Vanderbilt heads to Lexington on Saturday night looking to stop the skid and shake up its recent form against a ranked Kentucky team that has been rolling in SEC play.
The Commodores are coming off their fourth straight loss and fourth defeat in conference play after falling to Arkansas at home, 31-21, in a game they were favored to win on paper. Now they get a much tougher road assignment, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network at Kroger Field.
There is at least some optimism around the program this week. Vanderbilt has had a strong week of practice, and the staff likes the way five-star freshman quarterback Jared Curtis has continued to develop from week to week. The Commodores are also said to be feeling good about themselves despite the losing streak, though Saturday night will be the real test of whether that translates into results.
Kentucky, meanwhile, comes in fresh off a road win over Oklahoma, 21-13, for its fourth SEC victory of the season. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 48-45-4.
Injuries will continue to shape Vanderbilt’s depth chart. EDGE Brian Allen Jr. is out with an ankle injury, and linebacker Josiah Broxton is also unavailable as a depth piece.
Safety Dontae Carter and cornerback Davin Chandler have both been upgraded to probable after originally being listed as questionable. Also out are quarterback Blaze Berlowitz with a collarbone injury, cornerback Jaylin Lackey and linebacker Jamison Curtis with soft tissue injuries, offensive lineman Gunner Givens with a season-ending hip injury, defensive lineman Aaron Bryant with a season-ending ACL injury, wide receiver Kahden Smith with an injury and defensive lineman Nikhil Jefferson with an injury.
Smith and Jefferson are not season-ending injuries.
If the game turns into a battle of attrition, Vanderbilt says it will track any in-game injuries and share updates as they come.
The forecast should at least cooperate. Temperatures are expected to sit in the mid 60s and fall into the mid 50s by the end of the game, with no rain in sight.
Vanderbilt’s projected depth chart for the matchup features Sedrick Alexander or MK Young at running back, with Jamezell Lassiter and Evan Hampton also listed. At receiver, Ja’Cory Thomas, Brycen Coleman and Claiborne Richards are in line.
Cade McConnell, Kevo Wesley and Ted Gregoire are the quick guard options. Up front on defense, Issa Ouattara, Bradley Mann or Jaylon Stone are listed at one defensive tackle spot, with Talan Carter, Glenn Seabrooks III and Mike Diatta at the other.
At linebacker, Nick Rinaldi, Bryce Cowan and Josiah Broxton are listed at one spot, while Bryan Longwell, Bryce Cowan and Austin Howard are listed at the other. In the secondary, Martel Hight, Davin Chandler and Jaylin Davies are at cornerback, alongside Jordan Matthews, Cayden Daniels and Bishop Starling.
Earlier this week, Curtis spoke publicly for the first time during his freshman season and was asked about his play this fall. He took accountability right away.
Clark Lea also addressed the defense’s lack of turnovers and has a solution he believes can help. And for a closer look at the matchup itself, the keys to the game point toward a difficult environment and a steep challenge for the Commodores.
In Other News...
Vanderbilts Exhibition Loss Exposed A Problem That Cant Linger
Vanderbilts final exhibition offered a useful reality check, even if it came in the form of a loss to Miami. The Hurricanes controlled the game for nearly the entire night, and coach Mark Byington treated it less like a setback than a baseline for what still needs cleaning up before the season begins. For a team still trying to settle into its identity, the lesson was plain enough: the Commodores have work to do, and it starts with tightening things on the defensive end.
There was at least a little good news around the edges. TO Barrett and Gabe Nesmith warmed up before the game but did not play, a sign both are trending in the right direction as Vanderbilt looks toward its opener against Bellarmine. Their return would give Byington more options, but the bigger question remains how quickly the rest of the rotation can bring the effort and execution needed to avoid another night where the opposition dictates the pace. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Walks Into A Brutal SEC Test With Kentucky Rolling
Vanderbilt is heading into one of the toughest spots on its SEC schedule with Kentucky suddenly looking every bit like a program on the rise under first-year coach Will Stein. The Wildcats are 6-1 and ranked No. 12 nationally, carrying a five-game winning streak into a primetime home date, while the Commodores are still searching for their first conference win of the season and need something to change quickly against a surging opponent.
The atmosphere figures to be part of the challenge, too. Kentuckys social media account has already leaned into the moment with a one-minute hype video aimed at getting fans louder and more engaged for the game, a reminder that Vanderbilt will not just be dealing with a ranked team but with a crowd expecting another step forward from a breakout season. [Read more 🡒]
Miami May Have Uncovered A New Offensive Problem For Opponents
Miamis exhibition loss to No. 14 Hurricanes still came with a few things Vanderbilt will want to keep in mind, starting with the way Miamis younger pieces changed the game. Freshman Caleb Gaskins looked ready for a bigger role, scoring 20 points and giving the Hurricanes a boost when the pace picked up. Coach Jai Lucas, meanwhile, liked the way his team came out aggressive, which is a useful sign with the season opener against No. 1 Florida looming.
Acaden Lewis also gave Miami plenty to build on, finishing with a double-double in a game that had plenty of offense on both sides. The turnovers, though, were part of the same story, and they showed there is still some polish to be done even as Miami tries to sharpen its attack and keep pressure on opponents. For Vanderbilt, the takeaway is less about the final score than the type of shot-making and tempo Miami was able to sustain when the game opened up. [Read more 🡒]