NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt begins a three-game home stretch – and month-long residency in Nashville – when it welcomes Mississippi State at 3 p.m. Saturday.
The Commodores (2-5, 0-3 SEC) are coming off a heartbreaking, 21-20 loss at South Carolina where the Gamecocks scored with less than a minute to play. That defeat ran Vandy’s SEC losing skid to 16 games.
Mississippi State (3-3, 1-2 SEC) is looking to rebound from a 49-9 loss at home to No. 4 Alabama. The Bulldogs had played five games before then that were all decided by an average of 4.2 points.
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 Bulldogs:
When: 3:01 p.m. Saturday
Location: Vanderbilt Stadium (39,790)
Television: SEC Network
Broadcast Crew
Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Alyssa Lang (sideline)
Channel Finder
AT&T | Xfinity | DISH | Comcast
Streaming
Vanderbilt Sports Network from Learfield
Announcers: Andrew Allegretta (play-by-play), Norman Jordan (analyst), Kevin Ingram (sideline)
On-Air Time: 3 p.m. CT
Pregame Show: 1:30 p.m. CT
Affiliates: Nashville WQZQ 830 AM, 93.3 FM; Chattanooga WALV 105.1 FM; Lewisburg WJJM 1490 AM, 94.3 FM; Memphis WMPS 1210 AM, 103.1 FM
Satellite: SiriusXM 192; SiriusXM online 963
Social
Twitter: @VandyFootball, @VUCommodores and @VandyNotes
Instagram: @VandyFootball
Facebook: @VanderbiltFootball
Streaming Audio
TuneIn ($)
VUCommodores (Free)
Weather
71 degrees at kickoff, partly cloudy
1. Vandy Vs. The Air Raid
Mississippi State does not try to hide what it is and how it operates on the offensive side of the ball. The Bulldogs will be throwing it around the yard Saturday.
Mike Leach’s calling card as a head coach has been success via the pass. At Texas Tech then Washington State and now Mississippi State, Leach has orchestrated an attack that exclusively relies on the passing game.
The Bulldogs come into the weekend first nationally in completions and attempts, second in completions per game, fourth in passing offense and seventh in total passing yards. They are last in rushing attempts and rushing yards.
All those numbers mean Vanderbilt’s defense should know exactly what it is facing Saturday. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and his secondary are challenged with putting together their best game of the season defending the pass if the Commodores have any shot at a victory.
2. To Run or Not to Run
Vanderbilt has shown the capability to have success in the run game in 2021. But much like last week’s matchup against South Carolina, turning to the pass against Mississippi State not might be such a bad idea.
The Bulldogs have the nation’s 21st-ranked rush defense by surrendering only 106.7 yards per game. Three times this season an opponent has been held to less than 87 yards and State has allowed just four rushing touchdowns in six games.
Vandy, meanwhile, is only gaining 3.2 yards per rushing attempt and may have a better matchup against the Bulldogs’ secondary, a unit that allows 8.7 yards per completion and nearly 250 passing yards per game.
3. Wright Here, Wright Now
With starting quarterback Ken Seals rehabbing an injury, Vandy turned to sophomore Mike Wright on Saturday at South Carolina. Wright will get the nod this week as well.
Wright performed admirably in his first career start by throwing for a career-high 206 yards and rushing for another 41. Three of his passes also accounted for the Dores’ three longest plays from scrimmage so far this season.
Now, Wright (6-4, 190) has had another week of practice and preparation under his belt to acclimate himself to being the full-time starter. Saturday will also be his first career opportunity to lead the offense inside Vanderbilt Stadium.
How Wright progresses from Week 1 as the starter to Week 2 as the starter for Vanderbilt could be a deciding factor Saturday.
4. The Time of Possession Battle
It may be a tad surprising to look up the top teams in college football in terms of time of possession and see Mississippi State among the top 10. But despite relying heavily on the pass, the Bulldogs will be in no hurry when they have the ball in their hands.
Mississippi State ranks eighth nationally by holding possession 33 minutes and 27 seconds per game. The tactic of short completions and draining the play clock creates a death-by-papercuts scenario for defenses.
Vanderbilt must find a way to get off the field on third down defensively, but perhaps more importantly must figure out a way to sustain drives on offense. The Commodores have done a good job of doing so through seven games (they rank 40th nationally at 30 minutes, 52 seconds of possession per game) and need to continue that trend Saturday.
5. The Third Phase
If there is an area that Vanderbilt may be able to take advantage of Saturday it’s in special teams.
Mississippi State is giving up nearly 29 yards per kickoff return and nearly 20 yards on punt returns – both rank among the worst in the nation. The Bulldogs have also missed four field goals in 2021 and rank near the bottom of college football in punting.
As Vandy desperately tries to snap that long losing streak in SEC play, making a big play on special teams could turn the tide against the Bulldogs.
(6.) Lea Against the Cowbells
Vanderbilt and Mississippi State have developed quite the rivalry on the baseball diamond. On the gridiron? Well residing in separate divisions has made meetings between the Dores and Dogs less common.
Vandy and State have faced off just six times this century – but one of those matchups was memorable for now Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea.
On Oct. 2, 2004, Lea and the Commodores snapped a three-game losing streak to start the season by beating Mississippi State 31-13 at Vanderbilt Stadium. It was one of just two victories for the Commodores that season and it was also the last time Vanderbilt has defeated Mississippi State.
Vandy scored 21 points in the second quarter to go up 24-7 at halftime of that affair. Bill Alford had two picks in the win while Andrew Pace and Lorenzo Parker grabbed interceptions as well.
Quarterback Jay Cutler threw for 91 yards on 10 completions and rushed for another 49. Even Lea, a fullback, got in on the action with a 1-yard run on his only attempt.
— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.