Vanderbilt’s dominant second half propelled the team to its first Power Four win of the season against Virginia Tech on Saturday night. The Commodores scored 34 unanswered second half points, erasing their 10-point halftime deficit. Vanderbilt’s rushing attack fueled the victory, spearheaded by MK Young and Sedrick Alexander, who combined for 168 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

The Commodores will now head to Columbia, South Carolina, this week to take on No. 11 South Carolina. The Gamecocks started their season 2-0 with a win over Vanderbilt’s recent opponent, Virginia Tech, and an in-state FCS team, South Carolina State. 

While the South Carolina State Bulldogs weren’t a considerable challenge for head coach Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks, his legendary father’s alma mater proved to be tough competition the week prior. Virginia Tech had South Carolina looking beatable for three quarters; however, the Gamecocks’ offense kicked into another gear in the fourth, putting the game out of reach for the Hokies.  

Saturday night’s game is very important for Vanderbilt. The Commodores will be heading into an always-charged Williams-Brice Stadium, where the almost-80,000 Gamecock faithful will be iconically chanting to “Sandstorm” minutes before kickoff. Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea and his Commodores will have to ride their momentum into a hostile environment and gear up to face one of the SEC’s toughest teams. Now, let’s take a look at three key matchups to watch this week. 

Steve Gregory’s blitz packages vs. LaNorris Sellers’ mobility

New Vanderbilt defensive coordinator and play caller Steve Gregory called an impressive second half against Virginia Tech. The Commodores’ defense held the Hokies to an impressive 21 total yards in the second half. In addition, Virginia Tech had 0 rushing yards on 10 carries after the break.  

Enter South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, one of the nation’s most prolific college quarterbacks who earned SEC Freshman of the Year last season. In 2024, Sellers was a dual-threat weapon, passing for over 2,500 yards while adding nearly 700 yards on the ground. Last week, Gregory used a quarterback spy in the last two quarters to limit Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones. Gregory must do something similar this week.  

Look for the Vanderbilt defensive coordinator to disguise pressures, keep contain and make Sellers win from a muddy pocket. If the Commodores lose pocket control, Sellers’ legs can punish them; if the lanes stay tight and the first read is covered, the Gamecocks’ offense slows down. 

Vanderbilt’s offensive line vs. Dylan Stewart’s pass rush

South Carolina sophomore Dylan Stewart spent last fall as one of the nation’s most dangerous pass rushers. His prolific freshman season earned him Freshman All-American honors with 10.5 tackles for loss (TFLs), 6.5 sacks and 51 total pressures. He’s started this season with continued momentum, amassing 3.5 TFLs and 2 sacks in his first two matchups. He has a lightning-quick first step that makes him a handful for any tackle. Draft analysts already project Stewart as a top-10 pick when he becomes eligible for the NFL Draft in 2027.

The Commodores’ offensive line proved itself through the first two games of the season. Vanderbilt has allowed one sack so far, with its run game flourishing in response to the offensive line’s quality play. Graduate transfer Isaia Glass from Oklahoma State protects Diego Pavia’s blind side as the team’s starting quick tackle. Glass is experienced, playing 656 snaps a year ago with only 2 sacks allowed. 

Although Stewart floats around the defensive front, he primarily lines up on the right, thus matching him up with Glass. The tackle must solidify the blind side in order to keep Stewart at bay. Look for this marquee matchup on an early third-and-long to set the tone for the rest of the game.

Vanderbilt special teams vs. Beamer Ball

At the University of South Carolina, “Beamer Ball” isn’t just a phrase but a program identity dating back to Beamer’s father. Frank Beamer’s Virginia Tech teams notoriously dominated on all dimensions of the football field: forcing turnovers, playing aggressively and most importantly having a top-tier special teams. 

Like his father, Beamer’s Gamecocks made special teams a weapon, changing games with blocked kicks and large returns. Gamecock sophomore punt returner Vicari Swain has looked like a superstar thus far. He has three punt return touchdowns on the year, one against Virginia Tech and two in a row versus South Carolina State. The other 15 SEC schools have combined for one total. 

The story is a little different in Nashville. Vanderbilt has only recently begun to make its impact through the third phase. Junior kicker Brock Taylor was consistent last year — the Tennessee native converted 18-of-21 field goals, cementing himself a place on the Lou Groza Award preseason watchlist. Also, star cornerback Martel Hight’s punt return touchdown last year was the Commodores’ first since 2012.

Against a team that is heavily fueled by momentum swings, Vanderbilt can’t afford a blocked kick, a muffed punt or a Swain punt return touchdown. If its special teams unit stays mistake-free, it takes away one of South Carolina’s favorite pressure points. On the contrary, “Beamer Ball” could tilt the game in the Gamecocks’ favor.

Vanderbilt will attempt to break its 16-game losing streak against South Carolina on Saturday at 6:45 p.m. CDT at Williams-Brice Stadium.