NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt plays its penultimate home game of the season at 11 a.m. Saturday when Florida pays a visit to FirstBank Stadium.
Vandy (4-6, 1-5 SEC) is coming off a resounding 24-21 win at Kentucky last time out. The Commodores broke long losing streaks to SEC teams, Power 5 conference teams and in league road games thanks to a last-minute touchdown pass in Lexington.
Florida (6-4, 3-4 SEC) is riding back-to-back wins over Texas A&M and South Carolina, respectively, for first-year head coach Billy Napier. The Gators have won eight in a row against Vanderbilt.
Here is more on how to watch, listen to and follow Saturday’s contest as well as five key matchups to consider when the Commodores face the Gators:
When: 11 a.m. Saturday
Location: FirstBank Stadium (39,790)
Television: SEC Network
Broadcast Crew
Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) and Alyssa Lang (sideline)
Channel Finder
AT&T | Xfinity | DISH | Comcast
Streaming
Available via WatchESPN
Vanderbilt Sports Network from Learfield
Announcers: Andrew Allegretta (play-by-play), Norman Jordan (analyst), Kevin Ingram (sideline)
On-Air Time: 10 a.m. CT
Affiliates: Nashville WQZQ 93.3 FM; Chattanooga WALV 95.3 FM; Lewisburg WJJM 1490 AM, 94.3 FM; Memphis WMPS 1210 AM, 103.1 FM
Satellite: SiriusXM 190; SiriusXM online 961
Social
Twitter: @VandyFootball and @VandyNotes
Instagram: @VandyFootball
Facebook: @VanderbiltFootball
Streaming Audio
Vanderbilt Athletics App (Free)
Weather
40 degrees at kickoff, zero percent chance of rain
1. All About the Ground Game
The Florida Gators have the 11th-best rushing attack in the nation and second-best in the SEC. Simply put, Vanderbilt’s defense has to slow down the Florida ground game to have any hope Saturday.
In six wins this season, Florida is averaging 278.3 yards per game. In four losses? That average drops to 146.8. And in only one game this season have the Gators surpassed the 200-yard mark and still lost—a 45-35 shootout with LSU. Florida also has three backs who have all rushed for at least 500 yards.
Vanderbilt and defensive coordinator Nick Howell must devise a game plan to somehow stop the runnin’ Gators in their tracks.
2. The Ball is the Program
In recent weeks, Vanderbilt has been fighting the flu bug. It also has been battling the turnover bug.
The Commodores have at least one turnover in five straight games. Even more concerning is the team’s six giveaways the last two outings.
Florida has the SEC’s top mark in takeaways with 21. Three times this season the Gators have recorded at least three takeaways in a single game.
While it has always been imperative for Vanderbilt to protect the ball, it may be doubly important to do so Saturday.
3. Eyes on the Red Zone
If there is an area of offensive concern for Florida it happens to be inside the 20-yard line.
The Gators rank dead last in red zone efficiency having only scored on 73.3 percent of those trips. Those numbers have really taken a hit in the last four weeks where Florida is just 14 of 22 (63.6 percent).
Vanderbilt red zone defense has been relatively solid this season and stood out Saturday at Kentucky where it held the Wildcats to two field goal makes and blocked a third field goal try.
Those numbers would indicate the Commodores have the advantage when the Gators start to sniff the end zone.
4. Ray of Sunshine
One way to counteract the Florida ground game? Give ’em a taste of their own medicine.
Vanderbilt’s own running attack has come to life the past two weeks with a 226-yard performance against South Carolina and 264-yard day at Kentucky.
Vandy’s offensive line, despite numerous injuries that has caused a bit of a revolving door up front, has been masterful in creating running lanes for Ray Davis. Davis has nearly 300 yards rushing and is averaging 6.4 yards per carry the last two weeks.
Davis and the Dores will face a Florida rush defense that is not very good. The Gators allow 171.2 yards per game (11th in the SEC and 95th nationally) and four times this season they have allowed at least 200 yards in a game.
Those numbers bode well for the home team.
5. Win the Response
A constant echo from Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea virtually from the moment he walked through the door in December 2020 has been an ask for his team to win the response.
What all does that entail? Usually it’s in reference to a poor play, or bad series, or tough half or, ultimately, a loss. But Lea also asks his program to win the response to moments of success, including wins.
Thus, for all the positive vibes on the corner of Jess Neely Drive and Natchez Trace, the Commodores this week are challenged with repeating their winning performance from a week ago. Vanderbilt hasn’t won two straight SEC games since 2018.
The opportunity awaits for Vanderbilt to win the response, win the game and start a streak of wins.
(6.) Music City Bowl Revisited
Vanderbilt will celebrate the 2012 Vanderbilt football team Saturday, a team that won the Music City Bowl at LP Field.
The Commodores, coached by current Penn State head coach James Franklin, ended the season on a seven-game winning streak after starting the campaign 2-4 which included losses to top-10 teams South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Vandy beat Auburn, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Wake Forest, respectively, before drawing North Carolina State in the Dec. 31 postseason affair.
Vanderbilt raced out to a 21-7 lead against the Wolfpack and took a 28-14 advantage into halftime. North Carolina State never got any closer than 14 points as quarterback Jordan Rodgers threw for 108 yards and two scores while Kenny Ladler had 10 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.
— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.
