Vanderbilt’s week of preparation for Alabama has come with an unusual backdrop: a campus-wide hacking incident that briefly knocked parts of the university’s systems off balance.
The timing could hardly be stranger. The Commodores are set to face the No.
3 Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff rankings on Saturday afternoon, the program’s first meeting with Alabama since Vanderbilt stunned the then-No. 1 Tide at FirstBank Stadium.
But while the matchup has drawn national attention, the university has also been dealing with a ransomware attack claimed by BYOD.
Vanderbilt told students and faculty on November 9: “We are responding to an active cybersecurity incident that may affect university devices, systems and cloud-based services. Our Information Technology team is investigating and working to contain the situation,” the university said in a statement to its students and faculty on November 9.
“We are asking all members of the university community to shut down university devices, disconnect from university Wi-Fi and remain extremely vigilant. Take immediate action if you notice any unusual or suspicious activity on your devices.”’
Coach Clark Lea said the football program has had to stay aware of the situation, even if it hasn’t forced major changes to the team’s routine.
“There have been some hiccups, but on the whole we haven't really experienced anything too extreme,” Lea said. “It'd be like our printer connection and things like that.
It wasn't too long ago that we were just riding out practice plans on a blank piece of paper. So we were able to get through it just fine, and hopefully the campus is recovering and yeah, we've made it through alright.”
Vanderbilt said yesterday that it expects “it may take multiple weeks to fully restore normal operations across all systems, but systems, applications and services will be restored in a deliberate and secure manner as work progresses” because of the hacking. The university added that it is “prioritizing crucial business operations across the university, including payroll, payment services, admissions, course registration and public safety.” Since then, a number of systems have been brought back, including email, campus print, Zoom, enrollment services and campus wifi.
On the field, Vanderbilt is coming off its first SEC win of the 2026 season against Mississippi State, which moved the Commodores to 4-5. They enter Saturday as heavy underdogs, but Lea and his staff still believe there’s a path to beating Alabama - and the campus disruption hasn’t appeared to change that outlook much.
In Other News...
Alabama Just Got The Keelon Russell News Fans Needed
Alabamas quarterback situation got a little clearer this week, and that matters for a Vanderbilt defense that is preparing to see one of the SECs most dangerous teams come to town. Freshman Keelon Russell was banged up in the win over LSU, but he still managed to put together a big night, accounting for 216 total yards and three touchdowns as the Crimson Tide kept rolling.
The early availability report now points toward Russell being on track for Saturdays trip to Nashville, which is the kind of update Alabama wanted as it tries to stay on course for a College Football Playoff berth. The Tide are sitting at No. 3 nationally and close to locking in a spot, so any sign their young quarterback can keep moving the offense is a welcome one as the stakes keep rising. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Faces A Brutal Alabama Reality Ahead Of SEC Test
Greg McElroy is not leaving much room for suspense heading into Alabamas trip to face Vanderbilt. The former Crimson Tide quarterback and current analyst laid out his view on his podcast, pointing to Alabamas offense as the kind of engine that can create separation quickly, while also noting the Commodores issues with turnovers as a major concern in a matchup like this.
For Vanderbilt, the challenge is less about style points and more about finding a way to make the game feel smaller. McElroy said the Commodores would need to keep Alabama from getting too many chances, which is the sort of formula that can keep an underdog alive for a while. Whether Vanderbilt can actually force that kind of game is the central question hanging over a SEC test that already looks steep on paper. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Faces A Roster Concern Ahead Of Another Alabama Test
Vanderbilts next challenge arrives Saturday morning at FirstBank Stadium, when No. 3 Alabama comes to town for an 11:45 a.m. CT kickoff on SEC Network. Before the matchup, the Commodores released their initial injury report, and it already gives a clearer picture of the roster situation heading into another difficult SEC test.
The list includes EDGE rusher Edwin Kolenge and offensive lineman Ted Gregoire among those out, along with several other players already sidelined by season-ending injuries. On the positive side, Vanderbilt does not have anyone tagged as doubtful, questionable or probable for the game, leaving the status sheet relatively straightforward even as the depth chart takes another hit. [Read more 🡒]