After representing the Group of Five in the New Year’s Six bowl games last season, Liberty is looking to represent again this year, but in the newly expanded College Football Playoff. On Thursday, they were listed in HERO Sports’ preseason Group of Five Top 25 list as third among programs vying for that coveted playoff spot in 2024, behind No. 1 Boise State and No. 2 Memphis.

Liberty’s Week 5 opponent, Appalachian State, is just behind the Flames with four wins, while Tulane is tied for fifth with two consecutive seasons of 11-plus wins. The Flames received one first-place vote, along with Tulane and UTSA, while Boise State (11) and Memphis (7) significantly outperformed the other three.

Both the Tigers and the Broncos face tough tests in the regular season: Boise State travels to Oregon in early September and Memphis visits Florida State a week later.

In addition to being the favorites in the rankings, the Flames also had four players named to the network’s Group of Five preseason All-American list, led by quarterback Kaidon Salter, who took home the 2023 Group of Five National Player of the Year award.

Salter was the first-team quarterback, ahead of Memphis’ Seth Henigan and Appalachian State’s Joey Aguilar. Last year, he was dynamic in the air and on the ground, throwing for 2,876 yards and 32 touchdowns, with another 1,089 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.

Liberty safety Brylan Green, who spearheaded one of the best takeaway defenses in the country with his five interceptions in 2023, was selected to the first team defensively.

Salter’s running mate in the backfield, Quinton Cooley, was edged out in the race for a first-team spot by Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Tulane’s Makhi Hughes, but was selected to the second team after carrying the ball for 1,401 yards and 16 touchdowns last year.

Jordan White, the Flames’ starting center, was also selected to the third offensive team after being one of the most durable players at his position last year, ranking 13th among centers with 945 offensive snaps in 14 starts.

White was also named to the preseason selection list for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the best offensive lineman on the inside line in the country.

Salter’s selection to the HERO Sports Group Group of Five All-American team wasn’t the only national recognition he received Thursday. The sophomore starter was named to the Davey O’Brien Award watch list, a trophy given annually to the best quarterback in college football.

This is the third preseason national watch list for Salter, who was also selected for the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards, each given to the best overall player in college football.

Last season, Salter was a multiple O’Brien Award winner, made the preseason watch list, and was one of 20 semifinalists for the award.

As Tropical Storm Debby continued to dump rain in the Southeast, the Hillcats’ Thursday game was canceled and the team did not play in Fayetteville, North Carolina, for the third consecutive day.

A doubleheader between the two teams is planned for Friday. The first pitch of the opening game is scheduled for 5:05 p.m., with the second game starting shortly after the end of the first.

The teams are scheduled to play one game on Saturday at 7:05 p.m., but will play another doubleheader on Sunday in hopes of winning all five games.

The first pitch for Sunday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.