It’s been a focal point of our team this year and definitely a difference-maker in our turnaround.

Interestingly enough, the 2-4 Ball State team ranks 11th nationally in time of possession. . .just a head of us. We rank and impressive 12th in the FBS.

It will be interesting to see if we can dominate TOP this weekend. I think we can of course. I would not have looked it up but CCL mentioned their ball control offense in his presser.

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Trending well for Vandy

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They just lucky Diego wasn’t out there

…It’s James Franklin. I would bet anything he wanted to be known as the only coach who could win here. Winning elsewhere isn’t enough in his maladaptive subconscious (I get he’ll say all the right things outwardly).

I podcasted a year ago with Dr. Daniel J. Lieberman the author of “The Molecule of More.” We talked a lot about Buzz Aldrin and some Travis Kelsey and Taylor Swift — how dopamine is a liar getting to the moon wasn’t enough so Aldrin had to turn to alcohol. But even though we talked Swift in terms of the honeymoon stage of relationships and how they always end and you have to shift down to the contentment molecules of seratonin, etc, it never dawned on me during the entire talk how coaches are the empty of dopamine hogs. Dopamine is a liar, and it tells Franklin he needs more more more. I’ve seen that phenotype in so many of his type of coach and I bet anything he inwardly wants us to lose every game.

I'm hoping our home crowd will be significantly better for the Texas and South Carolina games. I expect the stadium to be full of Texas fans in a couple of weeks, but I am hoping Nashville will come out to support the team if we are 5-2 heading into that game. It would be great to get that stadium close to a 50-50 split, but I'm afraid a lot of those tickets were sold to Texas fans weeks ago before anyone realized we were going to have a team this year and it's going to be around a 65-35 split.

Thoughts on Vanderbilt after the two SEC wins:
"It's been great, still in touch with coach Lezynski we talk every day. I was at the Bama game for a once in a lifetime experience and was at the V Tech one which kick starts this thing off, I love what they're doing."

On the atmosphere at Alabama:
"Probably the craziest thing I've been a part of, got to rush the field, was right there for the goalpost going down and got in the post game celebration in the locker room. It was unreal."

On other visits coming up:
"Yes, (Tennessee) this weekend and I'm scheduling Memphis and maybe Ole Miss."

Halfway through this season who do you predict will break the draft streak? Which players do you think will end up getting drafted and which round?

Nm

I"m here in Birmingham with Joey, will give you the play-by-play on what he says.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt baseball announced Tuesday the dates for this year’s David Williams Fall Classic at Hawkins Field.

Game 1: Friday, October 18

Game 2: Tuesday, October 22

Game 3: Friday, October 25

All three games will begin at 6 p.m. and admission to the fall classic games is free. Fans can enter Hawkins Field via the home plate gate for Games 1 and 3. Entrance to Game 2 on Tuesday will be through Gate 1 at Memorial Gymnasium.

Outside food and beverages, excluding alcohol, are permitted. Parking is available in the 25th Avenue Garage on the eighth floor and above.

The Dores train at Hawkins Field Tuesday through Thursday this week leading up to the David Williams Fall Classic. All training sessions are open to the public and will begin at approximately 3:45 p.m. each day. Times are subject to change.

Follow @VandyBoys on X to stay up-to-date with the Commodores all year long.



– #AnchorDown –

On ESPN 5 for Heisman, #5 was just about every SEC QB so a little tongue in cheek but:

But let's put the spotlight on Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia, who threw for 190 yards, ran for 140 and accounted for three touchdowns in a stunning upset of Virginia Tech. In three starts in SEC stadiums in his career, the New Mexico State transfer has embarrassed the Hokies and Auburn and combined to account for 656 yards and six touchdowns.

Third down conversions on offense. No. 1 in the SEC (and 8th nationally) against FBS teams.

Vanderbilt received 12 votes in the AP Top 25 Poll.

It received more votes than Tennessee (3) and Florida (no votes).

All other teams below Vanderbilt in the media poll were not voted on.

SEC Media Poll
2024-25 SEC Media Poll

1. South Carolina
2. Texas
3. LSU
4. Oklahoma
5. Ole Miss
6. Alabama
7. Tennessee
8. Kentucky
9. Florida
10. Vanderbilt
11. Mississippi State
12. Auburn
13. Texas A&M
14. Georgia
15. Missouri
16. Arkansas

Sarkisian stated after the Oklahoma game that culture beats talent! If you have talent plus culture, that’s when you’re really scary

AJ Hoggard and Tyler Nickel will talk at 1:25-1:45.
Mark Byington takes the podium at 2:30-2:50.

I think this is an area of weakness that must be fixed. I mean kickoff and punt return coverage. Giving up too many yards and almost run backs for TDs.

Ranking College Football’s Top 50 Newcomers at Midseason

Vandy with 2 deserving contributors on this impressive list.

This includes transfers and freshman, or new starters. Anyone new on the scene.

8. QB Diego Pavia​

Transfer: New Mexico State to Vanderbilt


Pavia's heroics -- and postgame charm -- in the Commodores' 40-35 win over Alabama in Week 6 alone were enough to justify his place on this list. Indeed, the upset of the top-ranked Crimson Tide cemented Pavia's place in Vanderbilt football history. But the 2023 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year has found a true home in Tim Beck's offense, where Pavia ranks 27th nationally and fifth among SEC quarterbacks with 13.1 yards per completion and has the Commodores averaging 34.7 points per game, 28th among FBS offenses.

49. TE Eli Stowers​

Transfer: New Mexico State to Vanderbilt



A once-promising Texas A&M quarterback signee, Stowers converted to tight end last fall and then became one of the New Mexico State transfers who followed Jerry Kill to Vanderbilt in 2024. Only nine tight ends across the country have been targeted more than Stowers (38) this fall, and he was a handful for the Crimson Tide, hauling in six passes for 113 yards in the Commodores' upset of Alabama. Altogether, Stowers' 333 receiving yards are ninth most among FBS tight ends.

We all just talk about making a bowl game. Rightfully so, that's always our goal, as it should be.

But, can this team do more?

It's an absurd thought, I know. We lost to Georgia State, after all.

But, this team is starting to look like it can win any game left on the schedule, including Texas.

We just beat one of the most talented teams in the country in Alabama. Then, went on the road and beat one of the toughest, most physical teams in the country in Kentucky.

Injuries can dictate a lot. Let Pavia go down, we are done. May not win another game if that happens.

But, if Pavia stays healthy, this team believes so much in him, they think that they're invincible too. Win out, and, we are in. That's what Pavia is thinking, and so is this team.

Yeah, I know, you're thinking ole Woody has stayed up all night drinking. But, I never in a million years would've dreamed we would've won these last two games, either.

Wouldn't that shock the world, Vanderbilt in the playoffs?

⚓️👇

Out this morning doing some things wearing Vandy gear as usual. At one of my stops, an employee said, "How about those Dores?". At another, the cashier asked, "Did you see the big game?" "I was there" I replied. She asked, "Did you help carry the goalpost". I had to admit I did not---the days that I participate in those kinds of things have passed me by. But these things made me realize that now is the time for the Vanderbilt administration to do everything it can, holding nothing back, to improve the football program and build the fan base. Of course, a couple more wins and a bowl game would help as well. But it appears that this win over Alabama has captured the attention of nearly everyone in Nashville. Add to that some guy named Pavia and college football fans across the country have taken notice. Now is the time to really change the trajectory of Vanderbilt football.

Again, I reiterate MAYBE some inside info.

Probably not, but with Mack Brown about to be fired, these two brothers being local, and Vanderbilt football being one of the hottest stories in the country, I would say there is something there.

Cade and Crews Law are two local kids that went to North Carolina over Vanderbilt. I imagine a lot of you were like me, and disappointed that they didn't stay home.

Well, I was talking to someone that I know today. I knew that he had went to watch his two nephews play a home game at North Carolina the same day we played Bama. At this time, I wasnt aware of who his nephews were. Today was the first day that I had seen him since that day.

So I asked him how his trip to North Carolina went. He told me it went well, and that he and all his family went to eat and watch the Vanderbilt vs Bama game.

He was telling me how nervous his two nephews were the whole Vanderbilt game, they were into every play that much. I said they actually care that much about Vanderbilt? He said "Yeah, they're from here, went to CPA and almost went to Vanderbilt." Me still not putting 2+2 together yet, said Vanderbilt's middle LB went to CPA, Langston Patterson. He said " Yeah, they played with him. They are Cade and Crews Law. I think that they wished that they had went there, especially with how this season is going." He also said one of them is dating a Vanderbilt lacrosse or soccer player.

Anyways, again, it's just talk and speculation, but he said that they were really into the VU vs Bama game, and considering that Brown is probably done after this year, I could totally see that happening.

Just thought that I would pass that along, in case Vanderbilt wanted reach out by whatever channels are used in this wild recruiting and NIL world we live in. 😀

Yes, they are 2-4 (thanks Seadiddy). Let's take a look at how they rank in the MAC stat book for 2026. 12 MAC teams.

Ball State MAC Rankings

• Total Offense - 5th at 27.0 ppg
• Total Offense (yards) - 8th at 339/game
• Offensive TDs - 4th with 21
• Total Defense - 11th at 46.0 ppg
• Total Defense (yards) - last at 506.8 yards/game
• Defensive TDs - Last - giving up 38 TDs

Relative NCAA Rankings

Total Offense:
Vandy 96th at 353.8.
Ball State 108th at 337.2

Offense 3rd down conversion:
Vandy 10th at 51.2%
Ball State 69th at 40.7%

Total Defense:
Vandy 54th at 342.0 ypg
Ball State 132nd (out of 133) at 504.2 ypg

3rd down defense:
Vandy 97th at 42.7%
Ball State 128th at 50%

Turnover Margin
Vandy - Tied for 15th at +1
Ball State - 97th at -3