Alabama heads into Week 11 with momentum and a clear path in front of it after a 31-13 win over LSU in Week 10, and the Crimson Tide are favored on the road against Vanderbilt.
The matchup comes at a good time for Alabama. The Tide have already taken losses to Georgia and Tennessee this season, but their final stretch - Vanderbilt, Chattanooga and Auburn - sets them up well as they chase a spot in the CFB Playoff.
Vanderbilt, meanwhile, is trying to steady itself after snapping a five-game skid with a win over a banged-up Mississippi State team in Week 10. Even with that result, the Commodores have dropped five of their six SEC games in 2026, and quarterback Jared Curtis has had an uneven year with eight touchdown passes and eight interceptions.
The bigger issue for Vanderbilt has been the level of competition. The Commodores are 0-3 against ranked teams - Georgia, Ole Miss and Kentucky - and all three losses came by 17 points or more. That makes Saturday’s spread a tough one to cover against an Alabama team that has been handling business against lesser opponents.
Keelon Russell is the engine behind that confidence. The sophomore hasn’t been in the Heisman mix this season, but he has played at a high level in the biggest games.
He’s thrown for 2,263 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 67.3 percent of his passes. He’s also added 276 rushing yards and five scores on 74 carries.
Against LSU, Russell threw three touchdown passes and helped Alabama put up 31 points. That kind of production has been a theme for the Tide, who have won five games by 16 points or more and have won every game by more than 10 points this season.
The numbers lean heavily toward Alabama, too. The Crimson Tide are No. 2 nationally in net adjusted EPA/Play, while Vanderbilt sits at No.
- On offense, the Commodores have struggled to generate much of anything, ranking 112th in early downs EPA/Play and outside the top 75 in both EPA/Pass and EPA/Rush.
Alabama’s defense has been solid enough to support the offense, allowing 26 points or fewer in all but one game, a win over Florida State. And with Vanderbilt owning just one SEC win in 2026, the Tide look positioned to leave Saturday with another comfortable result.
In Other News...
Jared Curtis Gives Vanderbilt A Reason To Believe On Offense
Jared Curtis had reason to smile after Vanderbilts 25-23 win over Mississippi State, a result that gave the freshman quarterback his first conference victory and offered a clearer glimpse of what the offense can become. Curtis pointed to the Commodores improved running game and cleaner execution in key moments, while Clark Lea said the young quarterback has grown into a more confident presence as the season has gone on.
Curtis has also become more vocal as he settles in, a meaningful development for a team still trying to establish consistency on that side of the ball. For Vanderbilt, the encouraging part is not just the win itself but the way Curtis is starting to connect his own comfort level with the offenses broader progress, leaving the Commodores with something tangible to build on as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Faces Its First Real Test In A Heated Memphis Showdown
Vanderbilts early-season momentum gets a more serious measuring stick Wednesday night when Memphis comes to Nashville to close out the home-and-home series in an in-state rivalry game. Both teams are 2-0, so this one arrives with a little more edge than a typical November matchup, and it gives the Commodores a chance to see where they stand against a familiar opponent with plenty of local bragging rights on the line.
The matchup also comes with a roster wrinkle for Vanderbilt, as guard Gabe Nesmith remains sidelined by a leg injury. That leaves the Commodores to keep sorting out their rotation while trying to protect an unbeaten start, and it adds another layer of difficulty against a Memphis team that has looked sharp out of the gate. The game is set for 6:15 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Faces Early Rival Test With Unbeaten Start On The Line
A quick early-season test is waiting Tuesday night at Memorial Gymnasium, where No. 22/19 Vanderbilt will host in-state rival Memphis at 6:15 p.m. CT. The Commodores have opened 2-0 and have already shown the kind of defensive edge that can travel into bigger games, while Tyler Tanners recent double-double gave them another sign of balance as the schedule begins to tighten.
Memphis arrives unbeaten as well, setting up a matchup that carries a little more weight than a typical November nonconference game. For Vanderbilt, it is the first real chance to protect its start against a rival with its own momentum, with the game set for SEC Network+ and radio coverage on 94.9 The Fan and the Vanderbilt Athletics app. [Read more 🡒]