Vanderbilt is coming off a season that rewrote the program’s history books - and did it with style. Quarterback Diego Pavia led the charge, not only elevating the Commodores to national relevance but earning a trip to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist. While they just missed out on a College Football Playoff berth, the energy around this team is real, and it’s not going anywhere.
Now, the next chapter begins.
Vanderbilt announced on Tuesday that its annual spring game will be held on April 18. The time and full event details are still to come, but go ahead and circle that date - because there’s plenty to look forward to in Nashville.
Yes, Pavia has moved on, but head coach Clark Lea remains the steady hand guiding this program’s rise. In just five seasons, the former Commodore fullback has taken Vanderbilt from SEC afterthought to legitimate contender.
He’s been named SEC Coach of the Year two years running and delivered the school’s first-ever 10-win season. That’s not just progress - that’s transformation.
And the momentum isn’t slowing down.
The Commodores scored a major win in recruiting by keeping five-star quarterback Jared Curtis home. According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Curtis is the No. 4 overall player in the 2026 class, the top-ranked player in Tennessee, and the No. 2 quarterback nationally. That’s the kind of talent that can keep Vanderbilt in the national conversation - and potentially push them even further.
With spring ball on the horizon, the April 18 spring game will be fans' first look at what’s next for this surging program. There’s a lot to unpack once practices begin - from who takes over under center to how Lea and his staff build on last year’s success - but one thing’s for sure: Vanderbilt isn’t sneaking up on anyone anymore.
This is a team with expectations, and they’re embracing them.