The 2025 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Commodores were led by Clark Lea in his fifth year as their head coach. The Commodores played their home games at FirstBank Stadium located in Nashville, Tennessee.
After defeating No. 11 South Carolina 31–7, Vanderbilt started 3–0 for the first time since 2017 and beat South Carolina for the first time since 2008, snapping a 16-game losing streak to the Gamecocks. This marked the first season since 1930 that Vanderbilt won each of their first three games by over 20 points. Vanderbilt's 70–21 victory over Georgia State marked the most points scored in a game by Vanderbilt since 1918. A 55–35 win over Utah State marked Vanderbilt's first 5–0 start since 2008.
Vanderbilt appeared on College GameDay against No. 10 Alabama, Vanderbilt's first GameDay appearance since 2008 and second all-time. The lone prior GameDay appearance was a 14–13 upset win over Auburn. Despite this, the Crimson Tide avenged their stunning loss against the Commodores the year prior, winning the game 30–14. Vanderbilt later appeared on GameDay again against No. 15 Missouri, making 2025 Vanderbilt's first ever season with multiple GameDay appearances. Vanderbilt would go on to defeat Missouri 17–10.
After defeating No. 10 LSU, Vanderbilt was ranked No. 10, making it the first time they have been ranked in the top ten on an AP poll since their No. 10 ranking during the 1947 season. This win also marked Vanderbilt's best start since 1950 at 6–1 and the Commodores became bowl eligible for a second consecutive season.
In the final week of the regular, Vanderbilt defeated No. 19 Tennessee 45–24, finished the regular season 10–2. This marked Vanderbilt's first win over Tennessee since 2018 and the first 10-win season in program history. A few days later, on December 2, Vanderbilt managed to flip the commitment of five-star quarterback Jared Curtis from Georgia, making him the highest-ranked signing in program history.
The Vanderbilt Commodores drew an average home attendance of 34,813, the 64th-highest of all college football teams.
Preseason Following a victory in the 2024 Birmingham Bowl that capped off a relatively successful 7–6 season, quarterback Diego Pavia announced his intention to return to Vanderbilt for the 2025 season on December 29, 2024.
SEC prediction poll The SEC released its preseason prediction poll on July 18, 2025. The Commodores were predicted to finish 13th in the conference and also received two first-place votes.
Schedule
Game summaries vs Charleston Southern
Statistics CHSOVAN First downs 7 25 Plays–yards 46–135 59–481 Rushes–yards 27–47 31–201 Passing yards 88 280 Passing: comp–att–int 10–19–1 21–28–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 27:51 32:09 Team Category Player Statistics Charleston Southern Passing Zolten Osborne 8/16, 54 yards, INT Rushing Isaiah Gordon 8 rushes, 28 yards Receiving Jamil Bishop 2 receptions, 36 yards Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia 20/25, 275 yards, 3 TD Rushing Sedrick Alexander 12 rushes, 83 yards Receiving Eli Stowers 4 receptions, 86 yards
at Virginia Tech
Statistics VANVT First downs 23 16 Plays–yards 57–490 60–248 Rushes–yards 37–262 31–114 Passing yards 228 134 Passing: comp–att–int 14–20–1 17–29–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:12 27:48 Team Category Player Statistics Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia 12/18, 193 Yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Makhilyn Young 8 Carries, 95 Yards, TD Receiving Eli Stowers 4 Receptions, 29 Yards, TD Virginia Tech Passing Kyron Drones 17/29, 134 Yards, TD Rushing Kyron Drones 13 Carries, 36 Yards, TD Receiving Cameron Seldon 3 Receptions, 10 Yards
at No. 11 South Carolina
Statistics VANSC First downs 22 20 Plays–yards 63–323 63–328 Rushes–yards 37–146 29–86 Passing yards 177 242 Passing: comp–att–int 18–26–1 24–34–2 Turnovers 1 4 Time of possession 35:43 24:17 Team Category Player Statistics Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia 18–27, 177 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jamezell Lassiter 1 carry, 44 yards, TD Receiving Eli Stowers 3 receptions, 45 yards South Carolina Passing Luke Doty 18–27, 148 yards, INT Rushing Rahsul Faison 15 carries, 74 yards, TD Receiving Nyck Harbor 4 receptions, 66 yards
vs Georgia State
Statistics GASTVAN First downs 18 30 Plays–yards 68–290 61–635 Rushes–yards 20–32 37–286 Passing yards 258 349 Passing: comp–att–int 31-48-0 23-24-0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:11 29:49 Team Category Player Statistics Georgia State Passing TJ Finley22-35, 176 yards, 2 TD RushingRashad Amos5 carries, 25 yards Receiving Ted Hurst7 receptions, 71 yards Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia18-24, 245 yards, TD Rushing Diego Pavia 9 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Eli Stowers 5 receptions, 73 yards
vs Utah State
Statistics USUVAN First downs 21 31 Plays–yards 63–393 65–543 Rushes–yards 25–119 30–222 Passing yards 274 321 Passing: comp–att–int 28-38-0 26-35-1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 26:43 33:17 Team Category Player Statistics Utah State Passing Bryson Barnes15-22, 161 yards, 3 TD RushingJaven Jacobs4 carries, 63 yards Receiving Broc Lane7 receptions, 98 yards Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia26-34, 321 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Diego Pavia 9 carries, 79 yards, TD Receiving Junior Sherrill 6 receptions, 91 yards, 3 TD
at No. 10 Alabama
Statistics VANALA First downs 16 25 Plays–yards 54–333 69–486 Rushes–yards 19–135 38–146 Passing yards 198 340 Passing: comp–att–int 21–35–1 23–31–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 22:37 37:23 Team Category Player Statistics Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia 21/35, 198 yards, TD, INT Rushing Sedrick Alexander 4 carries, 76 yards, TD Receiving Junior Sherrill 6 receptions, 49 yards Alabama Passing Ty Simpson 23/31, 340 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jam Miller 22 carries, 136 yards, TD Receiving Ryan Coleman-Williams 6 receptions, 98 yards, TD
vs No. 10 LSU
Statistics LSUVAN First downs 14 20 Plays–yards 49–325 67–399 Rushes–yards 21–100 45–239 Passing yards 225 160 Passing: comp–att–int 19–28–0 14–22–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 23:29 36:31 Team Category Player Statistics LSU Passing Garrett Nussmeier 19/28, 225 yards, 2 TD Rushing Caden Durham 7 carries, 59 yards Receiving Zavion Thomas 4 receptions, 75 yards, TD Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia 14/22, 160 yards, TD Rushing Diego Pavia 17 carries, 86 yards, 2 TD Receiving Cole Spence 5 receptions, 56 yards, TD
vs No. 15 Missouri
Statistics MIZVAN First downs 22 13 Plays–yards 78–376 45–265 Rushes–yards 41–170 26–136 Passing yards 206 129 Passing: comp–att–int 23–37–0 10–19–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 36:12 23:48 Team Category Player Statistics Missouri Passing Matt Zollers 14/23, 138 yards, TD Rushing Ahmad Hardy 20 carries, 97 yards Receiving Kevin Coleman Jr. 7 receptions, 109 yards Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia 10/19, 129 yards, INT Rushing Makhilyn Young 4 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Tre Richardson 4 receptions, 62 yards
at No. 20 Texas
Statistics VANTEX First downs 25 23 Plays–yards 62–423 60–428 Rushes–yards 24–58 27–100 Passing yards 365 328 Passing: comp–att–int 27–38–0 25–33–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 30:59 29:01 Team Category Player Statistics Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia 27–38, 365 yards, 3 TD Rushing Diego Pavia 14 carries, 43 yards, TD Receiving Eli Stowers 7 receptions, 146 yards, 2 TD Texas Passing Arch Manning 25–33, 328 yards, 3 TD Rushing Quintrevion Wisner 18 carries, 75 yards, TD Receiving Ryan Wingo 2 receptions, 89 yards, TD
vs Auburn
Statistics AUBVAN First downs 34 30 Plays–yards 82-563 69-544 Rushes–yards 36-210 36-167 Passing yards 353 377 Passing: comp–att–int 31-46-0 25-33-0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 29:00 31:00 Team Category Player Statistics Auburn Passing Ashton Daniels 31-44, 353 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jeremiah Cobb 16 carries, 115 yards Receiving Cam Coleman 10 receptions, 143 yards, TD Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia 25-33, 377 yards, 3 TD Rushing Diego Pavia 18 carries, 112 yards, TD Receiving Tre Richardson 3 receptions, 124 yards, TD
vs Kentucky (rivalry)
Statistics UKVAN First downs 18 29 Plays–yards 80–315 69–604 Rushes–yards 19–31 25–65 Passing yards 284 539 Passing: comp–att–int 29–49–3 37–44–1 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 23:47 36:13 Team Category Player Statistics Kentucky Passing Cutter Boley 26–44, 280 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Seth McGowan 10 carries, 27 yards Receiving Willie Rodriguez 6 receptions, 78 yards Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia 33–39, 484 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Diego Pavia 15 carries, 48 yards, TD Receiving Tre Richardson 6 receptions, 159 yards, 3 TD
at No. 19 Tennessee (rivalry)
Statistics VANTENN First downs 27 21 Plays–yards 65–579 75–382 Rushes–yards 37–314 31–83 Passing yards 265 299 Passing: comp–att–int 18-28-2 29-44-0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 34:59 25:01 Team Category Player Statistics Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia18-28, 268 yards, TD, 2 INT RushingDiego Pavia20 carries, 165 yards, TD Receiving Junior Sherrill3 receptions, 76 yards Tennessee Passing Joey Aguilar29-44, 299 yards, TD Rushing DeSean Bishop 20 carries, 97 yards, 2 TD Receiving Chris Brazzell II 6 receptions, 91 yards, TD
vs No. 23 Iowa (ReliaQuest Bowl)
Statistics IOWAVAN First downs 19 21 Plays–yards 59–379 60–398 Rushes–yards 37–167 22–51 Passing yards 212 347 Passing: –– 16–22–1 25–38–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 32:13 27:37 Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 16/22, 212 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kamari Moulton 14 carries, 95 yards, TD Receiving DJ Vonnahme 7 receptions, 146 yards, TD Vanderbilt Passing Diego Pavia 25/38, 347 yards, 2 TD Rushing Diego Pavia 15 carries, 36 yards, TD Receiving Tre Richardson 6 receptions, 127 yards, TD
Roster
Rankings
References