No. 9 Vanderbilt Football continued its historic season with a 17-10 win over then-No. 15 Missouri this past weekend. Despite being outgained 376 to 265 in total yards and holding the ball for just 23:48, the Commodores made plays in the moments that mattered most. Missouri’s offense racked up 22 first downs, but Vanderbilt’s defense held firm, forcing Missouri to settle for short gains. Vanderbilt’s victory has led it to its highest ranking in the AP Poll since 1937 and its best start to a season since 1941.
Now, in Week 10, Vanderbilt will go on the road to another ranked SEC team looking to find its way into the playoff picture: the No. 20 Texas Longhorns. Texas edged out Vanderbilt 27-24 at First Bank Stadium last season in a ranked matchup, but the Commodores have improved since then, and the stakes for both teams are higher than ever.
Texas escaped Mississippi State in overtime with a 45-38 victory last week in Starkville. However, starting quarterback Arch Manning sustained a head injury and is currently in concussion protocol, leaving his status uncertain for the upcoming matchup in Austin. If Manning is unable to play, backup quarterback Matthew Caldwell is likely to start. Notably, Caldwell threw the game-winning touchdown pass in last week’s game.
A lot is on the line in Austin for both sides going into Saturday’s game. Vanderbilt is looking to continue its unprecedented season while attempting to secure a potential spot in the playoffs. Let’s take a look at three matchups to watch this weekend.
Vanderbilt’s rushing attack vs. Texas’ defensive front
Vanderbilt’s ground game has been critical this season. The Commodores enter this matchup with the Longhorns averaging 203.4 rushing yards per game and 6.2 yards per carry. Running back Sedrick Alexander has been at the heart of the rushing attack, totaling 388 rushing yards on 73 carries for an average of 5.3 yards per carry. He also leads the team with six rushing touchdowns this season.
Heading into Austin, the Commodores will face one of the top defenses in the SEC. Last week, Texas’ defense had five players make eight or more tackles, and its defense has limited opponents to an average of 81 rushing yards per game to rank No. 3 in the country in that category. Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is also a disruptive force, as he leads the team with 60 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. Vanderbilt will have to prevent him from breaking down plays, and the Commodores will need to prioritize ball security to avoid turnovers in key situations.
Vanderbilt’s pass rush vs. Texas’ quarterbacks
Vanderbilt’s defensive line has been extremely effective this season. They’ve sacked opposing quarterbacks 21 times so far, ranking No. 29 nationally in that statistical category. While edge rusher Miles Capers leads the pack with 4.5 sacks, Vanderbilt’s success has come from defensive versatility, as 11 different Commodores have recorded sacks. Vanderbilt is No. 7 in the nation in yards gained from tackles for loss which highlights the defense’s ability to stifle drives by putting opposing offenses in difficult positions.
Manning’s concussion came on a tackle as he was scrambling for a first down in overtime, trying to escape a defense that had already sacked him five times. As he goes through concussion protocol this week, it’s uncertain if Manning will start against Vanderbilt on Saturday. As it stands, Manning has been sacked 18 times in eight games this season — Texas’ offense ranks No. 88 in the nation in preventing quarterback hits. Caldwell isn’t much better at avoiding pressure, as he was sacked 11 times in nine games last season as Troy’s starting quarterback.
If Texas wants to gain any offensive momentum, it needs to avoid losing yards to Vanderbilt’s potent pass rush.
Vanderbilt’s ball security vs. Texas’ takeaways
Vanderbilt’s only loss this year came at the hands of now-No. 4 Alabama, and the 30-14 final score doesn’t indicate how close this matchup was. Two key red zone turnovers from quarterback Diego Pavia completely shifted the balance of the game — without a first-quarter fumble and a fourth-quarter interception, the Commodores might have taken down the Crimson Tide. Over its past two games, Vanderbilt has been dead-even in the turnover battle and eked out two one-score wins against quality SEC opponents.
On the other hand, the Longhorns have been successful at forcing turnovers. Texas ranks No. 19 in the nation with 14 caused turnovers, including a fumble recovery to end its matchup last week versus Mississippi State. Texas’ formidable pass rush will create scramble situations for Pavia this weekend, and the secondary will have the opportunity to capitalize on potential misreads and poorly thrown balls.
Vanderbilt needs to keep playing within its run-heavy, methodical system to win this Saturday. If Tim Beck’s unit protects the football, they should have no problem outscoring Texas’ middling offense.
No. 9 Vanderbilt travels to No. 20 Texas on Saturday, Nov.1, for an 11 a.m. CDT kickoff.
