There usually isn't much on the line when the Tennessee Vols and the Vanderbilt Commodores meet for their annual late season matchup. The 2025 matchup between Vandy and Tennessee, however, could veer from the norm.

NASHVILLE—18 hours of plane travel, stops in San Francisco, Cleveland and an eight-hour drive to Nashville later, Damien Hardwick and the rest of the Gold Coast

Vanderbilt football is putting the finishing touches on its 2026 recruiting class ahead of the early signing period. The Commodores are taking advantage of a successful 2025 season by adding a handful of strong later commits. Vanderbilt is bowl eligible for the second straight year and has a shot at the College Football Playoff.

Diego Pavia and Vanderbilt have been on a tear. If they claim a few more wins, they could find themselves in the College Football Playoff.

The Vanderbilt Commodores are too busy building their present and future to worry about the past. Diego Pavia dove across the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:52 left as No. 10 Vanderbilt beat 15th-ranked Missouri 17-10 Saturday to extend the Commodores’ best start in more than 80 years.

A magical season becomes more historic by the week for the Vanderbilt football program. The No. 10 Commodores defeated No. 15 Missouri on Saturday to improve to 7-1 for the first time since 1941. The 17-10 victory was the Commodores' second against a ranked opponent in as many weeks and third on the year,

At the linebacker position, Vanderbilt has top-end talent, experience, and depth. Returning starters Bryan Longwell and Langston Patterson are a tough and reliable duo up the middle. Longwell is a Nashville native with 33 career appearances while Patterson led the team in tackles as a sophomore and finished second last year.

Vanderbilt’s roster consists of 28 players listed as juniors, 19 as seniors, and 26 as a “graduate.” A whopping 73 Commodores have been in college for at least three years, giving Vandy head coach Clark Lea one of the most veteran and experienced rosters,