams include a financial factor.
UMaine, which will play its second FBS game on Sept. 20 at Georgia Southern, will earn $725,000 total for the program by playing Liberty and Georgia Southern. Liberty is giving UMaine a $400,000 guarantee and Georgia Southern is going to provide a $325,000 payday.
UMaine received a $635,000 guarantee from the University of Oklahoma last year and another $250,000 from FCS power Montana State.
Stevens said playing two FBS games also enables his players to gain valuable experience while developing their team’s depth.
And it helps recruiting both high school players and college players in the transfer portal.
“They know if they come here, they are going to play good competition,” said Stevens, who noted that the Coastal Athletic Association games are also very competitive.
“There are no easy games.”
The FBS games are also important in evaluating his players and their ability to handle the competition level and the environment, because the games are always on the road.
“It certainly gives us the opportunity to see how our players handle the moment,” said Stevens. “We have a lot to look at after those games.”
Even though they are always heavy underdogs in FBS games, Stevens said their goal is to continue to improve and put themselves in position to win.
“We’re doing that and we’re getting better at building our roster,” said Stevens.
UMaine and Liberty have split their two games with Liberty picking up a 59-44 win in their last meeting in 2019.
Liberty is the favorite to win Conference USA based on an informal reporters’ poll.
Liberty has won its last five season-openers and eight of its last nine. The Flames are 37-7 at Williams Stadium since they became an FBS school in 2018.
Jamey Chadwell’s Flames will have a new starting quarterback after Kaidon Salter transferred to Colorado to play for Deion Sanders. Ryan Burger started one game a year ago and is back. They also lost their top three rushers but leading receiver Tyson Mobley (29 catches, 276 yards) is back as is linebacker and top tackler Joseph Carter (88 tackles).
“They’re a dynamic team. They play fast and score a lot of points. They have been a very good football team for several years,” Stevens said. “We have to take care of the football and be aggressive on offense and defense.
“We can’t play tight. We have to play disciplined football and play our physical style,” he added.
Mercer University transfer Carter Peevy will begin his second season as the starting quarterback for the Black Bears after completing 66.6 percent of his passes for 2,422 yards and 18 touchdowns a year ago. He has three speedsters to throw to in Harvard University transfer Scott Woods (52 catches, 547 yards) along with returnees Mo Irefin (19 catches, 302 yards) and Trevin Ewing (10-for-182).
Linebacker Christian Thomas is the top returning tackler with 63 in eight games for UMaine. Safety Devin Vaught had 43 tackles and three interceptions and cornerback Jamaree Gibson had 34 tackles and nine pass breakups.
