The 2018 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Commodores played their home games at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by fifth-year head coach Derek Mason. Vanderbilt finished the season 6–7, 3–5 in SEC play to finish in 6th place in the East Division. They were invited to play in the Texas Bowl where they were defeated by Baylor. This would be the last season the Commodores were bowl eligible until the 2024 season.

Recruiting

Recruits The Commodores signed a total of 19 recruits.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Chuck Bednarik AwardCharles WrightLBSRMaxwell AwardKyle ShurmurQBSRJohn Mackey AwardJared PinkneyTEJRWalter Camp AwardKyle ShurmurQBSRJohnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardKyle Shurmur QBSRManning AwardKyle ShurmurQBSR

SEC media poll The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018, with the Commodores predicted to finish last in the East Division.

Schedule

Schedule source:

Game summaries

Middle Tennessee

Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee

Statistics MTSU VAN First downs 21 19 Total yards 294346 Rushes–yards 116 176 Passing yards 178 170 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–37–110–17–0 Time of possession 31:0929:51 Team Category Player StatisticsMTSU Passing B. Stockstill 24–36, 178 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing T. Thomas 8 carries, 32 yards Receiving T. Thomas 4 receptions, 42 yardsVAN Passing K. Shurmur 10–17, 170 yards, 2 TD Rushing J. Wakefield 10 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD Receiving K. Lipscomb 4 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD

Nevada

Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee

Statistics NEV VAN First downs 1425 Total yards 250 468 Rushes–yards 34 198 Passing yards 216 270 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–39–1–2 24–34–2–0 Time of possession 23:58 36:02 Team Category Player StatisticsNEV Passing T. Gangi 22–39, 216 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing T. Taua 6 carries, 24 yards Receiving M. Mannix 6 receptions, 86 yardsVAN Passing K. Shurmur23–32, 258 yards, 2 TD Rushing K. Vaughn 11 carries, 93 yards, 2 TD Receiving J. Pinkney 4 receptions, 98 yards

At Notre Dame

Location: Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, Indiana

Statistics ND VAN First downs 2423 Total yards 380420 Rushes–yards 24594 Passing yards 135326 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–26–026–43–1 Time of possession 29:1230:48 Team Category Player StatisticsND Passing B. Wimbush 13–23, 122 yards Rushing T. Jones Jr. 17 carries, 118 yards Receiving T. Jones Jr. 2 receptions, 56 yardsVAN Passing K. Shurmur 26–43, 326 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing K. Vaughn 10 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD Receiving J. Pinkney 5 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD

South Carolina

Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee

Statistics SC VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsSC Passing J. Bentley 19–28, 261 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing R. Dowdle 20 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD Receiving S. Smith 5 receptions, 119 yards, 1 TDVAN Passing K. Shurmur 18–38, 180 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing J. Wakefield 14 carries, 72 yards Receiving K. Lipscomb 9 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD

Tennessee State

Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee

Statistics TSU VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTSU Passing D. Croft 22–31, 269 yards, 3 TD Rushing D. Croft 9 carries, 41 yards Receiving T. Harris 8 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TDVAN Passing K. Shurmur 22–29, 297 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing K. Vaughn 17 carries, 146 yards, 1 TD Receiving K. Lipscomb 9 receptions, 174 yards, 2 TD

At Georgia

Location: Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia

Statistics UGA VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsUGA Passing J. Fromm 17–23, 276 yards, 3 TD Rushing E. Holyfield 6 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD Receiving T. Godwin 2 receptions, 95 yards, 1 TDVAN Passing K. Shurmur 14–28, 169 yards Rushing K. Vaughn 9 carries, 79 yards Receiving C. J. Bolar 4 receptions, 46 yards

Florida

Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee

Statistics UF VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsUF Passing F. Franks 19–29, 284 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing L. Perine 23 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD Receiving L. Perine 4 receptions, 93 yardsVAN Passing K. Shurmur 18–36, 229 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing K. Vaughn 7 carries, 56 yards Receiving K. Vaughn 1 reception, 75 yards, 1 TD

At Kentucky

Location: Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

Statistics UK VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsUK Passing T. Wilson Jr. 3–9, 18 yards, 1 TD Rushing B. Snell 32 carries, 169 yards, 1 TD Receiving L. Bowden 3 receptions, 18 yards, 1 TDVAN Passing K. Shurmur 15–23, 216 yards, 1 TD Rushing J. Wakefield 19 carries, 74 yards Receiving C. J. Bolar 2 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD

At Arkansas

Location: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, Arkansas

Statistics ARK VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsARK Passing T. Storey 23–36, 240 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing R. Boyd 19 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD Receiving C. O'Grady 6 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TDVAN Passing K. Shurmur 13–19, 192 yards, 2 TD Rushing K. Vaughn 26 carries, 172 yards, 3 TD Receiving J. Pinkney 5 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TD

At Missouri

Location: Faurot Field • Columbia, Missouri

Statistics MIZ VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMIZ Passing D. Lock 22–33, 253 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing D. Crockett 22 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD Receiving D. Gicinto 4 receptions, 81 yardsVAN Passing K. Shurmur 24–35, 249 yards, 3 TD Rushing K. Vaughn 15 carries, 182 yards, 1 TD Receiving K. Lipscomb 8 receptions, 99 yards, 1 TD

Ole Miss

Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee

Statistics MISS VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMISS Passing J. Ta'amu 32–52, 457 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing I. Woullard 16 carries, 107 yards Receiving A. Brown 9 receptions, 212 yardsVAN Passing K. Shurmur 22–34, 191 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing K. Vaughn 25 carries, 127 yards Receiving J. Pinkney 6 receptions, 85 yards

Tennessee

Location: Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee Team Category Player StatisticsTENN Passing J. Guarantano 13–29, 139 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing T. Chandler 7 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD Receiving J. Jennings 2 receptions, 51 yardsVAN Passing K. Shurmur 31–35, 367 yards, 3 TD Rushing K. Blasingame 20 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD Receiving C. J. Bolar 6 receptions, 93 yards

Baylor–Texas Bowl

Location: NRG Stadium • Houston, TX

Statistics BAY VAN First downs Total yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsBAY Passing C. Brewer 21–34, 384 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing C. Brewer 16 carries, 109 yards Receiving T. Ebner 3 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TDVAN Passing K. Shurmur 18–37, 286 yards, 1 TD Rushing K. Vaughn 13 carries, 243 yards, 2 TD Receiving K. Blasingame 3 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD

Players drafted into the NFL

2 45 Joejuan Williams CB New England Patriots 6 183 Justin Skule OT San Francisco 49ers

References