Vanderbilt football team schedule

Vanderbilt football team schedule

Vanderbilt Football Team 2024 Schedule: A Season to Watch

The Vanderbilt Commodores are ready for an exhilarating and challenging 2024 football season. As a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), one of the more onerous and tougher college football conferences, Vanderbilt’s schedule is packed with intense matchups, both within the SEC and against non-conference opponents. Under the guidance of head coach Clark Lea, Vanderbilt is determined to push through and improve as they set out to become a serious bowl contender.

Non-conference: Building some momentum

The first game of the 2024 season will take place on August 24 with a home game against the University of Hawaii, the first real opportunity for Vanderbilt to show what they’re made of and build some momentum before jumping into their SEC schedule. Hawaii might be an outsider and not in the Power Five, but they are known as a gritty team; therefore, the Commodores could not have gotten a better season opener. After Hawaii, Vanderbilt is set to host Alabama A&M on August 31, offering a day for the Commodores to tweak both their offense and defense before dealing with tougher competition.

And then, on September 7, one of the key non-conference tests will be on the horizon, as Vanderbilt travels to face Wake Forest, a strong Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) foe. Wake Forest’s up-tempo offense will pose a threat to the Commodores’ defense and will serve well in marking the level of readiness Vanderbilt will go into SEC play.

SEC Matchups: The Heart of the Schedule

Following the non-conference schedule, Vanderbilt’s SEC schedule starts with an away game on September 21 against the Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky has improved in each of the past few years and although the Commodores have dominated the all-time series, this will test the 2019 Commodores in the first SEC game of the year.

In October, Vanderbilt has the task of facing three of the most successful SEC teams in recent memory. The tough stretch starts with an away game against the Florida Gators on October 5. Florida is one of the most electric teams on both sides of the ball and a road game in “The Swamp” is never an easy task. Two weeks later, the defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs come to Vanderbilt Stadium. The Bulldogs are one of the best teams in the country and without a doubt, the 2019 Vanderbilt team will be significantly tested. Seven days later, on November 2, Vanderbilt travels to Ole Miss to face off against the Rebels, yet another key SEC game. Ole Miss is another offense that spreads it out, and the Commodores will have an opportunity to prove they can shut down the high-paced offense.

Rivalry Games and Season Finale

One of the most highly anticipated games of 2024 will be Tennessee vs Vanderbilt on November 30. As the regular-season finale, this Tennessee rivalry game has always been one of the highlights of the year for these two. Vindy seeks to come out on top in the Volunteer State rivalry game. Vol fans are hoping to not only hand another loss to the Commodores but also praying for a good bowl game since Tennessee is usually one of the top teams in the SEC year in and year out.

What’s at Stake for the Commodores in 2024?

The ‘Dore’s watch an influx of new, young talent come in each season. While the schedule may be tough for the 2024 season, Vanderbilt will look to lock in a few wins early on in 2024. Winning their conference would be the first stepping stone for the Commodores, but that is just about as far as they could go. Vanderbilt has developed a lot more than they’ve recruited for in this latest edition of the Commodores. Expect to see them trash a couple games on their schedule because they are becoming a powerhouse in the NCAA.

The Commodores have a mix of winnable non-conference games as well as tough SEC ones. Some of those opponents that could prove to be difficult include at Ole Miss, at Texas A m, Florida, and at Kentucky. The ‘Dore’s want to win at least two major rivalry games this season. Beat Tennessee and play competitively against Florida and the Commodores would be sitting pretty for a New Year’s Day bowl game. Beat two of those schools, and they could be in the playoff come November.

Conclusion

So the 2024 season is set to be a journey full of excitement for Vanderbilt football. From the chance to build some momentum coming into non-conference games to the arduous SEC matches. The road is hard, but there’s a lot for Vanderbilt fans to look forward to as the team faces off against some of the top teams in the country. The Commodores will yet again look to improve upon recent seasons and further their accomplishes under the tutelage of Coach Lea.