Hawai’i (0-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Vanderbilt (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Saturday, Aug. 26 • 6:30 p.m. CT
FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, Tenn. • SEC Network
• Head coach Clark Lea and the Vanderbilt Commodores look to build off of last season’s successes when Team 3 takes the field Week 0 against Hawai’i at FirstBank Stadium. The Commodores doubled their win total in Lea’s second season in 2022 and won consecutive SEC games for the first time since 2018, defeating Kentucky and Florida, respectively.
• Vanderbilt will meet Hawai’i in Game 1 for the second consecutive season. The Commodores opened the 2022 campaign in Honolulu, defeating the Rainbow Warriors 63-10 to snap Hawai’i’s streak of seven consecutive wins in home-openers. The Dores pulled away with a 35-point third quarter and finished the contest with 601 yards of total offense, including 404 rushing yards.
• In support of recovery efforts following devastating wildfires on Maui, Vanderbilt Athletics has announced that a portion of proceeds from each ticket sold to the Commodores’ season-opening football game against Hawai’i will be donated to the Hawai’i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund.
• In the last 36 nonconference, regular season contests, dating to the 2013 season, Vanderbilt is 26-10. Vanderbilt has won 18 of its last 20 games against non-Power 5 opponents, including all three of its matchups last season.
• Those visiting Nashville this season will take notice of the ongoing Vandy United projects that include enhancements in the north and south end zones at FirstBank Stadium. An integral part of Vanderbilt’s recently launched $3.2 billion Dare to Grow campaign, the largest in the university’s 150-year history, Vandy United’s next phase looks to build on its foundation with more facilities and operational enhancements.
• Vanderbilt developed an identity over the course of the 2022 season that saw the Commodores play disciplined, maximize possessions and protect the quarterback (see Page 8).
• The Commodores were the least-penalized team in the SEC in 2022, getting flagged just 63 times on the season. That total ranked 24th in FBS as Vandy has ranked among the nation’s top-30 least penalized teams both seasons under Lea.
• Entering his third season at the helm of his alma mater, Vanderbilt football coach Clark Lea signed a contract extension to remain in his native Nashville. Athletics director Candice Storey Lee announced the extension in July.
• Vanderbilt ranked 21st in FBS and fourth in the SEC in time of possession last season, averaging 32:03 per game. The Commodores have averaged over 30 minutes of possession per game in both seasons under Lea.
