This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Rarely, if ever, does BYU's athletics department issue a news release on a Saturday.

But that's what happened yesterday — sort of — as the school announced it has scheduled a home-and-home football series with Liberty.

Yes, Liberty.

The news was posted on BYU's athletics website (BYUCougars.com) on Saturday. It does not appear that emails were sent to media members publicizing the announcement.

The Flames are transitioning into the Football Bowl Subdivision as an independent. Liberty played in the Big South Conference from 2002 to 2016 and won eight conference championships.

Obviously, a lot of fans are wondering why athletic director Tom Holmoe would agree to a home-and-home deal with a school that has formerly played at the FCS level.

Liberty will visit BYU on Nov. 9, 2019 and the Cougars will travel to Lynchburg, Virginia — home of the Flames — on Oct. 22, 2022.

Until Holmoe addresses the matter publicly, we will just have to assume the longtime BYU athletic director wanted to help out a fellow independent, knowing how difficult that path will be for the Flames.

Maybe it is telling that the announcement on the Cougars' website made mention that the series will pit "two private Christian universities."

It appears that BYU now has 12 games scheduled for the 2019 season, so Holmoe's work for that year is done. Here's the 2019 schedule:

BYU's 2019 Football Schedule

Aug. 29, 30 or 31 — Utah

Sept. 7 — at Tennessee

Sept. 14 — USC

Sept. 21 — Washington

Sept. 28 — at Toledo

Oct. 4 — Open

Oct. 12 — at Washington State

Oct. 19 — Boise State

Oct. 26 — Open

Nov. 2 — at Utah State

Nov. 9 — Liberty

Nov. 16 — Idaho State

Nov. 23 — vs. UMass at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.

Nov. 30 — at San Diego State