The Vanderbilt Commodores football program represents Vanderbilt University in the sport of American football. The Commodores compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) within the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They are led by head coach Clark Lea. Vanderbilt plays their home games at FirstBank Stadium, located on the university's Nashville, Tennessee campus.
History
Vanderbilt adopted the nickname the Commodores after the 1897 season. 2025 marks the one hundred and thirty-sixth season for Vanderbilt football, the team has played in 1,346 games with a record of 625–671–50 (.483). The Commodores play in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Vanderbilt has an all-time SEC record of 148–461–17 (.250). All conferences Vanderbilt has played in, SoCon, SIAA, and SEC total records are 295–499–32 (.377). The most wins in a single football season was nine, happening four times, the last being 2013. In 2025, the Commodores won 10 games in the regular season. Vanderbilt has had eight undefeated seasons, the last being 1944.
Head coaches
Vanderbilt has had seven coaches who have led the Commodores to a postseason bowl appearance: Art Guepe, Steve Sloan, George MacIntyre, Bobby Johnson, James Franklin, Derek Mason, and Clark Lea. Four have led them to a conference championship: R. G. Acton, W. H. Watkins, James R. Henry, and Dan McGugin. McGugin is the leader in seasons coached and games won, with 198 victories during his 30 years at Vanderbilt. He was awarded two National Championships retroactively by Clyde Berryman.
Of the 29 different head coaches who have led the Commodores, McGugin, Ray Morrison, Red Sanders, and Bill Edwards have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Vanderbilt is led by current head coach Clark Lea, who was hired on December 14, 2020.
Conference affiliations
Vanderbilt has been affiliated with the following conferences. Independent (1890–1891) SIAA (1892–1921) Southern Conference (1922–1932) Southeastern Conference (1932–present)
Championships Conference championships Vanderbilt has won 14 conference championships, with six shared and eight won outright. 1897 SIAA R. G. Acton 6–0–1 3–0–1 1901 W. H. Watkins 6–1–1 6–0–11903†James H. Henry6–1–15–1–1 1904 Dan McGugin 9–0 5–0 1905 7–1 6–0 1906† 8–1 6–0 1907 5–1–1 4–0 1910† 8–0–1 5–0 1911 8–1 6–0 1912 8–1–1 4–0–1 1915 9–1 5–0 1921† 7–0–1 4–0–1 1922† SoCon 8–0–1 3–0 1923† 5–2–1 3–0–1 † Co-champions
Unclaimed national championships Vanderbilt has been awarded 6 national championships for the years 1906, 1910, 1911, 1918, 1921, and 1922. The school does not claim any of these national titles.
1906Dan McGugin8–1–06–0–0Billingsley Report19108–0–15–0–0James Howell19118–1–05–0–0Billingsley Report19184–2–04–0–0David Wilson19217–0–14–0–1Berryman QPRS, James Howell19228–0–13–0–0Berryman QPRS, James Howell
Undefeated seasons Vanderbilt has had 8 undefeated seasons in the years 1890, 1897, 1904, 1910, 1921, 1922, 1943, and 1944.
Bowl games Vanderbilt has been invited to 11 bowl games, with the Commodores garnering a record of 5–5–1 in bowl games.
1955 Art Guepe Gator Bowl Auburn W 25–13 1974 Steve Sloan Peach Bowl Texas Tech T 6–6 1982 George MacIntyre Hall of Fame Classic Air Force L 28–36 2008 Bobby Johnson Music City Bowl Boston College W 16–14 2011 James Franklin Liberty Bowl Cincinnati L 24–31 2012 Music City Bowl NC State W 38–24 2013 BBVA Compass Bowl Houston W 41–24 2016 Derek Mason Independence Bowl NC State L 17–41 2018 Texas Bowl Baylor L 38–45 2024 Clark Lea Birmingham Bowl Georgia Tech W 35–27 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl Iowa L 27–34
Rivalries Georgia
Having started in 1893, the Georgia–Vanderbilt football series was played annually from 1968 to 2023. The two were divisional opponents in the SEC East from 1992 to 2023. The series, which rotates between Nashville, Tennessee, and Athens, Georgia, stands with Georgia leading 61–20–2 through the 2023 season. Under the new SEC format, they are not scheduled to play each other again in the regular season until at least 2026.
Kentucky
Having started in 1896, the Kentucky–Vanderbilt football series has been played annually since 1953. The two were divisional opponents in the SEC East. The series, which rotates between Nashville, Tennessee and Lexington, Kentucky, is led by Kentucky at 48–44–4 with the average score being Vanderbilt 17.2-Kentucky 16.9
Ole Miss
Ole Miss was Vanderbilt's cross-divisional rival in the SEC from 1992 to 2023.
Vanderbilt and Ole Miss have played 98 times since 1894. Ole Miss leads the series 56–40–2. The largest margin of victory was by 91 points won by Vanderbilt in 1915. Vanderbilt also holds the longest win streak in the series (18) from 1894 to 1938. Under the new SEC format, they are not scheduled to play again in the regular season until at least 2026.
Tennessee
Vanderbilt and Tennessee have played 117 times since 1892, Tennessee leads the series 79–33–5. When the rivalry first started Vanderbilt dominated by taking 19 of the first 24 with 3 ties. But from 1928 to 2022 however, Tennessee has dominated going 77–14–2 against Vanderbilt. The largest margin of victory for Vanderbilt was by 76 points in 1918 at Old Dudley Field in Nashville. (Vanderbilt 76, Tennessee 0) The largest defeat was 65 points in 1994 at Vanderbilt Stadium (Tennessee 65, Vanderbilt 0). The longest win streaks for Vanderbilt is (9) from 1901 to 1913. The longest win streak for Tennessee is 22, from 1983 to 2004.
Georgia Tech (dormant)
The Commodores first met the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 1892 in Atlanta, Georgia with Vanderbilt winning 20–10. Since 1924, the winning team in the series has received a silver-plated cowbell with the year and final score of each game engraved on it. The trophy was created by Ed F. Cavaleri, who was described by the Atlanta Constitution as “a faithful Georgia Tech supporter though he did not attend the Jacket institution,” according to Georgia Tech's website. Cavaleri purchased a cowbell at an Atlanta hardware store to use as a noise-maker while on his way to a game in 1924. The Commodores defeated Georgia Tech 3–0, however another fan in attendance suggested that Cavaleri award the bell to the winning team. The tradition was born and Cavaleri attended every game between the two teams from 1924 to 1967. The cowbell has a gold plate screwed into each side, with “GEORGIA TECH-VANDERBILT FOOTBALL TROPHY” inscribed at the top. Three columns list the year of each game, Vanderbilt's points scored and Georgia Tech's points scored. The results of the games from 1924 to 1967 are engraved on one side; the results from 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2016 are on the other. Vanderbilt is 16–20-3 against Georgia Tech in 39 games. The Commodores won the most recent matchup 35–27 in the 2024 Birmingham Bowl.
Sewanee (historical)
Vanderbilt and the Sewanee Tigers were both founding members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), the Southern Conference, and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It is the oldest of Vanderbilt's rivalries; dating back to 1891 when Vanderbilt played its second football game. Vanderbilt leads the series 40–8–4.cf. The largest margin of victory was in 1905 when Vanderbilt won 68–4. Usually played towards the end of the season on Thanksgiving Day, the two teams have not met again since 1944 and are unlikely to anytime soon as Sewanee plays in NCAA Division III.
Uniforms
Traditionally, Vanderbilt has featured differing designs of gold helmets, black jerseys, and gold or black pants at home, and gold helmets, white jerseys and gold, or white pants on the road. Meanwhile, the traditional alternate uniform saw gold helmets and jerseys matched with white pants.
The James Franklin (2011–2013), and Derek Mason (2014–2020) eras saw the introduction of several new combinations- including "blackout” (i.e. all black), and "whiteout" (i.e. all white) uniforms. The team's gold alternate jerseys were also re-designed with the addition of black shoulders and a more muted gold. Eventually, battleship gray was incorporated as well.
The Clark Lea (2021–Present) era has seen a return to traditional gold helmets (note: featuring a modernized “V” logo), black jerseys, and gold pants at home, and gold helmets, white jerseys, and gold (or white) pants on the road. Before the 2024 season, Vanderbilt introduced new all white ("whiteout"), and all black ("blackout") uniforms. Most recently, in advance of the 2026 season, Vanderbilt announced new gold jerseys and pants, opening up the possibility of several different combinations.
Individual awards
College Football Hall of Fame Vanderbilt Commodore football personnel have been inducted into the National Football Foundation's National College Football Hall of Fame.According to the Vanderbilt 2006 Football Media Guide.
Players John J. Tigert HB 1901–1903 Josh Cody T 1914–1916, 1919 Lynn Bomar End 1921–1924 William Spears QB 1925–1927 Carl Hinkle C 1935–1937
Coaches Dan McGugin 1904–1917, 1919–1934 Ray Morrison 1918, 1935–1939 Red Sanders 1940–1942, 1946–1948 Bill Edwards 1949–1952
All-Americans
Eli Stowers 2025 TE Zach Cunningham 2016 LB Jordan Matthews 2013 WR Casey Hayward 2011 CB D.J. Moore 2008 DB Earl Bennett 2006 WR Jamie Winborn 1999 LB Jamie Duncan 1997 LB Bill Marinangel 1996 P Boo Mitchell 1988 WR Chris Gaines 1987 LB Ricky Anderson 1984 P Leonard Coleman 1983 DB Chuck Scott 1983 TE Jim Arnold 1982 P Allama Matthews 1982 TE Preston Brown 1979 Back Barry Burton 1974 TE Bob Asher 1969 T Chip Healy 1968 LB George Diedrich 1958 G Charley Horton 1955 RB Bill Wade 1951 QB Bob Werckle 1951 T Bucky Curtis 1950 End Bob Gude 1941 CCarl Hinkle 1937 C Pete Gracey 1932 C Bull Brown 1929 G Dick Abernathy 1928 End Bill Spears 1926, 1927 QB Gil Reese 1923, 1924 Back Henry Wakefield 1923, 1924 End Oliver Kuhn 1922 QB Lynn Bomar 1922, 1923 EndJosh Cody 1914, 1915, 1919 T Irby Curry 1916 QB Lewie Hardage 1912 Back Ray Morrison 1911 QB W. E. Metzger 1910 G Bob Blake 1907 E Owsley Manier 1906 Back
Consensus All-American Vanderbilt has had eight consensus All-Americans in its history. In 2016, Zach Cunningham became the first unanimous All-American in Vanderbilt's history. Lynn Bomar 1923 E Hek Wakefield 1924 E Pete Gracey 1932 C George Deiderich 1958 G Jim Arnold 1982 P Ricky Anderson 1984 P Zach Cunningham 2016 LB Eli Stowers 2025 TE
Other national player awards John Mackey Award Presented to the top tight end.
Eli Stowers 2025
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Presented to the top upperclass quarterback (junior or senior).
Diego Pavia 2025
William V. Campbell Trophy Presented to the college football player with the best combination of overall leadership, academics, and performance on the field.
Eli Stowers 2025
National coaching awards Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award Presented to the top FBS head coach, as determined by the Football Writers Association of America.
Clark Lea 2025
All-Southerns
Conference recognition Vanderbilt Commodores personnel, including coaches and players, have received recognition from the Southeastern Conference for their performances on the football field.
Most Valuable Player Five Vanderbilt players have been awarded Most Valuable Player, with three of them being awarded over a six-year span to Commodores. Willie Geny 1935 Carl Hinkle 1937 Jack Jenkins 1941 Bill Wade 1951 Bob Goodridge 1967
Offensive Player of the Year Two Vanderbilt players have won Offensive Player of the Year honors. Jay Cutler 2005 Diego Pavia 2025
Freshman of the Year Two players have won Freshman of the Year while at Vanderbilt. Kwane Doster 2002 Warren Norman 2009
Newcomer of the Year The SEC introduced its Newcomer of the Year award in 2024 to honor the conference's most outstanding non-freshman in his first year at an SEC school. A Vanderbilt player was this award's inaugural recipient. Diego Pavia 2024
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