VUFB Game Week – Auburn

Commodores' first road test comes at Auburn

A football player in a black jersey with the number 11 walks on the field alongside teammates in white uniforms during a game, with spectators in the stands behind them.A football player in a black jersey with the number 11 walks on the field alongside teammates in white uniforms during a game, with spectators in the stands behind them.
Avery Watson

Game 4: Vanderbilt (3-0, 0-0 SEC) at Auburn (2-1, 0-1 SEC)
When: Saturday, Sept. 26 • 3:15 p.m.
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, Ala.
Watch: SEC Network (Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Michella Chester)
Listen: 94.9 The Fan (Andrew Allegretta, Norman Jordan and Kevin Ingram)

GAME PREVIEW
• Vanderbilt starts conference play this Saturday on the road at Auburn.
• The Commodores lead the all-time series over the Tigers, 23-22-1. The Dores have won two straight and four of the last six, beating the Tigers 45-38 in overtime last season at home and winning 17-7 in2024 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
• Vanderbilt is 3-0 for the second-straight season, marking the first time since the 1946 and 1947 campaigns.

LAST TIME OUT
• Vanderbilt rallied from 17 points down to defeat NC State 35-31 with a last-second fumble recovery in the end zone last Saturday at FirstBank Stadium.
• The Commodores trailed the entire game until the final second when Miles Capers forced a fumble as the NC State quarterback sought to run out the clock and take a safety. Cayden Daniels recovered the loose ball for the win.
• It was Vanderbilt’s largest comeback win since erasing a 17-point deficit at Ole Miss on Nov. 10, 2012.
• Vanderbilt has now won four straight against ACC opponents following the NC State victory, beating Virginia Tech in each of the last two seasons and also taking down Georgia Tech in the 2024 Birmingham Bowl.
• With the victory, Vanderbilt has won 10 home games in a row for the first time since winning 12-straight games at then Dudley Field between 1928-30.
• The Commodores have won 11-straight games against nonconference teams at FirstBank Stadium, marking the program’s longest winning streak at home in such games since winning 10 straight from 2015-19.
• With a sellout crowd of 35,000 on Saturday, Vandy has sold out seven consecutive home games dating back to last season.

HAVOC IN THE BACKFIELD
• Vanderbilt ranks fourth in FBS and third in the SEC in sacks with 12.
• The 91 yards lost on sacks are most among FBS teams.
• Nick Rinaldi’s 3.5 sacks is tied for seventh in FBS and second in the SEC.
Miles Capers’ five TFLs ranks 13th in FBS and fourth among SEC players.

MARRIED TO THE GAME
Sedrick Alexander registered his 29th touchdown in the win over NC State. He ranks third in program history, one shy of moving into a tie for second.
• He recorded his 23rd career rushing score in Week 2 against Delaware, putting him one away from tying Marcus Wilson for third on Vanderbilt’s all-time rushing touchdown list.
• The Texan carried the ball into the end zone 11 times in 2025, sixth-most in a season by a Commodore.
• Alexander added four receiving touchdowns last fall for 90 total points, fourth-most in a season at Vandy.
• The senior has totaled 1,676 yards on the ground for his career while adding 605 through the air.
• His 1,469 snaps entering the season were the most of any returning running back at the NCAA FBS level.

SHERRILL STRIKES
Junior Sherrill is Vanderbilt’s top returning receiver after finishing the 2025 season with career-high totals of 54 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns.
• With two touchdown catches in the win over NC State, he moved into Vandy’s top 10 for career touchdown receptions.
• Sherrill’s first catch in the opener against Austin Peay put him over 1,500 career receiving yards.
• Sherrill was tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns and ranked second in receptions and receiving yards in 2025.
• The wideout totaled a career-best 123 receiving yards on eight catches against Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
• The Nashvillian has made at least one catch in 40 straight games.
• Sherrill needs 110 receiving yards to move into the top 10 on Vandy’s all-time list.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Jared Curtis was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Sept. 21 after his first
career start in a 35-31 win over NC State. It marks the 10th Freshman of the Week award for the Commodores.
• Curtis recorded 341 yards of total offense and threw for three touchdowns in the win. The rookie completed 20-of-34 passes for a career-high 277 yards and registered a team-high 64 rushing yards on 12 carries.
• Curtis threw for 205 yards in the second half, including going 8-of-13 for 163 yards and two scores in the last 15 minutes to help Vandy overcome a 10-point deficit in the final quarter. The signal caller helped the Commodores to their biggest comeback win since Nov. 12, 2012.