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Vanderbilt Commodores football
2026 Vanderbilt Commodores football team
First season1890; 136 years ago
Athletic directorCandice Storey Lee
General managerBarton Simmons
Head coachClark Lea
5th season, 26–37 (.413)
LocationNashville, Tennessee
StadiumFirstBank Stadium
(capacity: 40,550)
FieldDudley Field
NCAA divisionDivision I FBS
ConferenceSEC
ColorsBlack and gold[1]
   
All-time record635–677–50 (.485)
Bowl record5–4–1 (.550)
National championships
Unclaimed1906, 1910, 1911, 1918, 1921, 1922
Conference championships
SIAA: 1897, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1915, 1921
SoCon: 1922, 1923
Consensus All-Americans7[2]
RivalriesGeorgia (rivalry)
Kentucky (rivalry)
Ole Miss (rivalry)
Tennessee (rivalry)
Georgia Tech (dormant)
Sewanee (historical)
Uniforms
Fight songDynamite!
MascotMr. C
Marching bandSpirit of Gold Marching Band
OutfitterNike
Websitevucommodores.com

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

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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

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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,[3] Ray Morrison,[4] Red Sanders,[5] and Bill Edwards[6] 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

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Vanderbilt has been affiliated with the following conferences.

Championships

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Conference championships

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Vanderbilt has won 14 conference championships, with six shared and eight won outright.

Season Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1897SIAAR. G. Acton6–0–13–0–1
1901W. H. Watkins6–1–16–0–1
1903† James H. Henry 6–1–1 5–1–1
1904Dan McGugin9–05–0
19057–16–0
1906†8–16–0
19075–1–14–0
1910†8–0–15–0
19118–16–0
19128–1–14–0–1
19159–15–0
1921†7–0–14–0–1
1922†SoCon8–0–13–0
1923†5–2–13–0–1

† Co-champions

Unclaimed national championships

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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.

Season Coach Overall record Conference record National Championship Selector
1906 Dan McGugin 8–1–0 6–0–0 Billingsley Report[10][11]
1910 8–0–1 5–0–0 James Howell[12]
1911 8–1–0 5–0–0 Billingsley Report[13][14]
1918 4–2–0 4–0–0 David Wilson[15][16]
1921 7–0–1 4–0–1 Berryman QPRS,[17] James Howell[18]
1922 8–0–1 3–0–0 Berryman QPRS,[19] James Howell[20]

Undefeated seasons

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Vanderbilt has had 8 undefeated seasons in the years 1890, 1897, 1904, 1910, 1921, 1922, 1943, and 1944.

Bowl games

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Vanderbilt has been invited to 11 bowl games, with the Commodores garnering a record of 5–5–1 in bowl games.

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1955Art GuepeGator BowlAuburnW 25–13
1974Steve SloanPeach BowlTexas TechT 6–6
1982George MacIntyreHall of Fame ClassicAir ForceL 28–36
2008Bobby JohnsonMusic City BowlBoston CollegeW 16–14
2011James FranklinLiberty BowlCincinnatiL 24–31
2012Music City BowlNC StateW 38–24
2013BBVA Compass BowlHoustonW 41–24
2016Derek MasonIndependence BowlNC StateL 17–41
2018Texas BowlBaylorL 38–45
2024Clark LeaBirmingham BowlGeorgia TechW 35–27
2025ReliaQuest BowlIowaL 27–34

Rivalries

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Georgia

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Georgia Vanderbilt 2011

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.[21] Under the new SEC format, they are not scheduled to play each other again in the regular season until at least 2026.[22]

Kentucky

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Having started in 1896, the Kentucky–Vanderbilt football series has been played annually since 1953.[23] 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[24]

Ole Miss

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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.[25] Ole Miss leads the series 56–40–2.[25] 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.[22]

Tennessee

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Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt 2007

Vanderbilt and Tennessee have played 117 times since 1892, Tennessee leads the series 79–33–5.[26] 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.[27]

Georgia Tech (dormant)

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The Commodores first met the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 1892 in Atlanta, Georgia with Vanderbilt winning 20–10.[28] 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.[29] 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.[30] 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)

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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;[31] dating back to 1891 when Vanderbilt played its second football game. Vanderbilt leads the series 40–8–4.[32] 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

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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.[33]

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.[34] Eventually, battleship gray was incorporated as well.[35]

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.[36] More recently, Vanderbilt introduced new all white ("whiteout"),[37] and all black ("blackout") uniforms[38] for the 2024 season opening up the possibility of several different combinations.

Individual awards

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College Football Hall of Fame

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Vanderbilt Commodore football personnel have been inducted into the National Football Foundation's National College Football Hall of Fame.[39]

Players

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Name Position Career
John J. TigertHB1901–1903
Josh CodyT1914–1916, 1919
Lynn BomarEnd1921–1924
William SpearsQB1925–1927
Carl HinkleC1935–1937

Coaches

[edit]
Name Career
Dan McGugin1904–1917, 1919–1934
Ray Morrison1918, 1935–1939
Red Sanders1940–1942, 1946–1948
Bill Edwards1949–1952

All-Americans

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Player Year Position
Eli Stowers2025TE
Zach Cunningham2016LB
Jordan Matthews2013WR
Casey Hayward2011CB
D.J. Moore2008DB
Earl Bennett2006WR
Jamie Winborn1999LB
Jamie Duncan1997LB
Bill Marinangel1996P
Boo Mitchell1988WR
Chris Gaines1987LB
Ricky Anderson1984P
Leonard Coleman1983DB
Chuck Scott1983TE
Jim Arnold1982P
Allama Matthews1982TE
Preston Brown1979Back
Barry Burton1974TE
Bob Asher1969T
Chip Healy1968LB
George Diedrich1958G
Charley Horton1955RB
Bill Wade1951QB
Bob Werckle1951T
Bucky Curtis1950End
Bob Gude1941C
Carl Hinkle1937C
Pete Gracey1932C
Bull Brown1929G
Dick Abernathy1928End
Bill Spears1926, 1927QB
Gil Reese1923, 1924Back
Henry Wakefield1923, 1924End
Oliver Kuhn1922QB
Lynn Bomar1922, 1923End
Josh Cody1914, 1915, 1919T
Irby Curry1916QB
Lewie Hardage1912Back
Ray Morrison1911QB
W. E. Metzger1910G
Bob Blake1907E
Owsley Manier1906Back

Consensus All-American

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Vanderbilt has had eight consensus All-Americans in its history. In 2016, Zach Cunningham became the first unanimous All-American in Vanderbilt's history.[40]

Player Year Position
Lynn Bomar1923E
Hek Wakefield1924E
Pete Gracey1932C
George Deiderich1958G
Jim Arnold1982P
Ricky Anderson1984P
Zach Cunningham2016LB
Eli Stowers2025TE

Other national player awards

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John Mackey Award

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Presented to the top tight end.

Player Year
Eli Stowers2025

Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

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Presented to the top upperclass quarterback (junior or senior).

Player Year
Diego Pavia2025

William V. Campbell Trophy

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Presented to the college football player with the best combination of overall leadership, academics, and performance on the field.

Player Year
Eli Stowers2025

National coaching awards

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Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award

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Presented to the top FBS head coach, as determined by the Football Writers Association of America.

Coach Year
Clark Lea2025

All-Southerns

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Conference recognition

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Vanderbilt Commodores personnel, including coaches and players, have received recognition from the Southeastern Conference for their performances on the football field.[39]

Most Valuable Player

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Five Vanderbilt players have been awarded Most Valuable Player, with three of them being awarded over a six-year span to Commodores.

Name Year
Willie Geny1935
Carl Hinkle1937
Jack Jenkins1941
Bill Wade1951
Bob Goodridge1967

Offensive Player of the Year

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Two Vanderbilt players have won Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Name Year
Jay Cutler2005
Diego Pavia2025

Freshman of the Year

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Two players have won Freshman of the Year while at Vanderbilt.

Name Year
Kwane Doster2002
Warren Norman2009

Newcomer of the Year

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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.

Name Year
Diego Pavia2024

Best Blocker

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One Commodore has won Best Blocker, doing so twice.

Name Year
Jack Jenkins1941, 1942

Best Wide Receiver

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Name Year
Earl Bennett2005–2007

Coach of the Year

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Six Vanderbilt coaches have won Coach of the Year honors over the past century, with one having received the award in back-to-back seasons.

Name Year
Ray Morrison1937
Red Sanders1941
Art Guepe1955
George MacIntyre1982
Bobby Johnson2008
Clark Lea2024
Clark Lea2025

Future opponents

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Conference opponents

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From 1992 to 2023, Vanderbilt played in the East Division of the SEC and played each opponent in the division each year along with several teams from the West Division. The SEC expanded to 16 teams and eliminated its two divisions in 2024, causing a new scheduling format for the Commodores to play against the other members of the conference.[41] Only the 2024 conference schedule was announced on June 14, 2023, while the conference considered a new format for the future.[42] The 2025 conference schedule was announced on March 20, 2024, in which teams would play the same opponents in 2025 that they played in 2024, with sites changed for equal home and away competition over the course of the two seasons.[43]

The conference schedule has been expanded to 9 games effective in 2026. Each team has three designated annual opponents, with the other 12 conference members alternating on and off the schedule, in groups of six, every two years. Also, each SEC member is required to schedule at least one power conference opponent out of conference each season.[44]

2026 Conference Schedule

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Opponent
Alabama
Arkansas
at Auburn
at Florida
at Georgia
at Kentucky
at Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Tennessee

Non-conference opponents

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Announced schedules as of July 13, 2026[45]

No games are scheduled for the 2030 season.
2026 2027 2028 2029 2031 2032 2033
Austin Peay Eastern Kentucky Tennessee State Purdue West Georgia at Stanford Stanford
Delaware at Stanford at NC State at Virginia
NC State Virginia

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Athletics". Vanderbilt University Brand Style Guide. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  2. ↑ "2011 NCAA Football Award winners" (PDF). NCAA.
  3. ↑ "Dan McGugin". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Ray Morrison". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Red Sanders". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Bill Edwards". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association", Wikipedia, August 13, 2024, retrieved January 23, 2025
  8. ↑ "Southern Conference", Wikipedia, January 15, 2025, retrieved January 23, 2025
  9. ↑ "Southeastern Conference", Wikipedia, January 16, 2025, retrieved January 23, 2025
  10. ↑ "Richard Billingsley Report College Football National Champion". syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/212378-the-history-of-vanderbilt-football-part-1-1890-1934.amp.html.
  11. ↑ "Richard Billingsley Report College Football National Champion". nationalchamps.net/NCAA/database/vanderbilt_database.htm.
  12. ↑ "James Howell 1910 College Football National Champion". www.jhowell.net/cf/cf1910.htm.
  13. ↑ "Richard Billingsley Report College Football National Champion". www.liveabout.com/college-football-national-champions-791518.
  14. ↑ "Richard Billingsley Report College Football National Champion". Archived from the original on October 24, 2001. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  15. ↑ "David Wilson 1918 College Football National Champion". wilson.engr.wisc.edu/perform/1918/byrating.txt. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Vanderbilt All National Championships". August 8, 2009. Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Clyde P. Berryman QPRS College Football National Champion" (PDF). wilson.engr.wisc.edu/rsfc/oth_sites/rate/. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 15, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  18. ↑ "James Howell 1921 College Football National Champion". www.jhowell.net/cf/cf1921.htm.
  19. ↑ "Clyde P. Berryman QPRS College Football National Champion". cfbalmanac.com/fbs-teams-vanderbilt-row121-football-history-records-and-database/. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  20. ↑ "James Howell 1922 College Football National Champion". www.jhowell.net/cf/cf1922.htm.
  21. ↑ "Winsipedia - Georgia Bulldogs vs. Vanderbilt Commodores football series history".
  22. 1 2 "SEC announces 2025 football season scheduling format".
  23. ↑ "mcubed.net : NCAAF Football : Series records : Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt". mcubed.net. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Kentucky Vanderbilt series". Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  25. 1 2 "mcubed.net : NCAAF Football : Series records : Mississippi vs. Vanderbilt". mcubed.net.
  26. ↑ "mcubed.net : NCAAF Football : Series records : Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt". mcubed.net.
  27. ↑ "School Photos: Vanderbilt Sports" (PDF). grfx.cstv.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Winsipedia - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Vanderbilt Commodores football series history". Winsipedia.
  29. ↑ "College Football News, Videos, Scores, Teams, Standings, Stats". FOX Sports.
  30. ↑ "Inside The Chart: The Cowbell". Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. September 15, 2016.
  31. ↑ William L. Traughber. "CHC- Sewanee Was Vandy's First Rival". Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  32. ↑ cf. William L. Traughber (2011). Vanderbilt Football: Tales of Commodore Gridiron History. History Press. p. 26. ISBN 9781609494230.[permanent dead link]
  33. ↑ "Vanderbilt uniform history". Saturday Down South. April 12, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  34. ↑ "The Best of 2012: Uniform Combination". Vanderbilt University Athletics - Official Athletics Website. December 10, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  35. ↑ "New Uniforms for Vanderbilt Football". UNISWAG. October 10, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  36. ↑ "Vanderbilt Commodores 2023 Uniforms | CFBUniforms". cfbuniform.com. April 18, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Vanderbilt Commodores Unveil New All White Football Uniform". Uni Watch. August 8, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  38. ↑ "This Magic Moment". Vanderbilt University Athletics - Official Athletics Website. October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  39. 1 2 According to the Vanderbilt 2006 Football Media Guide.
  40. ↑ Inabinett, Mark (December 17, 2016). "SEC Consensus All-Americans by the Numbers: Alabama has half the league's 2016 haul". AL.com. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  41. ↑ Emerson, Seth (June 1, 2023). "SEC approves 8-game football schedule for 2024, no decision yet on long-term format". The Athletic. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  42. ↑ Gerson, Aria (June 14, 2023). "Vanderbilt football schedule 2024 includes Tennessee, Texas". Nashville Tennessean. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  43. ↑ "SEC establishes 2025 football schedule format". Southeastern Conference. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Football Opponents Reveal 2026-2029" (Press release). Southeastern Conference. September 23, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  45. ↑ "Vanderbilt Commodores Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 13, 2026.

Further reading

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  • Fred Russell and Maxwell E. Benson, Fifty Years of Vanderbilt Football. Nashville, TN: Fred Russell and Maxwell E. Benson, 1938.
[edit]
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