Something about the warm weather screams one thing to the Commodore Faithful: Baseball season is almost here. The presence of two surging basketball teams certainly curbs anticipation, but there’s just something different about sitting in the stands at Hawkins Field. And it’s all about to begin.
Vanderbilt had an overall record of 38-22 last year, going 13-17 in conference play. However, it suffered a disappointing elimination in the Clemson Regional, falling to Coastal Carolina and High Point and returning to Nashville empty-handed. With a modest No. 16 and No. 15 ranking from D1 Baseball and Baseball America, respectively, the VandyBoys will look to return to Omaha for the first time since 2021 when they finished as runner-ups.
The road to the College World Series starts on Feb. 14, and the Commodores will need to start off hot through nonconference play and stay hot into the summer.
Notable nonconference games and series
The VandyBoys will begin their season on the road in Phoenix, Arizona, for three games where they will participate in the 2025 MLB Desert Invitational. Opponents at the Desert Invitational include Grand Canyon, No. 24 Nebraska and No. 22 UC Irvine. The Desert Invitational is an intriguing first test for the Commodores, as it will show how good the ‘Dores can be on the road against quality competition. Two of Vanderbilt’s opponents at the invitational are ranked in the preseason, and all of them made an NCAA Regional appearance last year. Wins over formidable opponents on the road could provide a confidence boost for Vanderbilt. Wins would also benefit the Black and Gold down the stretch when it comes tournament time — considering each of these programs plays a tough slate of opponents of their own.
The ‘Dores will then tackle a six-game homestand, facing Air Force twice, Saint Mary’s three times and Tennessee Tech once. The meeting between Air Force and Vanderbilt is a chance for the Commodores to improve their record against a respectable program before conference play. The Commodores’ first nonconference weekend series against St. Mary’s of California at home will reflect of how Tim Corbin and Co.’s weekend pitching rotation fares. Tennessee Tech always offers a hard-fought midweek game for the Commodores, who barely snuck by in their last meeting with an 8-7 win.
Following the homestand, the VandyBoys will hit the open road again for another invite tournament at the Southern California College Baseball Classic where they will face UCLA, USC and UConn. These three programs are well-respected in their own right and offer a chance for the Commodores to pick up critical wins over lesser-ranked, power conference opponents.
The rest of nonconference play — against Evansville, St. Bonaventure, Valparaiso and a weekend series against Xavier — should be opportunities for Corbin to settle into a lineup and test out his pitching depth. The VandyBoys shouldn’t look past midweek matchups against cross-town rivals Belmont and Lipscomb, as well as Dayton and Indiana State, once conference play starts. Arguably, the most competitive mid-week match-up will come in the last week of the regular season when Vanderbilt heads to Louisville, Kentucky, to play Louisville in the annual Battle of the Barrel.
The conference challenge
Vanderbilt will face a gauntlet in SEC play, with D1 Baseball giving it the highest intended strength of schedule among SEC teams. While every weekend matchup during conference play is important — and nine SEC teams are ranked in the preseason, including four in the top five — here are a few to keep on your radar.
The VandyBoys’ first SEC series (and road test) is at Auburn. Auburn had a disappointing season last year, finishing just above .500 on the year (27-26 overall) and winning just eight games in SEC play (8-22). That was the first year since 2016 that the Tigers missed out on the NCAA Tournament. Since then, head coach Bush Thompson has boosted his roster with 21 players from the portal and a new coaching staff. Auburn and Vanderbilt are very similar teams — they underperformed compared to expectations last season and have made major changes in the clubhouse to regain their competitive edges. A series win on the road against Auburn to kick off conference play could be a statement-maker.
The next two conference series are poised to be crucial weekends for the Commodores. First up is national runner-up Texas A&M, the consensus preseason No. 1, even after a head coaching change and several draft departures in the offseason. Despite all this, the Aggies returned enough talent to make them arguably the most experienced roster in the league.
Last year, Vanderbilt got overrun on the road by Texas A&M in all facets of the game; this year, they will be hosting them at home. A series win could prove momentous for Vanderbilt. Beyond that, though, the Texas A&M series will prove if Corbin’s offseason changes to the offense will allow the Commodores to compete with expectedly one of the nation’s most prolific batting orders.
The very next series against Arkansas will also prove important for the VandyBoys. The Razorbacks were eliminated in their home regional last year due to an inconsistent offense. They have since added a handful of transfer additions while retaining two weekend starters in Preseason SEC Pitcher of the Year, Gabe Gaeckle and Zach Root. Vanderbilt is similarly composed — adding a lot of high-upside bats in the portal while retaining an elite pitching staff — making this series a likely pitcher duel. The Commodores will need to leverage their home-field advantage to walk away with a series win.
Expect the Florida and Tennessee series on the road to be key indicators of the VandyBoys’ ability to compete at an elite level. Florida — the preseason No. 7 — is coming off another CWS appearance despite being one of the last teams in the NCAA Tournament. Although they lost Jac Caglianone, the Gators have returned a handful of draft-eligible upperclassmen and continued to develop its young arms. A road-series win over a perennial contender for the SEC title wouldn’t hurt the Black and Gold resume.
The Tennessee weekend series, especially in Knoxville, needs no introduction, and, for the first time, it will feature two previous national champions. The Volunteers lost a few players to the draft but have added one of the highest-rated portal classes this past offseason. The Commodores dropped the Tennessee series last year at home and will be looking for redemption in May. Furthermore, this series could add a real confidence boost and a burst of momentum for whoever wins it headed into the postseason.
Vanderbilt will also host Kentucky, Alabama and preseason No. 8 Georgia at Hawkins Field during SEC play, which won’t be walk-in-the-park wins for the VandyBoys, either. Winning series at home will be critical for the Commodores to put themselves in the best position to not only post a winning record but also put them in a desirable position heading into the postseason.
Vanderbilt will also face road tests in conference play against Ole Miss and Oklahoma.
Key takeaways
Before Vanderbilt lies one of the hardest roads to Omaha and the College World Series in the nation. The VandyBoys will be tested consistently in nonconference and conference play, with 37 of their 56 games coming against teams with top-50 RPIs in 2024. But, as the old saying goes, nothing worth having comes easy.
Vanderbilt is returning a very talented roster while adding its largest portal class and the No. 9 high school recruiting class to its depth chart. Expect a strong season from the Black and Gold with stellar pitching rotations, dependable defense and perhaps some newfound pop.
