No. 1/1 Georgia (6-0, 3-0 SEC) vs. Vanderbilt (2-5, 0-3 SEC)
Saturday, Oct. 14 • 11 a.m. CT
FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, Tenn. • CBS
• Vanderbilt is back at home Saturday to host top-ranked Georgia at 11 a.m. at FirstBank Stadium. The Commodores have faced the Associated Press No. 1 team nine times in program history. The last time Vandy hosted the No. 1 team was 9.23.17 vs. Alabama. Saturday’s contest will mark the 83rd meeting all-time between Vanderbilt and Georgia dating back to 1893.
• This will be Vandy’s 11th appearance on CBS and first since facing Alabama on the network in 2017. Vandy and Georgia have met twice on CBS, splitting match-ups in 2013 (31-27 Vandy) and 2015 (31-14 UGA). Vandy first appeared on CBS in 1955, defeating No. 8 Auburn, 25-13, in the Gator Bowl. It was Vandy’s first bowl game and the first time any bowl was aired live nationally. The first Vandy appearance on CBS in SEC play was a 1982 win over Ole Miss (19-10 in Nashville).
• Vanderbilt is coming off a 38-14 loss at Florida last Saturday. The Commodores and Gators were even at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter, but the Gators scored the next three touchdowns to lead 28-7. Vandy cut it to 28-14 in the second half but Florida pulled away with 10 more points in the fourth quarter.
• Will Sheppard caught an 85-yard touchdown from Ken Seals against Florida, matching the fourth-longest completion in program history. Sheppard is one of six Commodores all-time to rank in the top 10 for career receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns receptions. He currently sits in ninth for catches (140), is tied for third with 21 receiving touchdowns and is ninth in receiving yards (1,933).
• Quarterback Ken Seals got his second consecutive start of the season (18th career) at Florida, finishing 19-of-34 for 276 yards and two touchdowns. This is the second game this season and sixth time in his career Seals threw for 250+ yards. This is also the first time Seals threw two touchdowns in back-to-back games since 2020 (11.14.20 at Kentucky, 11.21.20 vs. Florida).
• The Dores’ defense has eight interceptions this season, tied with Georgia for most in the SEC and fifth in FBS. Vandy’s 10 turnovers gained is second in the SEC and 26th in FBS. De’Rickey Wright’s team-leading two picks rank fifth in the conference and 33rd in FBS.
• Will Sheppard caught multiple touchdowns in Vanderbilt’s first three games of the season. He is the first Vanderbilt player since at least 1996 to record three consecutive games with two or more touchdown receptions. He is the fifth player in the SEC to record three straight games with multiple touchdown receptions in the same season since 2019, joining Jalin Hyatt (Tennessee), DeVonta Smith (Alabama), Terrace Marshall Jr. (LSU) and Ja’Marr Chase (LSU). Across all of FBS, Sheppard is the ninth player to record three straight games with multiple touchdown receptions in the same season.
