NASHVILLE - Vanderbilt gets another crack at one of college football’s heavyweights today, and the setup feels awfully familiar.
The Commodores host No. 3 Alabama at FirstBank Stadium in the first meeting in Nashville since Vanderbilt stunned the Crimson Tide 40-35 in 2024 against a No.
1 Alabama team. This time, Alabama arrives after a statement win of its own, having beaten LSU to strengthen its playoff position.
Vanderbilt, meanwhile, is trying to make sure the rest of the sport pays attention again.
Kickoff is set for 11:45 a.m. CT on SEC Network.
Vanderbilt will be without EDGE rusher Edwin Kolenge, who Clark Lea said Thursday is out for the season after surgery on a tendon in his pec. That loss is a major blow to the Commodores’ defensive front.
The injury list doesn’t stop there. Vanderbilt also remains without backup quarterback Blaze Berlowitz, linebacker Josiah Broxton, running back Evan Hampton, offensive lineman Gunner Givens, defensive lineman Aaron Bryant and linebacker Daniel Vollmer Jr. Hampton, Givens and Bryant have already been confirmed out for the season.
The Commodores are coming in off a 25-23 road win over Mississippi State, while Alabama rolled past No. 14 LSU 31-13 in Death Valley last time out.
The all-time series still belongs to Alabama, which leads 61-20-4.
Weather in Nashville should cooperate for football. The forecast calls for a sunny day, with temperatures in the upper 40s at kickoff and climbing into the lower 50s by the end of the game.
Vanderbilt also made several depth chart adjustments on offense and defense entering the week.
At running back, Sedrick Alexander or MK Young are listed ahead of Jamezell Lassiter and Evan Hampton. At X receiver, Junior Sherrill is joined by Brycen Coleman and Joseph McVay. At Z receiver, Tristen Brown leads a group that includes Cole Adams and Claiborne Richards.
Up front, the quick guard spot features Cade McConnell, Kevo Wesley and Ted Gregoire, while the strong guard position lists Mitchell Smith, Orion Irving and Micah DeBose.
On the defensive line, Issa Ouattara is listed with Bradley Mann or Jaylon Stone at one tackle spot, and Talan Carter is joined by Glenn Seabrooks III and Mike Diatta at the other. At linebacker, Nick Rinaldi, Bryce Cowan and Jamison Curtis are listed in one group, with Bryan Longwell, Bryce Cowan and Austin Howard in the other. In the secondary, Davin Chandler and Dontae Carter are listed at cornerback with Jaylin Lackey, while Jordan Matthews, Cayden Daniels and Cobey Sellers make up the other cornerback group.
In Other News...
Vanderbilt Just Got A Backcourt Boost Fans Have Been Waiting For
T.O. Barretts return gave Vanderbilt a needed lift in the backcourt, especially after he spent the summer working his way back from a hamstring injury and missed the exhibition slate. By the time the season opener arrived, he was finally back on the floor, and his presence mattered for a team that has been trying to piece together its guard rotation early.
After Vanderbilts win over Memphis, Barrett talked about how much the support from fans meant during his recovery and how he has tried to settle back into his role. The Commodores are not looking for him to carry the offense so much as to provide the defensive edge and versatility the staff trusts, which makes his return feel even more important as the season starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilts Alabama Upset Hopes Suddenly Feel Tied To One Situation
Vanderbilts trip to Alabama has taken on a different feel with the Crimson Tides quarterback situation suddenly in question. The matchup already carried plenty of intrigue after the Commodores recent play and the way both teams have stacked up statistically, but the uncertainty under center for Alabama adds another layer to a game that was going to be closely watched anyway.
For Vanderbilt, the timing matters because this is the kind of opening that can change the tone of a season if the Commodores are sharp enough to take advantage. The discussion around the game has already turned to injuries, recent form and who has the edge on paper, and now the spotlight is on whether Alabama can settle things at quarterback before kickoff. If it cannot, Vanderbilts upset hopes will feel a lot more realistic than they did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Byington Wasn't Happy After Vanderbilt's Blowout Win
Vanderbilt rolled past Prairie View A&M 89-62 to stay unbeaten at 4-0, and there was plenty to like in the box score. Chandler Bing and Jayden Leverett both turned in career-best performances and gave the Commodores a boost in a game that was never really in doubt, at least on the scoreboard.
Mark Byington, though, came away focused on what happened after halftime rather than the final margin. The second-half stretch left him dissatisfied, and it sounds like the early-season rotation could be in for some tweaking as he sorts out which players are earning more consistent minutes. [Read more 🡒]