Vanderbilt returns from its bye week on Oct. 18, as the No. 10 LSU Tigers roll into FirstBank Stadium. Head coaches Clark Lea and Brian Kelly both bring their squads into this matchup with a 5-1 record. Vanderbilt’s only loss came two weeks ago in Tuscaloosa, while the Tigers fell that same week in their clash at Ole Miss.
The Commodores are rolling into their best six-game start to a season since 2008. A year where, after their perfect five-game start, they lost four in a row and ended the season 6-6. The Black and Gold will do everything in their power on Saturday to not repeat that fate.
LSU has had a complicated season thus far. The Tigers were getting national championship hype before the season, which only increased with their win over then-No. 4 Clemson in the season opener. Star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was also touted as the best collegiate player at his position, receiving numerous Heisman shouts and first-round draft projections. This recognition hasn’t vanished, but it has certainly faltered as the season has progressed into full swing.
This weekend’s game is very important for both teams. The clash starts what will be a very telling month for Kelly’s Tigers. A win in Nashville will propel LSU into its gauntlet against No. 4 Texas A&M and No. 6 Alabama in its next two games.
On the other hand, Vanderbilt has been itching for a game like this. The Commodores have scrapped with the strongest teams in the nation, but they will need to show the sold-out FirstBank Stadium that they can win with the identity they have worked so hard to establish. Let’s take a look at three matchups that will help them do so.
Sedrick Alexander vs. the Weeks brothers
Running back Sedrick Alexander has been one of Vanderbilt’s most consistent playmakers this season. The junior has rushed for 319 yards with 9 total touchdowns so far, anchoring a rushing attack that can both chip away at opposing defensive lines and break away for a long touchdown.
Alexander, though, will quickly become acquainted with the Weeks brothers on Saturday. Whit and West Weeks anchor the LSU linebacker core for defensive coordinator Blake Baker. Whit is the centerpiece. The junior racked up 125 tackles in 2024, earning him First Team All-SEC honors among other prestigious recognitions. Whit is joined by his brother West and superstar Harold Perkins Jr. in what makes up one of the nation’s scariest linebacker core.
When Alexander inevitably bursts through the trenches and locks eyes with these three, Commodore fans will hope No. 28 can turn a corner or shake free into the secondary. If Alexander begins to punish the Tigers on the ground, LSU will be forced to crowd the box. That’s when the game will open up for quarterback Diego Pavia to stretch the ball across the field to his numerous other offensive weapons.
Vanderbilt’s defensive physicality vs. Garrett Nussmeier’s distribution
On the other side of the sticks is Vanderbilt’s defense, led by defensive coordinator Steve Gregory. The Commodores’ defense has set a physical tone for Vanderbilt all season with swarming tackles and collapsing pockets. The rugged playstyle has successfully worn down opponents over four quarters. That is, until it didn’t. In the second half against Alabama, the Commodores missed open field tackles and were beaten on the perimeter, allowing over 200 rushing yards in the final two quarters.
Commodore fans will hope the bye week gave that same defensive group time to prepare for a quarterback that can effectively weaponize tempo. Nussmeier is a streaky distributor. He’s thrown for 1,413 yards and 9 touchdowns through six games. The fifth-year senior is at his best when he has time to carve up soft zones and stretch secondaries from sideline to sideline. His aggressiveness can backfire, however, and he commonly forces balls into traffic. Nussmeier is no stranger to costly interceptions, racking up five this season.
If Nussmeier runs his offense without much physical pushback, Vanderbilt’s defense will stretch until it cracks. The Commodores must contain and consistently pressure Nussmeier, force him to settle for checkdowns and punish the feverishly fast Tiger playmakers. If Gregory’s defense imposes itself upon the veteran quarterback and puts him under immense pressure, defensive playmakers like CJ Heard or Martel Hight just might happen to find the ball in their hands.
Clark Lea vs. his former boss
Lea will see a familiar face when he walks onto the field for pregame warmups. From 2018 to 2020, Lea served as Kelly’s defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, leading one of the nation’s top defensive units and helping the Fighting Irish reach the College Football Playoff. Lea’s rise from a high school assistant to a Notre Dame coordinator was rapid, and his success in South Bend ultimately earned him the chance to return to his alma mater — with the goal of restoring it to relevance and respectability.
Now the former protege meets his old mentor in a high-stakes SEC clash. Kelly has built an LSU team that is tough but dynamic, deep but star-studded and flat-out efficient. His recruiting has brought him players like running back Caden Durham, wide receiver Aaron Anderson and cornerback Ashton Stamps — all of whom sit near the top of their respective positions statistically. They stay within the confines of Kelly’s system, but know when to break the script for a highlight or game-changing play.
Saturday’s meeting is an intense coaching matchup between a veteran and a rising star. Lea is molding Vanderbilt into a program that values discipline and detail. Kelly is running a finished project that is shooting for a championship. It’s a collision course that matches two exciting teams led by two tactically brilliant coaches.
No. 17 Vanderbilt Football will host No. 10 LSU on Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. CDT.
