By SCOTT FELTS
The Opponent: Vanderbilt Commodores
When: Saturday, November 28th, 6 or 8pm EST
Where: First Bank Stadium, Nashville TN
In a rivalry that has historically been one-sided, the Vanderbilt Commodores spent many years playing the role of lovable underdogs to Tennessee. But after back-to-back strong seasons under Clark Lea, including a breakthrough 10-3 campaign in 2025 that featured actual bowl success and Southeastern Conference respect, these “Anchors Down” boys are no longer content with moral victories.
Tennessee fans might be expecting a return to easy wins on the schedule against Vandy, now that mighty-mini Heisman runner-up Diego Pavia and his mom are gone, but Vandy hosts this meeting with talent, experience, and that pesky habit of spoiling parties. The Vols better not underestimate these “nerdy” Commodores on their home turf, or they’ll get schooled right in the heart of Music City.
Coach Background
Head coach Clark Lea is in his sixth year at his alma mater, with an overall record that has climbed impressively to 26-37 heading into 2026 after turning the program around from perennial cellar-dweller status. A former Vanderbilt player himself, Lea intimately knows the in-state rivalry as a Nashville guy.
His coaching philosophy emphasizes culture, discipline, accountability, and sustained excellence. He believes in building “better people” who become a better team through belief, development, and no shortcuts. He’s pragmatic, thoughtful, and focused on making Vanderbilt a legitimate football school that also excels academically. He even took on defensive coordinator duties in seasons past, when needed.
Staff Facts
Offensive coordinator Tim Beck has been at Vanderbilt since late 2023 (now entering his third full season). He brings head coaching championship experience, at the Division II level for Pittsburg State. Beck’s offensive philosophy is run and gun with multiple sets, heavy running back usage, play-action, and adapting to the quarterback while emphasizing versatility on the offensive line by flipping the strong and weak side rather than having traditional left- and right-side athletes. His creative schemes have helped Vanderbilt’s offense become more potent, but how will the Commodores transition from Pavia at quarterback?
Defensive coordinator Steve Gregory is in his second year in that role for Vandy. A former NFL safety with Chargers, Dolphins, and Lions experience, his 4-2-5 defense stresses disruption, secondary play, pressure, and depth.
His coaching style emphasizes improved tackling, creating turnovers, and increased physicality with experienced players. Returning depth will help offset potential weaknesses but he does need to build more consistency against elite SEC lines.
Quarterback Preview
The spotlight is on five-star freshman Jared Curtis (6-3, 230), rated as the consensus top quarterback prospect in the nation in the 2026 class. Flipping from a Georgia commitment to join the Commodores, Curtis has a college-ready frame, strong arm, accuracy, touch, and athleticism as a former high school running back. Curtis’ high school output featured massive numbers: more than 12,000 career passing yards, 2,100 rushing yards, and 159 TDs.
The strengths he brings to Music City could be offset by his inexperience at the collegiate level, especially against SEC speed. Vanderbilt may have a limited playbook early, but Curtis should be battle-tested and fully running the offense by the time Tennessee comes to town.
Vanderbilt’s other options at quarterback include senior Blaze Berlowitz (6-3, 200), who had limited action in 2025 with 131 passing yards; sophomore Jack Elliott (6-0, 205), or junior Whit Muschamp (6-1, 195), Will Muschamp’s son.
Key Offensive Player
Senior RB Sedrick Alexander (5-9, 207) is a proven workhorse after a strong 2025 (105 carries, 567 yards, 5.4 avg, 11 TDs). He should be the focal point of the ground game and play-action passing attack in 2026, providing stability and check-down opportunities amid the transition at QB.
His strengths include great vision, burst, toughness, and productive red-zone finishing abilities despite his smaller frame. That size limitation means he must avoid heavy wear and stay explosive yet shifty behind a developing line.
Key Defensive Player
Senior LB Bryan Longwell (6-1, 240) is a Nashville native and veteran leader who returns after leading the team in tackles in back-to-back seasons. Longwell anchors the linebacker corps with instincts and toughness in the 4-2-5 scheme.
His strengths are reliable tackling, leadership, and homegrown energy. He knows as much as anyone what this game means to Vanderbilt and the surrounding community. Longwell does need to elevate his impact against power run teams and stay healthy through a physical SEC slate so that he can make it to the big rivalry weekend.
X-Factor
Vanderbilt’s special teams have been a legit strength under Lea. In 2024, when they hired Jeff LePak as full-time special teams coordinator, the unit ranked fifth in the entire FBS in ESPN’s Special Teams Efficiency metric. That is a hidden edge that helped them win close games and flip the fortunes of the program.
Lea treats special teams as a true third phase, not an afterthought. He invests serious practice time in it and has praised LePak’s work heavily. Several Vandy players have earned All-SEC honors, including kick returner Marcel Hight and Brock Taylor, the incumbent placekicker. In 2025, the group stayed clean and opportunistic, with blocked punts turned into touchdowns, strong return yards, and reliable kicks. It fits Lea’s entire “win in the margins” philosophy/
The Schedule
Both teams likely will head into the November 28th rivalry game in Nashville with some wear and tear. Vandy plays a brutal late-season stretch: at home against Alabama on Nov. 14, then at Florida before hosting Tennessee. That’s three straight tough SEC games with very little recovery time. The same goes for the Vols, who travel to Texas A&M on Nov. 14, then host LSU before this matchup.
How the Commodores Can Win
If Alexander pounds the rock and Curtis makes plays while Gregory’s unit forces turnovers at home, Vanderbilt could be celebrating two in a row over the Vols. Control the clock, win special teams, and turn FirstBank into a fortress to knock off the in-state bullies from Knoxville while making the Vols look as lost as a Pavia brother without gold chains and hair gel.
How the Commodores Can Lose
It could be a long day for Vandy if its young QB gets rattled by the hype of the rivalry, Tennessee controls the line of scrimmage, or the Commodores suffer second-half depth issues against the Vols. Factor in penalties and special teams lapses, and it could lead to another Music City Mauling.
If Curtis has freshman moments or Alexander gets bottled up, the Vols will take over more than the stadium attendance and will turn the scoreboard into their own treasure map of success, regardless if the anchors are down or up.
Prediction: Tennessee 27, Vanderbilt 24
Tough to predict this one so far away from the matchup, but I think this game shapes up as a gritty, competitive scrap rather than a huge mismatch either way. It could stay close into the fourth, the Vols pull away late thanks to their depth.
No matter how good Vandy is in any given year, this is one game where losing is unacceptable to Vol Nation.
Predicted Vols Season Record: 9-3 (6-3)