- Head coach: Clark Lea (4th season)
- 2023 record: 2-10
- PFF power ranking: 94th
- Chance to win SEC: 1%
- Strength of schedule: 11th
- Projected win total: 5.4
- FanDuel win total: 2.5
- 2024 recruiting rank (On3): No. 39 nationally, No. 16 in the SEC
After some encouraging signs in 2022, resulting in a 5-7 record, Vanderbilt once again sported the worst record in the Power Five this past season by going 2-10.
It’s been a rough stretch for the Commodores, who haven’t made a bowl game in five seasons. Vanderbilt brought in Diego Pavia, one of the nation’s best rushing quarterbacks, and still has some good players at linebacker and safety to help the program take a step forward. Expectations should still be low, though, as the Commodores face a tough schedule and have many glaring roster holes.
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Biggest Strength: A dynamic new quarterback
Vanderbilt added New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia this offseason, which should provide a boost to both its passing attack and ground game. The senior's 1,058 rushing yards in 2023 ranked fourth among FBS signal-callers.
Biggest Weakness: Essentially everything else
The Commodores finished 2023 with the worst record of any Power Five team, at 2-10. They had the Power Five’s sixth-worst offense and second-worst defense in EPA per play. Improvement is needed everywhere.
2023 Team Overview
Offense |
||||
| EPA per play | Yards per play | Successful play rate | Explosive run play rate | Explosive pass play rate |
| -0.132 | 5.3 | 30.4% | 11.2% | 15.6% |
| 117th | 95th | 120th | 125th | 48th |
Defense |
||||
| EPA allowed per play | Yards allowed per play | Successful play rate allowed | Explosive run rate allowed | Explosive pass rate allowed |
| 0.147 | 6.5% | 39.1% | 16.4% | 14.7% |
| 129th | 126th | 128th | T-87th | T-81st |
Three Notable Transfer Portal Additions
- QB Diego Pavia (New Mexico State): 83.3 PFF grade
- TE Eli Stowers (New Mexico State): 71.8 PFF grade
- G Steven Hubbard (UTEP): 75.8 PFF grade
Three Notable Transfer Portal Losses
- WR Will Sheppard (Colorado): 68.0 PFF grade
- WR London Humphreys (Georgia): 68.7 PFF grade
- DL Nate Clifton (USC): 65.8 PFF grade
Quarterback Spotlight: Diego Pavia
2023 Grade: 83.3
Key Stat: 1,058 rushing yards (fourth among FBS quarterbacks)
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