CFB: Game of the Week, No. 16 Vanderbilt vs. No. 10 Alabama

If someone went back in time to 2023 and told a Vanderbilt fan that their team’s road test against Alabama would be featured on College GameDay, they’d be laughed at.

Now, the Commodores are on a roll in their second year with Diego Pavia at quarterback.

On the flip side, the Alabama Crimson Tide, fresh off a 24-21 win over No. 12 Georgia, are looking to stay grounded.

Will the Commodores shock the world with their first win in Tuscaloosa in 41 years? Or will the Crimson Tide ride the wave ahead of a test in Columbia next week?

For years, Vanderbilt has been the doormat of the SEC, losing 26 straight conference games from 2019 to 2022.

Their 2020 season rang the bell of infamy as they were one of nine winless teams, a list that included Kansas and Bowling Green.

There was some late momentum in 2022, but the chance for hope was squashed after going 2-6 in SEC play.

Head coach Clark Lea has helped the Commodores finally find their footing last year, leading them to their first bowl win since 2013 when James Franklin was at the helm.

Vanderbilt is led by quarterback Diego Pavia, who is already off to a hot start in 2025 with 13 passing touchdowns and only three interceptions.

The former New Mexico State signal-caller broke out in VU’s 40-35 win over Alabama, completing 80% of his passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns.

He’s no stranger to building up programs, as he led NMSU in 2022 and 2023 to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1966 and 1967.

“If we play our game, it won’t be close,” said Pavia, per Chris Low of On3.

Two pass-catchers to watch out for are tight end Eli Stowers and wideout Junior Sherrill.

Stowers leads the team in receptions and receiving yards with 22 and 301, respectively, and he followed Pavia to Nashville from New Mexico State after 2023.

Sherrill will be tested against the Crimson Tide secondary, but he leads VU in receiving touchdowns with five and will look to add to that total.

On the defensive side, edge rusher Miles Capers will look to be a one-man wrecking crew on Saturday.

Capers leads the Commodores in tackles for loss with 7.5 and sacks with 3.5; none of those came during wins over Virginia Tech and South Carolina to start the season.

After falling on the road to No. 18 Florida State 31-17 to start the season, Alabama has gotten back on track.

Fans raised concerns quickly, with many calling for the firing of head coach Kalen DeBoer.

The Crimson Tide have rattled off three straight wins, most notably keeping their streak of dominance over Georgia with a road victory last week.

If they’re looking to keep the competitive standard Nick Saban set for many years in Tuscaloosa, getting through the Commodores is a must.

Ty Simpson picked up his game quickly as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback, having thrown for 1,138 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this year.

Simpson has yet to throw an interception this year, and he has not done so in limited playing time during his collegiate career.

The redshirt junior backed up Jalen Milroe last season, earning the job in fall camp for 2025.

The receiving core has made up for early struggles in the run game with the trio of Germie Bernard, Ryan Williams and Isaiah Horton.

These three have combined for 718 yards through the air and nine touchdowns.

In the secondary, Bray Hubbard looks to be a stopping force with three pass deflections and two interceptions.

Alabama leads the head-to-head series with a 60-20-4 record against Vanderbilt all-time.

In the most recent meeting, the Commodores defeated the Crimson Tide at home by a score of 40-35 on October 5, 2024.

Alabama’s most recent win over Vanderbilt was on September 24, 2022, when the Crimson Tide won 55-3 at home.

Pavia has the Commodores rolling into Tuscaloosa, but the Crimson Tide’s passing game will be too much for Vanderbilt in this one.

Catch the game on ABC at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Saturday.

Bryan Portney is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email bep5295@psu.edu.