UNC, Liberty cancel three-game football series
Posted June 27, 2022
Chapel Hill, N.C. — North Carolina's football team will not play Liberty three times in the next decade as previously scheduled.
The teams were scheduled to meet in 2024, 2028 and 2031, but the schools agreed in May to cancel the entire series, according to a signed cancellation agreement obtained by WRAL News.
The cancellation "is a mutual decision by both parties" and no damages "will be paid by or to either party," per the contract.
Liberty, currently an independent in the Football Bowl Subdivision, is joining Conference USA for the 2023 football season, necessitating changes to its schedule.
The schools were scheduled to play October 19, 2024, September 16, 2028 and September 6, 2031. UNC replaced the 2024 game against Liberty with a home game against North Carolina Central University.
A Christian school founded by televangelist and conservative activist Jerry Falwell, the Lynchburg, Va., school has created controversy with Black alumni, the LGBTQ community and free speech advocates. Some fans have questioned why their teams are scheduling Liberty. Liberty went 10-1 in 2020 and 8-5 in 2021 with third-round NFL Draft pick Malik Willis at quarterback.
UNC opens its 2022 season against Florida A&M in Chapel Hill on Aug. 27.
Future UNC non-conference schedules
According to game contracts
2022:
Aug. 27: vs. Florida A&M
Sept. 3: at Appalachian State
Sept. 10: at Georgia State
Sept. 24: vs. Notre Dame
2023:
Labor Day weekend, vs. South Carolina (in Charlotte)
Sept. 9: vs. Appalachian State
Sept 16: vs. Minnesota
Nov. 4 or Nov. 18: vs. Campbell
2024:
Aug. 29, 30 or 31: at Minnesota
Sept. 7: vs. Charlotte
Sept. 14: vs. North Carolina Central
Sept. 21: vs. James Madison
2025:
Aug. 30: vs. TCU
Sept. 6: at Charlotte
Sept. 13: vs. Richmond
Sept. 20: at UCF
2026:
Sept. 5: at TCU
Sept. 12: vs. East Tennessee State
Sept. 19: vs. Connecticut
TBD: vs. Notre Dame
2027:
Sept. 4: vs. UCF
Sept. 11: at Purdue
Sept. 18: at Connecticut
Sept. 25: vs. North Alabama
2028:
Sept. 2: at South Carolina
Sept. 23: vs. James Madison
2029:
Sept. 1: vs. South Carolina
2030:
TBD: at Notre Dame
2031:
Sept. 13: vs. Purdue
TBD: vs. Notre Dame
2036:
TBD: at Notre Dame