NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt hosts South Carolina on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. and the contest will be televised live by the SEC Network.
Vandy is coming off a 41-7 loss at home to No. 20 LSU while South Carolina fell 38-24 to No. 3 Florida in Columbia, South Carolina, last time out.
Here is more on how to watch, listen and follow Saturday’s contest as well as five key matchups at Vanderbilt Stadium when the Commodores (0-2, 0-2 SEC) face the Gamecocks (0-2, 0-2 SEC):
When: 11 a.m. Saturday
Location: Vanderbilt Stadium
Television: SEC Network
Broadcast Crew
Dave Neal (play-by-play), DJ Shockley (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline)
Virtual Tailgate
Hosted by Kevin Ingram, the Commodore Tailgate Show will stream live on Vanderbilt Athletics’ Twitter account, YouTube channel, VUCommodores.com and the Vanderbilt Commodores app. In addition to pregame commentary, the show will include exclusive segments with coaches and guests.
Channel Finder
AT&T | Xfinity | DISH | Comcast
Streaming
Available via the ESPN app
Vanderbilt IMG Sports Network
Announcers: Joe Fisher (play-by-play), Norman Jordan (analyst), Kevin Ingram (sideline)
On-Air Time: 11 a.m.
Pregame Show: 10 a.m.
Affiliates: WQZQ 830 AM, 93.3 FM, 101.9 Nashville; WNSR 560 AM, 59.9 FM Nashville; WALV 105.1 FM Chattanooga; WEKR 1240 AM Fayetteville; WJJM 1490 AM, 94.3 FM Lewisburg; WMPS 1210 AM, 103.1 FM Memphis; KASR 92.7 FM Conway, Arkansas
Satellite
SiriusXM: 190 and 381
SiriusXM online: 961 and 971
Streaming Apps
Multimedia
Twitter: @VandyFootball and @VandyNotes
Instagram: @VandyFootball
Facebook: Vanderbilt Athletics
Game day hashtag: #RTI | #ANCHORDOWN
Weather
71 degrees at kickoff, 80 percent chance of rain
1. POINTS POINTS POINTS
Vanderbilt’s offense has just not been able to find a lot of points through two games. And because of that, the Commodores have scored the fewest points – 19 – among the 74 Football Bowl Subdivision teams who have played a game thus far in the 2020 irregular season.
The Commodores have had relative success moving the ball between the 20s, but are 3 of 6 in the red zone and have also missed two field goals. Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason said this week that he and his offensive coaches will be looking to push the envelope Saturday in order to score more points.
South Carolina has allowed 34.5 points per game during its first two contests.
2. GET OFF THE FIELD
With the prospects of Saturday’s contest being played in heavy rain showers, ball possession will be a vital key for both teams. And that’s not necessarily bad news for either side.
South Carolina ranks third nationally by keeping control of the clock for an average of 35:36 per game. The Commodores aren’t too far behind with a mark of 32:23.
Whichever offense can assert itself in the time of possession game may have the advantage. It’s also possible big plays and quick scores by one team could take the other out of its rhythm and gameplan.
3. THIRD DOWN SHOULD BE FIRST
Third down is always a key play no matter the circumstance, but perhaps more so Saturday when the Gamecocks and Dores get together.
On the defensive side of the ball, Vandy is allowing opposing offenses to convert at a modest rate of 36.4 percent of the time. South Carolina, however, is holding opposing offenses on third down 75 percent of the time – that ranks sixth nationally.
For each offense, neither side has been robust when it comes to gaining the necessary yardage on third down. Saturday’s contest may very well come down to which attack can crack the code of the opposition’s third-down defense more often than not.
4. THE VETERAN VS. THE KID AT QB
Vanderbilt and South Carolina will showcase contrasting scenarios at the quarterback position this weekend.
Collin Hill is in his fifth season of college football after spending the majority of his career at Colorado State. He has started the first two games of the 2020 season for the Gamecocks and has already thrown for more than 500 yards.
Saturday will mark the 22nd career game for the 6-foot-4, 222-pound native of South Carolina.
Vandy, conversely, will have true freshman Ken Seals behind center for the third consecutive game. Seals has completed 57.4 percent of his 54 passes thus far in the infancy of his career.
Neither quarterback has been able to lead his respective team to a victory yet in 2020 – but one of them will Saturday.
5. CONTROLLING KINGSLEY
Kingsley Enagbare, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive linemen by trade, has the potential to give Vanderbilt fits for 60 minutes.
A junior from Atlanta, Enagbare already has 12 tackles (2.5 for a loss) and two sacks in two games this season. He has also forced a fumble.
Enagbare is coming off a sophomore campaign in which he recorded seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Considered one of the Gamecocks’ top professional prospects, Enagbare can line up at defensive end or South Carolina’s pass-rushing Buck position.
Vandy better have him accounted for on every snap.
Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com. Follow him @MrChadBishop.
