The school also has its own broadcast network. Football games are televised on the syndicated Liberty Flames Sports Network in up to 90 million homes across 49 states.

The Flames, who were 6-5 in 2016, will play their last season as a member of the FCS Big South Conference this fall and be bowl eligible by 2019. They will not be eligible for the FCS playoffs or a league title in 2017.

Liberty is required to have at least three FBS home games in 2018 — when Montana is scheduled to go to Virginia on Sept. 15 of that year — and five FBS home games in '19. The Griz are slated to host the Flames on Sept. 21, 2019.

For its part, Montana is still a willing party in the agreement, associate athletic director Ryan Martin said.

"If they wanted to still play it, there'd be some interest for us to keep it," said Martin, who handles UM football scheduling duties. "It'd be cool to have an FBS team at home.

"... They could find what they need FBS-wise and then realize it's hard to find anybody else and keep Montana."

Per the agreement, the two sides are not trading travel costs and there is no guaranteed payment in either direction. Martin said he would not anticipate that changing.