Commodores (3-0) ranked for second straight season, this time at No. 20
Vanderbilt football has earned a spot in the national rankings for the second year in a row.
Following a dominant 31-7 victory over then-No. 11 South Carolina, the undefeated Commodores (3-0) entered this week’s Associated Press Top 25 at No. 20.
Vanderbilt cracked the Top 25 twice last season, climbing to No. 25 after wins over Ball State (Oct. 19) and Auburn (Nov. 2). Each time, though, the Commodores slipped out of the rankings after back-to-back losses to Texas and South Carolina.
This year’s poll appearance carries extra weight: it’s the earliest in program history that Vandy has been ranked. When the Commodores host Georgia State on Saturday, they’ll take the field as an AP-ranked team in September for the first time since 1956.
Vanderbilt also comes in at No. 23 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, one spot ahead of South Carolina.
Even with the momentum of ending a 16-game skid to South Carolina and earning their first SEC-opening win since 2011, head coach Clark Lea wasn’t eager to declare any bigger message. His attention had already shifted to Georgia State (1-2), which upset Vanderbilt 36-32 a year ago.
“The thing about football is you can’t hold on too tight,” Lea said. “We’ve got Georgia State next, and they’ll present real challenges. This is more about our team, our confidence, and what we believe in. We’re good enough to win every game, but only if we play a certain way. Against South Carolina, we did that.”
Vanderbilt’s résumé so far is tough to ignore. The Commodores opened the season with blowout wins over Charleston Southern (45-3) and Virginia Tech (44-20) before knocking off South Carolina. In second halves this year, they’ve outscored opponents by a combined 68-3, including shutting out the Gamecocks 17-0 after halftime.
A key moment in Columbia came when linebacker Langston Patterson knocked South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers out of the game with a first-half targeting penalty that led to his ejection. Lea noted that Vanderbilt adjusted its defensive approach after Sellers exited and used the growing lead to force more passing situations.
Statistically, the Commodores have been among the nation’s best through three games, ranking top 20 in rushing defense, total defense, and scoring defense. They’ve allowed just 82 rushing yards, 237 total yards, and 10 points per game.
On offense, quarterback Diego Pavia has set the tone with balance and efficiency. He’s completed 50-of-68 passes (73.5%) for 645 yards and seven touchdowns, while adding 129 rushing yards on 30 carries. Lea also praised Pavia’s physicality, pointing to a crucial block on a third-down reverse against South Carolina.
“He threw a big block that made the play,” Lea said. “As much as I don’t love it because of injury risk, I do love it—because that’s who he is. When your leaders play that way, it gives everyone else permission to play that way too.”
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