ESPN has set the stage for the fourth annual SEC/ACC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Challenge, and Vanderbilt’s matchups with Notre Dame give the Commodores a prominent spot in the three-night event.
The men open the action first, with Vanderbilt heading to South Bend, Indiana, on Dec. 2 for a 6:15 p.m. CT tip on SEC Network.
The women follow on Dec. 3, hosting Notre Dame at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN.
For the Vanderbilt men, the trip to Notre Dame brings a matchup that has been rare in recent years. The teams have not played since 2006, and this will be only the 10th meeting in program history.
Notre Dame owns a 5-4 edge in the series, and Vanderbilt has gone 2-2 in games played in South Bend. The Commodores also enter with momentum in the Challenge, having gone 2-0 under head coach Mark Byington after beating SMU at Memorial Gymnasium last season and winning at Virginia Tech in 2024.
The women’s game carries its own familiar edge. Vanderbilt and Notre Dame are meeting for the second straight season, and the source of that recent history is a Sweet 16 matchup at the 2026 NCAA Tournament, where Notre Dame pulled out a 67-64 win in Fort Worth, Texas.
This will be the third time Vanderbilt has hosted Notre Dame at Memorial Gym, and the first since Dec. 30, 2008, when the Irish won 59-57. Vanderbilt is 2-1 in the Challenge and will be aiming for a third straight victory in the event.
In Other News...
Jared Curtis Just Raised Vanderbilt's Biggest Quarterback Question
Jared Curtis did more than survive his first start at Vanderbilt. The five-star freshman quarterback helped engineer a 17-point comeback against NC State, earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors in the process and giving the Commodores a glimpse of what their future might look like under center. He finished 20 of 34 for 277 yards with three touchdown passes and two interceptions, a line that reflected both the promise and the occasional rough edges that come with a young quarterback making his first real statement.
Clark Lea said Curtis showed growth throughout the game, and that may be the part Vanderbilt will watch most closely moving forward. The performance gave the staff evidence that Curtis can handle big moments, but it also sharpened the bigger question now hanging over the position: how quickly can Vanderbilt turn one impressive debut into something more stable as the season goes on? [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Gets An Early Reality Check Before SEC Pressure Hits
The Commodores are about to get an early test on the road, with Vanderbilt set to face Miami in a preseason exhibition Friday, Oct. 23, at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables. It is the kind of matchup that can tell a team plenty before the games count, especially with both programs coming off strong seasons and carrying spots in ESPNs Way-Too-Early Top 25.
For Vanderbilt, the timing makes the trip even more interesting because the SEC grind is still ahead, and early games like this can help reveal what needs tightening before the pressure ramps up. Miami coach Jai Lucas has already pointed to the value of tough preparation and the need for challenging games before his team opens the season against Florida, which gives this exhibition a little more edge than the usual fall tune-up. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Had Several Performances SEC Teams Should Notice After This Win
Vanderbilts win over NC State offered more than just a good result for the resume, because several players gave SEC opponents something to file away. The defense made one of the biggest early statements when EDGE Miles Capers forced a fumble that cornerback Cayden Daniels recovered, and Capers added three tackles and a tackle for loss to a disruptive outing.
On the other side of the ball, Sherrill kept building his case as a reliable target by leading the Commodores with six catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns, a sign that his timing with quarterback Jared Curtis is starting to look more natural. Freshman Mason Lewis also turned heads in his first start at STAR, tying for the team lead with eight tackles and giving Vanderbilt another young defender worth watching as the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]