Vanderbilt came out of Auburn with a 21-15 loss on Sept. 26, 2026, but the Commodores still left a trail of notable marks across the stat sheet.
The black and gold won the toss and chose to defer, with Vanderbilt’s four captains - Issa Ouattara, Nick Rinaldi, Cole Spence, Makhilyn Young - handling the coin toss duties.
Even in defeat, the defense kept its streaks alive. Vanderbilt forced a turnover for the fourth straight game to begin the 2026 season, and the Commodores also recorded a sack for the eighth consecutive game, a run that stretches back to last season.
Miles Capers added another takeaway to his résumé, picking off a deflected pass by CJ Heard in the first quarter for the second interception of his career. Heard also notched his sixth career pass breakup.
On the offensive side, Sedrick Alexander kept climbing the Vanderbilt record book. His 30th career score tied Zac Stacy for second on the program’s career touchdown list, and the three-yard run counted as his 24th rushing touchdown, moving him into a tie for No. 3 in all-time rushing scores for the Commodores.
Junior Sherrill continued his steady run of production, extending his reception streak to 41 straight games. The senior wideout has also finished with four or more catches in eight of his last nine games dating back to last season.
Brock Taylor was busy, too. His three made field goals moved him into sole possession of fourth place on Vanderbilt’s career points list with 219, and it tied his career high for field goals in a single game.
Taylor’s 47-yarder in the fourth quarter was his longest make since Sept. 13, 2025, against South Carolina. On kicks from within 40 yards, he is now 20-for-21.
Brian Longwell’s second-quarter sack was his first since the regular-season finale against Tennessee last year, and it bumped his career total to 3.5.
Cole Spence also chipped in with two receptions in his first appearance of the 2026 season.
In Other News...
Vanderbilts 3-0 Start Faces Its First Real Test At Auburn
Vanderbilt heads to Auburn with a 3-0 record, but the early unbeaten start has come with an asterisk. The Commodores have not exactly looked convincing yet, and this trip offers a clearer read on where the team really stands. Freshman quarterback Curtis is set to make his first SEC road start, adding another layer of pressure to a matchup that should reveal more about Vanderbilts ceiling than the first three games did.
Coach Lea has put the focus on cleaner execution, fewer mistakes and a more defined identity. For Vanderbilt, the challenge is not just surviving an SEC road environment, but putting together a more complete performance across all phases and finding a way to control the game. If the Commodores can do that at Auburn, the unbeaten start will begin to feel a lot more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilts SEC Hopes Now Ride On Mark Byingtons Toughest Task
Mark Byington has Vanderbilt positioned for a genuine follow-up act after a 27-win season and a trip to the NCAA Tournaments Round of 32. The Commodores are heading into the 2026-27 campaign with real momentum, and the return of All-SEC guard Tyler Tanner for his junior year gives the roster a proven centerpiece as the program tries to stay on that level in a league that rarely makes anything easy.
The challenge now is turning all that incoming talent into a team that can survive the losses of Duke Miles and Tyler Nickel, two departing scorers who helped drive last seasons offense. Vanderbilt has loaded up with a top-25 recruiting class, including Gabe Nesmith and Ethan Mgbako, and it also brings in five transfers to fill the gaps, but the SEC will quickly test how fast Byington can get all those new pieces moving in the same direction. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilts Special Teams Meltdown Just Put The Commodores In Trouble
For a Vanderbilt team that has spent plenty of time stressing special teams as a point of emphasis, the first quarter and a half at Jordan-Hare Stadium was about as rough as it gets. Auburn got into the backfield again and again, blocking three punts, while the Commodores also stumbled through a failed fake punt, a running into the punter penalty and a missed field goal in the opening stretch.
The result was a game that quickly tilted in Auburns favor, with the Tigers ahead 14-3 and Vanderbilt trying to steady itself before the second quarter got away entirely. When a phase of the game thats supposed to be a strength turns into a string of self-inflicted mistakes, the margin for error shrinks fast, and the Commodores were left searching for any kind of reset. [Read more 🡒]