Vanderbilt’s next two SEC kickoffs are now set, and the Commodores will be in the early window again when Alabama comes to Nashville on Nov. 14.
The SEC announced that Vanderbilt and Alabama will meet at 11:45 a.m. CT at FirstBank Stadium, with the game airing on SEC Network. It will be Vanderbilt’s first home game since its Oct. 17 loss to Arkansas, and its first appearance in the opening slate of games since the Oct. 3 loss to Georgia.
Before that, Vanderbilt has to get through a road trip to Mississippi State this Saturday. That game will kick off at 3:15 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
The Commodores are coming out of a bye week after their last game, a 34-17 road loss to Kentucky. Their schedule now runs through the final month of the regular season, with Mississippi State followed by Alabama, then a trip to Florida and a regular-season finale at home against Tennessee.
At 3-5, Vanderbilt needs to win three of its last four to become bowl eligible. That path would include at least two victories over AP Top 25 teams.
The Commodores are still searching for their first SEC win of the season and have dropped five straight, all against conference opponents. Mississippi State offers a chance to stop that slide, especially with the Bulldogs set to be without starting quarterback Kamario Taylor. Former Vanderbilt quarterback AJ Swann or true freshman Parker Puckett will handle the offense for Mississippi State.
For Vanderbilt’s defense, it’s a chance to settle back into form against a team that has been struggling. If the Commodores can take care of business in Starkville, they’ll head home next week with a shot to build on it against Alabama.
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