For decades, Vanderbilt lived in the shadows of the SEC. Known more for its academics and its powerhouse baseball program than anything happening on the football field. That perception has shifted dramatically over the past two seasons, as the Commodores have played their way onto the national stage.
At 8-2, Vanderbilt is ranked No. 14, its highest position since going 9-4 in back-to-back seasons in 2009 and 2010 under James Franklin. Franklin’s run in Nashville propelled him to Penn State, where he coached for 12 seasons before being dismissed midway through 2025. Historically, Vanderbilt football has struggled, but that trend has reversed under fourth-year head coach Clark Lea.
This season marks the first time since 1958 — when Dwight D. Eisenhower was president —that Vanderbilt has suffered only two losses this deep into a campaign. Since then, the Commodores have endured far more losing seasons than winning ones, including 26 years with two or fewer victories and an 0-9 finish in 2020. Long considered a de facto bye week in the SEC, Vanderbilt is now a legitimate conference threat.
Lea’s success has placed him squarely on the radar of larger programs. He signed an extension in 2023 that runs through 2029 at $3.7 million per year. It's a fraction of what high-end SEC and Big Ten programs pay. Franklin earned $8.5 million annually at Penn State. Florida’s Billy Napier made $7.4 million before his midseason firing. LSU paid Brian Kelly a staggering $10.175 million. Schools with championship ambitions could easily try to lure Lea away, and Vanderbilt must act to prevent that.
The university has begun doing its part. Through the “Vandy United” initiative, which is a central piece of the school’s $3.2 billion “Dare to Grow” campaign, the largest in its history. Vanderbilt has invested heavily in athletics with upgrades to FirstBank Stadium, including a new locker room, premium seating, a renovated concourse and expanded amenities. Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, athletic director Candice Storey Lee and others have signaled a full commitment to building a top-tier program in booming Nashville.
Even more impressive is that Lea is winning without elite recruiting classes. Vanderbilt has never signed a five-star prospect, and its current roster includes 13 four-star players, only five of whom originally committed to the school.
Lea has leaned on the transfer portal and player development to outperform SEC peers. Quarterback Diego Pavia, a 2024 transfer from New Mexico State, has been a revelation, throwing 21 touchdowns to just five interceptions while completing 70% of his passes, putting him in the Heisman Trophy conversation.
The Commodores close the regular season hosting Kentucky and visiting No. 20 Tennessee. Winning both would give Vanderbilt its first 10-win season in school history. A College Football Playoff berth remains a long shot, but not impossible with help from losses by teams such as Notre Dame, Oklahoma or Alabama.
If Vanderbilt wants to stay relevant on the gridiron, it must secure Lea’s future now. Failure to do so risks falling right back into mediocrity.
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